Presidential Comment

“I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to lead within an organization that I have come to hold in high regard. Building on the successes of past executives, I aspire, with the support of the incoming executive team, to contribute to the growth of this organization. I am confident that together, we will achieve significant milestones.

Our collective goal is to foster an environment where Science students can maximize their experience and growth during their time at the University of Malta. I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all former executive members whose dedication has shaped S-Cubed into what it is today. I hope that our upcoming initiatives will make you proud in this executive term.”

The Third Eye wishes the new executive the best of luck!

The post S-Cubed Elect New Executive Team appeared first on The Third Eye.

MMSA has taken proactive steps by contacting the Minister, seeking a meeting to discuss these concerns and contribute to the decision-making dialogue, and is waiting for a response.

The post MMSA releases a statement on the Minister for Health’s plans for Maltese healthcare appeared first on The Third Eye.

CSA Executive Team 2023/24

• President – Nicole Buhagiar
• Vice-President – Rachel Busuttil
• Secretary General – Joelle Anastasi
• Public Relations Officer – Jerome Falzon
• Media Officer – Royvin Debono
• Events Officer – Raisa Ciantar

Presidential Comment

This year new faces were elected, and hopefully this will bring different perspectives to CSA. I am very thankful to have been given this position, and I am sure all of us will work well together to achieve as much as we can. We want our team to grow so Criminology students can benefit the most out of their 3 years here at University of Malta.

Nicole Buhagiar

The Third Eye wishes the new executive the best of luck!

The post Nicole Buhagiar Elected As CSA’s New President appeared first on The Third Eye.

Following UoM Futsal‘s AGM on July 26, Andrea Varrazzo has been announced as the organisation’s president for the upcoming term.

2023/24 Executive Team

• President – Andrea Varrazzo
• Vice-President – Ilaria Formosa
• Secretary General – Randy Cassar
• Financial Officer – Jeremy Baldacchino
• Marketing Officer – Kristina Vella
• Events Officer – Benjamin Micallef
• Social Policy Officer – Julia Balzan
• Internal affairs officer – Michaela Briscoe

Presidential Comment

Following last year’s success as an executive committee, UM Futsal has decided to build on experience by retaining most of it’s members while bringing on some fresh faces. We want to continue building on the hard work that led to another cup-winning campaign. Everyone is eager and excited for what the term will bring.

Andrea Varrazzo

The Third Eye wishes the new executive the best of luck!

The post Andrea Varrazzo Elected As UM Futsal President For 2023/24 appeared first on The Third Eye.

The New executive team

The new executive members taking on the responsibility of their corresponding roles are as follows:

• Louisa Degabriele – President
• Cristina Stafrace – Vice President
• Julian Formosa – Secretary General
• Julian Bondin – Financial Controller
• Dindora Mercieca – Public Relations Officer
• Lara Bugeja – Science Communication Officer
• Valerie Esposito – Education Officer
• Juergen Valletta – Social Policy Officer
• Martina Debono – Internal Officer
• Nicole Betts – Leisure Officer
• Aiden Grima – International Officer
• Luke Said – Environmental Officer
• Gabriel Grima – Media Officer

Presidential Comment

I am so grateful to be given the position to lead within an organisation which I have truly grown fond of. Following the success which has come with S-Cubed’s 20 Anniversary, I aspire to, with the help of the upcoming executive, aid in the growth of this organisation. My vision for this year is to focus on Science communication as well as Educational prospects. I would like to conclude by thanking all members of past executives who have helped bring S-Cubed to what it is today. I hope that you will all be proud of what we have in store for this upcoming term.

Louisa Degabriele

The Third Eye wishes the new executive the best of luck for their term!

The post Louisa Degabriele chairs S-Cubed for the 2023/24 term appeared first on The Third Eye.

Betapsi held their AGM on April 29th, where Nicole Micallef was elected as the organisation’s president for the upcoming term.

2023/24 Executive List

• President: Nicole Micallef
• Vice-President: Emily Farrugia
• Secretary General: Em Falzon Sollars
• Finance Officer: Maria Ellul
• Public Relations Officer: Kerby Amber Borg
• Educational Officer: Maria Kristina Caruana
• External Relations Officer: Marlena Abela
• Leisure Officer: Hannah Ellul
• International Officer: Ita Jakubowska
• Social Policy Commissioner: Gabriel Rizzo
• EFPSA Member Representative: Aidan Spiteri

Presidential Comment

I am truly grateful for the opportunity to serve as the leader of this team. As an organisation, we will continue working hard in our mission to promote metal health awareness and wellbeing, as well as to represent psychology students to our utmost ability.

Nicole Micallef

The Third Eye wishes the new executive the best of luck in their upcoming term!

The post Nicole Micallef Elected as Betapsi President for 2023/24 Term appeared first on The Third Eye.

Physical activity incorporates a range of physical movement which necessitates energy
expenditure. Any activity that gets your body to move and elevates your heart rate can be
considered as such. This physical exertion ultimately enhances many health-related matters,
including the improvement of one’s mental health and reducing the chances of risk for
developing chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart diseases and so on.

Be that as it may, today’s lifestyle has altered in a drastic way, carrying with it a lack of time
for people to try to integrate a fraction of some physical activity. Furthermore, some
occupations require us to lead a sedentary lifestyle due to the recent advances in
technologies, further decreasing the incentive of exercise and any benefits that come with
it. However, finding the time to accomplish this goal on a daily basis is far from
unachievable, but prior to its commencement one might require a good mental preparation.
This is an essential aspect due to the close correlation between the body and the mind, and
mental readiness could be a great asset.

One way of commencing this way of living can be through –

• Making a goal – When one plans a realistic goal that can acclimate to their lifestyle,
  motivation will start to arise and create a more organised way of leading the day.
  This first goal does not have to include big steps, but just the right amount so that it
  can be achievable. An example could be taking a brisk walk for 30 minutes a day.
  Then the intensity and length can be modified as one goes along.
  
• Choosing the right activity – Demotivation usually starts when a person is pursuing
  something which is not of their likeness, and this unfortunately applies to exercise as
  well. It is vital to experiment with what works best and to find that specific activity to
  look forward to when you wake up. If for instance walking is not functional enough,
  try other activities like swimming or dancing.
  
• Find a companion – When an activity involves more then one person it becomes
  even more fun and feasible. Additionally, physical activity can be a great time to
  catch up with a friend or with your family. Hiking or riding a bike through a valley for
  instance can undoubtedly make the process even more enjoyable.
  
• Utilizing Technology – We are fortunate enough to have technology to assist us in
  keeping track of our daily advancement through distinct applications and fitness
  trackers. These additional tools may support a person to not only stay on top of their
  progress but even maintain the motivation and accountability.

Apart from the above mentioned, physical activity is very versatile and the more one gets
creative with it, the more enjoyable it will become. Taking advantage of opportunities that
may present themselves during the day can also help, as sometimes a scheduled workout
cannot always be attainable. On such hectic days by simply climbing the stairs instead of
using an elevator is already a step forward. It is also vital to switch to different exercises
from time to time. Performing repetitive workouts can be tedious and monotonous if done
periodically and can lessen the engagement even more.

Therefore, incorporating physical activity into our day – to – day routine can for sure make a
change for the better. Motivation at times might fluctuate and lessen but that is not a
reason to stop. It is always prominent to listen to what your body is telling you as on some
days you might feel like doing a less intense activity. But if one remembers to do a little
every day a change in both mental and physical health can surely be noted!

The post Incorporating Physical Activity in the Daily Lifestyle | MHSA appeared first on The Third Eye.

Along the years, teenage pregnancy has carried a lot of negative connotations with it, which gradually altered the perception of people and created many opinions. As a result of these new assumptions, teenage pregnancy has been categorised as a taboo to many people but, with due time this particular subject has started to come to fore more often, instigating with it a new perspective on the experience.

What can lead to Teenage Pregnancy?

To become more aware and elucidated on the subject, it is good to know the circumstances that often start this pregnancy. At times adolescents unfortunately would not know the right education on the subjects and this can also include a lack of information on certain anatomical parts. Other times there might be an absence of contraceptives available, due to financial problems, or for the simple reason that one cannot buy them. Adversely to this, in underdeveloped countries the most common underlying cause of teenage pregnancies is poverty and a lack of accessibility to adequate sex education.

As a continuation to the above is sexual violence. More often than not, we tend to view such a topic by giving importance to the lack of basic things such as contraceptives. However, sexual violence is quite a common causing agent of such pregnancies, especially in those still to be developed countries. When such a horrific act is done, most likely contraceptives were neglected which can easily get the person pregnant. In countries such as Africa, women that are victims to such violence also face a high risk of morbidities.

Apart from this, teenagers might be subject to peer pressure from their friends which can lead to them exploiting sexual behaviour to feel more recognised inside their social group. With this can unfortunately arise substance abuse of alcohol and drugs and which could lead to a teenage pregnancy.

How it became a Taboo Subject

Teenage pregnancy has been both socially and culturally viewed as a taboo in the past recent years. Due to this reason, it was seen as something to be kept in secret and was shunned from the public, which managed to lead to a lack of awareness. Furthermore, when such a subject is evaded harmful misconceptions and stigmas originate. Some of the main reasons that led to this taboo were:

• Fear of social alienation – Teenagers that end up pregnant may be estranged from society and even their own families which can ultimately lead to discrimination.
  
• An absence of understanding – Societies were not always so keen on being educated on this subject. For this reason, there was never a good base of understanding about the intricacies of teenage pregnancy and the underlying causes of it.
  
• Religious and Moral principles – These factors have affected many people as sometimes religion was misinterpreted and used as way of discriminating due to it being seen as an act of premarital sex.

Offering Support

Providing support has to be considered for both the mother, the partner and the relatives that are present. This assistance should involve the appropriate resources needed to secure their wellbeing and health. Additionally, the unborn child is also to be considered in this holistic care.

The primal things to consider are:

• Healthcare – These woman should be provided with all the essentials such as
  prenatal care, support and also counselling. When assisting we should be non –
  judgemental and be open to any other assistance they may require.
  
• Emotional support – Both the parents and the mother may feel incredibly
  overwhelmed as it may have happened suddenly without a plan. Therefore, support
  groups can be recommended, and we can also go with them if need be.
  
• Childcare – Childcare centres can be a big step in gaining more time for themselves
  and to maybe continue their studies. There are many affordable child care centres out
  there and these could also be a great help if the parents would like to work to support
  their child.

Support after the mother gives birth is also immensely crucial as sometimes they might find
the situation challenging. Thus, psychological assistance should still be provided at this time
as anxiety may start to arise and post – partum depression can easily develop. Additionally,
educational and career goals should be periodically encouraged as they can be put on hold
due to parenthood. Therefore, we must promote this awareness and education to not only
prevent this social inequity but to create a better world for all of those who find themselves
discouraged and alone in such a complex time.

The post Removing the Stigma on Teenage Pregnancy | MHSA appeared first on The Third Eye.

Living Abroad

I’ll walk you through a preview of these benefits if you were to, say, go on a work experience abroad.

Experiencing a new culture. With an ever increasing globalisation we are now become more exposed to many different cultures, but have you ever immersed yourself in a completely discrete culture? This correlates to a number of different components, from facts about the country and its society, fun activities they undertake, different garments they wear, the food they consume, landmarks, and the whole lot. Learning a new language or enhancing a language you already use could be another outcome of this journey. Conversely, there are other more ‘natural’ elements that can be experienced abroad through the increased greenery, visually aesthetic landscapes and the like, which Malta might be deprived of due to its smallness.

Self-sufficiency. Perhaps this could be a game changer for you as an individual. Living abroad, as portrayed through social media, seems like a dream. But simultaneously you’ll also learn fundamental skills you will need as you enter your adulthood. Though they may seem mundane, such as cooking your own meals, allocating your money well and washing your own clothes, these are pivotal on a day-to-day basis. It feels great knowing you can grow as a person and become more independent.

Friends and networking opportunities. Contacts are essential in today’s age. Even the seemingly faintest contact might be the key to one of your life-long dreams, be it regarding your working career or something else. Remember to enjoy the process as well. Making new friends can be another route to an established group and fulfilling events/memories if you bond well together. Who knows it may be your life-pivoting experience you may be desiring.

Enhanced CV and differentiation from others. Competition in the labour market is becoming increasingly challenging as more qualified people are being recorded in every successive period. In most occupations work experience is either a mandate or it increases the likelihood of the individual being accepted. This is since the individual is already equipped with sufficient capabilities and other ‘soft-skills’ which are needed. Stark examples include being proactive and effective time management. A work experience abroad could act as a fundamental differentiating aspect over other applicants. It demonstrates you are capable of adapting to your environment, working well with others (despite different sets of values/norms) etc.

How you can secure an internship abroad through IAESTE Malta

In case you haven’t heard of IAESTE Malta, the organisation is an intermediary that helps local students acquire paid internships abroad corresponding to their studies. It deals with a number of different fields including Architecture, Biology, Engineering, Mathematics, and many others, to accommodate for the diverse courses in Malta. Most of these internships would take place during the summer period as employers are aware that university is a priority.

The organisation currently has a number of paid internships open which local students can apply for, where students studying in Malta will be competing only against local applicants. Interested students are recommended to have a look at their website at their earliest chance as deadlines for applications close on the 7th of March. Students who wish to know more about the process or have any queries are advised to reach out through info@iaeste.org.mt.

The post IAESTE Malta: Opportunities for Work Experiences Abroad appeared first on The Third Eye.

Sports-related individuals, such as fans, players, and officials, are regularly the targets of hateful comments on social media, including racial, sexist, homophobic, and other forms of prejudice. As a result, there is rising concern about the rise in online hate speech in the sports industry. Although discrimination and hate speech have always been difficulties in sports, the rise of social media has exacerbated these issues.

This year, the Maltese government declared that Bill 260 will strike a compromise between free speech and hate speech. The law will also define and make cyberstalking and cyberbullying into distinct offences that are subject to up to a 5-year sentence in prison and/or a fine of up to EUR 30,000. This was done in an effort to make clear what
these crimes are and to discourage people from doing them. Despite the existence of laws prohibiting hate speech, anti-hate organisations, sports governing bodies, and policy makers find it difficult to keep up with the rapid growth of online hatred.

How Social Media can negatively affect athletes

According to a study that was published in The Sport Journal in 2008, receiving negative feedback and hate mail can be distracting and cause bad moods, anxiety, tension, and an increase in mental energy consumption, all of which can affect an athlete’s capacity to perform effectively. For an athlete to concentrate on the minute aspects of the game that improve performance, such as observing ball movement, choosing the best shot to play, and positioning oneself to catch a high-speed ball, mental energy is necessary. Regardless of an athlete’s skill level, these tasks involve mental effort.

It is common knowledge that some sportsmen receive more media coverage than others since they are more well-known and attract more viewers and clickbait. It’s also common knowledge that individuals enjoy pointing out others’ flaws and reading about them. Because of this, these sportsmen might come under fire, regardless of the team’s success or loss. Media outlets may downplay their accomplishments while highlighting their weaknesses and giving readers the chance to do the same.

Ricky Williams is a good example of how media attention can negatively affect athletes. Williams, a highly talented NFL player, was a standout in college football. The enormous media attention he faced as a professional athlete, along with his social anxiety disorder and profound shyness, prompted him to give up the sport. Williams acknowledged that he dreaded speaking in front of the camera and even went so far as to wear eye shades inside his helmet to prevent eye contact. Williams had outstanding athletic ability, but he couldn’t manage the scrutiny and strain of playing professional football.

Overall, the impact of social media on mental health can be complex and paradoxical. It is important to keep in mind that these athletes are human and everyone makes mistakes.

Then as soon as they missed a penalty, they were not English, just black. Anyone can miss a penalty. Anyone can make a mistake in their line of work. But to be criticised like that should never happen. They are human.

Jude Bellingham

The post The Relationship between Social Media Hate and Sports appeared first on The Third Eye.