The Importance of a Good Support System and Ways to Build Yours

Key Insights:

• Having a good support system can be beneficial to your mental and physical health. Research has also shown benefits specifically for adult learners, such as greater resilience and higher self-esteem.
• Identifying people currently in your support system helps you know who you can go to when you need a listening ear or guidance. You can also grow your support network by telling people you trust that you could use their support, joining groups of like-minded people, and being a supporter to others.
• In addition to offering degree programs in the healthcare field, Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) provides academic and career search support and guidance for current students and grads.

When you think about your support system, who comes to mind? Maybe you have a family member who can always help you see the positives in a situation, or a friend you can turn to when you've had a bad day. Perhaps you don't have a lot of support and would love to learn how to find people who can be there for you as you navigate life's ups and downs. Whatever your situation, developing a good support system is important — for many reasons.

Benefits of a Good Support System

Think back to the last time you asked for advice or confided in someone. How did that conversation affect you? Perhaps you felt comforted and less alone, or their words left you feeling more confident in your ability to handle the challenges you faced. Having a strong support system can cause you to feel all these things and more.

Johns Hopkins adds that having access to and actually using support can provide both mental and physical health benefits, some of which include:¹

• Reduced stress
• Decreased physical health issues
• Improved emotional well-being

Support system benefits for adult learners

Research suggests that having support can be especially beneficial for adult learners. A review of 51 studies² revealed that social support can provide both direct and indirect effects for undergraduate students.

Having a support system may improve students' emotional well-being, lower their stress levels, and contribute to healthier behaviors. Indirectly, it can lead to greater resilience, more self-esteem, and higher levels of life satisfaction.

4 Types of Social Support

Support can come in a variety of forms. While one person in your network may be helpful to go to when you're having issues at work, for instance, you may prefer to go to another person when school feels too hard.

Each person may provide a different type of support, of which there are four:³

• Emotional support – such as when a family member or friend listens to you with empathy, love, and care
• Instrumental support – refers to a tangible type of support, such as when a neighbor offers to watch your kids so you can study
• Informational support – when the person provides advice or information, like when your school's support team tells you about available student services to assist with your coursework or job search
• Appraisal support – which includes information that can help you evaluate yourself or your situation, such as by sharing their experiences when faced with a similar situation

Who Is Currently in Your Support Network?

When it comes to creating a good support system, one of the first steps you can take is to identify people you can already rely on for support and guidance. Think about family members, friends, coworkers, mental health providers, and anyone else you regularly go to for advice. For each of these people, ask yourself:

• How do you feel when you talk to them?
• Do they take your feelings and needs into account?
• Is the advice they give based on your well-being?
• Do they tell you tough truths when you need to hear them?
• Do they celebrate your triumphs with you?
• Do they encourage you to be better than you were yesterday?
• Have they opened possibilities for you that you didn't realize existed?

You might discover that some people are more supportive than others. This doesn't mean you should abandon your less-supportive connections; it just means that you may want to put extra effort into the ones who do support you.

Ways to Grow Your Support System

If your current support system isn't as you'd like, there are a few actions you can take to make it bigger or stronger. One is to talk to family and friends whom you trust. Tell them you could use their support and ask if they'd be willing to be there for you when you struggle with work, school, family, or other issues.

If you're currently working toward a degree, school can be a great way to discover new friendships that sometimes turn into long-term support. You may also find local clubs (like book, hiking, fitness, or gaming clubs) that offer the opportunity to meet people who share similar interests. Volunteering at a community organization can provide similar connections based on a cause you're passionate about.

Connect with your supporters regularly and keep them updated about your life. Accept invitations to socialize with them and reciprocate those invitations as well.

How to Get the Most From Your Support Network

When speaking with supporters, invite them into your decision-making process and explain your reasoning, then ask for their honest opinion. Perhaps most importantly, be open to their feedback, even if it's not what you want to hear. Your supporters should be comfortable telling you tough truths and helping you see options from different perspectives.

When faced with big decisions, it can also be helpful to talk to members of your support system who have knowledge or experience in that area. For example, if you're thinking about making a major purchase, talk to someone with expertise in financial matters. Use the knowledge of your supporters to make the right decision for you.

Remember that support is a two-way street

Be available to your supporters when you're needed as well. Practice good listening skills and help them feel comfortable confiding in you. Be the type of supporter they need when facing difficult times.

UMA: A School That Supports Learners Throughout Their Academic Journey

If you are currently enrolled at Ultimate Medical Academy (UMA) or considering a career in the healthcare field, we would love to be a part of your support system. Our caring and compassionate team members can provide a variety of academic support services, also offering academic guidance and potential resources as you step into your career search after graduation.

Here are a few things that our students and grads have said about the academic support services they received from UMA:

"I was overwhelmed between work and school, and my advisor, she was giving me very encouraging words… I was about to just say forget it, but I'm here because of her." — Ken'Neatha N.

"I was new to online, but I just took it one day at a time. My instructors were very helpful. I was able to reach out to them when I had problems. It was a wonderful experience." — Shiquin H.

"From the support that I have there, the support system, I would come back. I would. I really would." — Briyana T.

Life is better when you don't have to go through it alone. Identify the people in your life who support you and focus on strengthening those relationships, while also building your network so you have even more people to call on when you need advice.

Contact us to learn more about how we help support our students and grads academically. You may find that you can go farther than you ever thought possible when the right people are behind you, encouraging you to achieve your dreams.

FAQs

• What is a support system? A support system refers to the people you can go to when you need advice, motivation, information, or honest opinions. This can include family members and friends, but also coworkers, mentors, clergy, mental health professionals, and others that you trust and can rely on for guidance and support.
• What are some examples of support? Support may come in the form of a friend who listens without judgement, a coworker who helps you find ways to be more efficient on the job, or a neighbor who mows your yard without asking because they know that you're juggling work, family, and school. All of these are examples of support that you may receive from people in your network.
• What type of support does UMA offer its students? Ultimate Medical Academy provides a variety of student services designed to help support you through your academic and career journeys. Whether you have questions about financial aid, need help in one of your courses, or want assistance with your job search, we'll do what we can to connect you with the resources available. Contact us to talk about the academic and career support you need and learn how we may be able to help you.