The Wellness Youth Council (WYC) and the Peace and Wellness Center (PAWS) hosted Stress Less Week from Dec. 8 to 12 to ease students’ stress as they enter finals. Students had the opportunity to visit PAWS throughout the week to participate in different activities during lunch or flex, including knitting, snow globe making, and more.
Monday: Knitting & Crocheting
Courtesy Teshionda Nickerson Students inside PAWS knitting and crocheting.
The week kicked off with a calm knitting and crocheting session inside PAWS. As WYC students led the event, students with beginner to advanced skills participated while talking with one another and relaxing.
“This is a safe space, not only for the people that truly need it, but anyone who feels like it’s just too much to handle at any moment,” junior Edgar Moreno, an organizer for WYC, said.
Tuesday: Snow Globes & Stress Relief
Hana Suzuki / M-A Chronicle Student choosing snow globe designs.
On Tuesday, the WYC kept the encouraging energy going, hosting a snow-globe-making event. Students could choose their favorite design and bedazzle it with multiple colors of glitter, and lastly add water to complete the snow globe. They also distributed flyers that informed students about how to navigate stress during finals week. The pamphlet included advice from WYC seniors, contact information for PAWS, and more.
“I enjoyed looking at the different designs in each globe and choosing which one I wanted to decorate. I also thought that adding glitter to the globe was satisfying since it gave it its shine,” sophomore Sophia Nguyen said.
Wednesday: NAMI Presentation During Flex
Hana Suzuki / M-A Chronicle NAMI’s presentation spreading mental health awareness.
On Wednesday, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) hosted a presentation about mental health. Students had the opportunity to learn about how to address mental health and what to do to help others open up. After the presentation, students could participate in a jeopardy game to learn more.
Thursday: SPCA Therapy Dog Visit During Flex
Hana Suzuki / M-A Chronicle Violet, a therapy dog, posing for a photo.
Three Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) therapy dogs, Violet, Meru, and Otis, welcomed students inside PAWS on Thursday. Each student had a few minutes to spend with one of the dogs before they rotated.Â
“Petting dogs with my friends was a wonderful way to take my mind off my stress and remind myself that school doesn’t always have to be a concentration of being busy, busy, busy, with an always-more-stuff-to-do mindset—I can have fun too,” freshman Laura Jennings said.
Friday: Bracelet Making
Courtesy Teshionda Nickerson Students make bracelets at PAWS.
WYC concluded the week with a bracelet making session during lunch, where students could use colorful beads and charms to create their own bracelets or rings for themselves or to gift to others.Â
“We’re here to give you fun events and give you something to de-stress,” Moreno said. “We would like more people to come.”
If you feel overwhelmed or need a safe space to relax, visit PAWS in B-22 at any time for support. “Stay healthy mentally and physically, and be your best self, and you guys got this,” Moreno said.
To learn more about the Wellness Youth Council, follow their Instagram.