TRIO continued the school year with a plethora of Academic & Social/Cultural workshops covering a variety of topics as well as creating connections amongst the different class levels. Here are a couple of our workshops:
Positive Thinking For Bigger Payoffs Workshop
By Francisco Arenas ’26
On Thursday, January 16, 2025, the TRIO/SSS and OIL offices welcomed Pete Wong to Carleton for a workshop on thinking positively for bigger payoffs. As a speaker, facilitator, and leadership motivator, Pete redefines pain and self-mastery so young leaders can be courageous through radical self-change. Promising a deep dive into the importance of leading with authenticity, vulnerability, and empathy, he delivered to the mix of students in attendance via self-reflection exercises..
After a delicious dinner, catered by the local Northfield restaurant, New Buffet, Pete started his workshop with an evolutionary icebreaker. He encouraged students to step out of their comfort zones by challenging others through a childhood game of rock-paper-scissors. Each time students won a game, they would “evolve” into a series of forms ranging from an egg to a supreme being. Although seemingly an activity about senseless fun, the icebreaker created a welcoming environment. It also served as the perfect transition for Pete’s talk about thinking positively. Students were encouraged to share how they felt when losing a game, and more often than not, they viewed the temporary setback as motivation to continue playing and level up.
With the ice in the room securely crushed, Pete shared his personal journey to thinking positively. He spoke fondly about figures in his life who always had smiles on their faces and brought a welcoming difference to otherwise mundane and stressful environments. Emphasizing authenticity, Pete encouraged students to experiment with hobbies to find someplace they could relieve negative energy. With a foundation in boxing, mixed martial arts, yoga, and meditation, he shared how these hobbies helped him find supportive networks and a healthier outlook on life.
To end his workshop, Pete put students’ positive reframing skills to the test in a low-stakes activity. Every student wrote a negative thought they’ve had, or have been told, onto a piece of paper and crumpled said paper into a ball before throwing it around the room. Once the floor resembled a sea of white, each student picked up a piece of crumpled paper that wasn’t theirs. After reading the negative statement on their paper, students took turns sharing the text on their paper and reframing the negative thought into a positive one. Students took statements such as “I am not enough” to more positive ones like “You are enough, and you are constantly growing.”
Pete’s workshop was a breath of fresh air with exciting icebreakers and touching moments from both students’ and Pete’s personal stories. He expressed the importance of feeling one’s emotions. The workshop was not about ignoring negative thoughts, but instead making the active decision to move forward with a positive mindset for bigger payoffs.
Tax Prep Workshop
By Gloria Kossigan ’26
As part of financial literacy sessions, TRIO SSS conducted a Tax 101 workshop on January 27, 2025, led by certified public accountant Ann Etter for students curious about understanding taxes. Whether students had done taxes before or not, this workshop unveiled crucial components to focus on when you start earning income. In this workshop, students learned about tax forms, deductions, credits, retirement, and how taxes apply to scholarships.
Ann defined tax as mandatory money you pay to the state or the government as you earn income. Income is the amount you earn from your job, investments, self-employment, rental property, or farming. There are different types of taxes: income tax, payroll tax, sales and use tax, and real estate tax. Income tax follows progressive brackets, where the more you make, the higher the tax you pay. If employed in payroll taxes, you pay 7.65% of your income; the other 7.65% is by the employer. This tax is withheld automatically. If you are self-employed, you pay both halves of the payroll taxes. Sales taxes are taxes you pay on goods and services. This tax differs by state and county within some states. Real Estate Taxes are levied on properties such as homes and rental property.
Students got the opportunity to learn about tax credits and deductions, which can lower taxable income. A credit is a legislatively approved amount you can subtract from the tax you owe, which can reduce your tax payment or increase your refund. With credits, you can get money back even if you don’t owe any tax. Credits include Education credits (American Opportunity, Lifetime Learning), child tax credits ($2,000 for children under 17), and energy-efficient items. Many students got excited when they heard this information because it seemed like free money. Credits are better than a deduction because they are subtracted from tax bills rather than taxable income and give you lower brackets. A deduction is an amount you deduct from your earnings when you submit your tax return, thereby ensuring you aren’t taxed on that amount. By reducing your income, deductions effectively decrease your tax obligation. Ann breaking down the benefits of credits and deductions helped students start to weigh their pros and cons when claiming credits or deductions.
Towards the end of the session, Ann strongly recommended students to open a Roth IRA as soon as possible when they start earning a full-time income. There are many benefits to Roth IRA benefits, including tax-free growth, withdrawal contributions after 5 years, no taxes on qualified withdrawals after age 59, and a permitted first-time homebuyer allowance. Additionally, Ann touched on how taxes work with scholarships. Even though it is not earned income, scholarships may be taxable on room and board, which some students found shocking. Ann highlighted key aspects of taxation, making this workshop an excellent opportunity for students to grasp the basics of taxes.
Biomed Graduate School Program at U of M
By Esmeralda Garcia- Ramirez ’27
On February 10, 2025, during the midterm break of Winter 2025, TRIO Staff and students travelled to Minneapolis to get an inside look at the University of Minnesota Medical School! From exploring the beautiful large campus and talking to the passionate graduate students, faculty, and researchers, the TRIO crew had the opportunity to look and learn more about the daily life of being part of the medical world at U of M.
Once there, the TRIO crew was given a tour of one of the many laboratories at the University of Minnesota. Students could see all the high-tech research equipment and the different experiments focused on the neuroscience department. Researchers shared their experiments with the students about drug addiction and its association with neurodegenerative diseases. All throughout these labs, graduate students could be seen working on their research, showing the dedication, curiosity, and innovation involved with medical research. Students asked questions and conversed about the fields, increasing their interest and passion for a future biomedical research career.
Afterward, the TRIO crew ate lunch and talked to five pharmacology and therapeutic students about their experiences in the biomedical field. The graduate students openly shared their experiences of navigating graduate school, balancing research commitments, and preparing for major conferences and networking opportunities. They discussed their journey and emphasized what resources, opportunities, and skills have significantly impacted their careers. Following this, various representatives from the Biomed program took their places in the hot seats and discussed the goals and skills needed for future graduate students. Creating an encouraging atmosphere for all the students present.
After a full day of exploring neurology research labs, such as exploring the work of Steven Graves, PhD, and his research on the neurodegenerative effects on monoaminergic neurons, along with hearing about amusing undergraduate experiences, we reached the end of our program. To conclude our day, we visited the University of Minnesota to see all the furry friends in the PAWS program. We were delighted to spot a silkie chicken named Hennifer and many other furry companions. You could say it was a “pawsitive” way to end our trip at the University of Minnesota. TRIO students learned many things about the biomedical sciences and the different careers that can branch out post-graduate studies. One takeaway that personally stuck with me was the importance of the research being conducted at the university. The labs Carleton TRIO students saw focused mainly on neurology health and drug addiction. The dedication of the faculty and students was evident, and it was awe-inspiring to see how their work could potentially lead to future significant advancements in mental health treatment and rehabilitation. The University of Minnesota Biomedical Program Graduate School Visit was one of the many trips the TRIO/SSS program supports Carleton students to explore different careers based on their interests. Be sure to look for the next exciting yet informational trip.
Comfort Food Friday
By Gloria Kossigan ’26
TRIO hosts an event open to the whole TRIO community near the end of every term called Comfort Food Friday. Comfort Food Friday is an excellent opportunity to enjoy delicious food while gathering with the TRIO community. TRIO Comfort Food Friday on February, 28th 2025, featured Indian food from Desi Diner, enabling students to mingle, indulge, and unwind.
The dishes TRIO selected from Desi Diner for students included rice, naan, butter chicken, Chicken Tikka Masala, Vegetable Curry, and Palak with potatoes. Top of the list for student favorites was the Butter Chicken followed by Chicken Tikka Masala, which were gone within the first 20 to 30 minutes of the event. Those attending relished the Desi Diner so much that by the end, only the rice and a small portion of the Palak remained. The popularity of the food was so significant that TRIO ordered Domino’s Pizza to continue to feed late arriving students for the rest of the 45 minutes left of the event. It was safe to conclude that Desi Diner dishes ranked top of the TRIO students’ favorites.
Regarding social interactions, students were able to connect with their peers during the event. Many of them shared updates on the courses they had enrolled in or planned to enroll in, as well as internships, and personal life experiences. The atmosphere was lively and filled with joy as students occupied the dining and living room spaces to catch up with friends. The turnout of students was impressive, the TRIO house was quite packed. With more than 80 students attending, they were thrilled as they collected their meals and engaged with fellow TRIO members, staff, and peer leaders. Additionally, many first-year students also had the opportunity to connect with TRIO peer mentors.
Students relaxed on comfy sofas in the TRIO House living room and at the dining table as they ate their food. Students found the winter term Comfort Food Friday to be the perfect opportunity to relax and de-stress after a tough week or day. Overall, Comfort Food Friday winter term 2025 was successful as students recognized it as an ideal event for comfort as they took breaks from academics, enjoyed food, and socialized.