The back half of the semester can be a whirlwind for students, with tests and projects coming fast and furiously, the holidays approaching and final exams right around the corner.
During these busy times, it’s more important than ever for students to prioritize every element of their wellness. Fortunately, several Division of Academic and Student Affairs partners are, for the second straight year, coming together to help them do exactly that.
A collaboration between Campus Health, Wellness and Recreation, Prevention Services and New Student programs, Wellness Fest, set for Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. on Harris Field, will feature booths from 19 different campus partners designed to help students look after their wellness.
Students will receive a passport, and after visiting at least 10 tables, they can then turn that passport in for a free plant, donated by Therapeutic Horticulture.
“This is a reminder at this point in the semester to continue to look out for all areas of your health, do things that you enjoy and that put a smile on your face, and connect to relevant campus resources that can maintain or even enhance your well-being,” said Health Educator Daniel Passonno.
Wellness Fest will feature booths that represent all six core areas of wellness – physical, emotional, social, financial, community and purpose.
“The event is meant to provide students with an opportunity to engage with areas of wellness that they might not necessarily be thinking about,” said Emily Anderson, Prevention Services’ Outreach and Resiliency coordinator. “It can be easy to only focus on one area that seems easy or more comfortable than others. We want this to be an opportunity for students to see past their default wellness areas and think about some of the others that they may not be considering as much.”
Passonno and Anderson both highlighted the importance of the event’s timing.
Set during Red and White Week, it comes at a juncture of the semester where wellness may not be a primary focus for students with everything else going on.
Featuring carnival games and food, Wellness Fest is a way for students to learn about taking care of their wellness in a relaxed, festive environment.
“Wellness should be enjoyable and accessible,” Anderson said. “We want this event to be an experiential opportunity so that students can actively benefit in the moment, take a break, decompress and think about what elements they need to focus on a little bit more. Hopefully this makes it a little bit less intimidating.”
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