Embedded Files
Health. The issue most significant to me this past year has been health. Mental, physical, global, and emotional....
Health. The issue most significant to me this past year has been health. Mental, physical, global, and emotional....
Freshman year was a great way to solidify where I fit at UC, socially and academically. Before I knew it, I found myself reminiscing about how much simpler everything seemed last year. Suddenly, I was faced with off-campus housing, isolating me from campus and old friends. My mental health took a toll from not being able to see my friends as much on the weekends, and my physical health due to juggling school and extracurriculars, but failing to make exercise a priority. To paint a picture, some of my activities this year involved directing a student organization, volunteering every Sunday at the Children’s Hospital to provide toys to children on bedrest, interning at a nonprofit as a racial justice organizer, and constantly searching for research labs. This last one specifically had a very large impact on my mental and emotional health as I constantly felt like I was “falling behind” everyone else. Sleep deprived, anxious, and stressed- I realized my mental, physical, and community health needed to become everything to me.
Freshman year was a great way to solidify where I fit at UC, socially and academically. Before I knew it, I found myself reminiscing about how much simpler everything seemed last year. Suddenly, I was faced with off-campus housing, isolating me from campus and old friends. My mental health took a toll from not being able to see my friends as much on the weekends, and my physical health due to juggling school and extracurriculars, but failing to make exercise a priority. To paint a picture, some of my activities this year involved directing a student organization, volunteering every Sunday at the Children’s Hospital to provide toys to children on bedrest, interning at a nonprofit as a racial justice organizer, and constantly searching for research labs. This last one specifically had a very large impact on my mental and emotional health as I constantly felt like I was “falling behind” everyone else. Sleep deprived, anxious, and stressed- I realized my mental, physical, and community health needed to become everything to me.
First, community and global health. I addressed this issue through my work as the co-president of my organization: The Health Equity and Advocacy League. HEAL was finally certified by SAB UC as an official registered student organization after an entire semester of grueling work. My co-president, Abby, and I were ecstatic to receive that certification (seen below) recognizing us as an official student organization. With this, we were able to receive funding from the school and access valuable resources. This simple sheet of paper opened the doors to do more in one semester than we had done the entire year prior. HEAL has been successful in establishing long-lasting relationships with students all over the world- from Cincinnati to Nigeria. Through events with other UC organizations and collaborations with international medical clinics, I truly understood the impact I can have on addressing racial health disparities.
First, community and global health. I addressed this issue through my work as the co-president of my organization: The Health Equity and Advocacy League. HEAL was finally certified by SAB UC as an official registered student organization after an entire semester of grueling work. My co-president, Abby, and I were ecstatic to receive that certification (seen below) recognizing us as an official student organization. With this, we were able to receive funding from the school and access valuable resources. This simple sheet of paper opened the doors to do more in one semester than we had done the entire year prior. HEAL has been successful in establishing long-lasting relationships with students all over the world- from Cincinnati to Nigeria. Through events with other UC organizations and collaborations with international medical clinics, I truly understood the impact I can have on addressing racial health disparities.
Navigating being president of an E-board meant another thing on my plate: this is where the mental health prioritization came in. This year, I had to navigate my way through increasingly challenging courses in comparison to freshman year- classes such as organic chemistry, physics, and biomedical engineering courses. I understood that if I did not find a way to balance my extracurriculars with school that it would put a burden on me too large to allow. I wanted to ensure that I found ways to prioritize my mental and physical health in the midst of it all. This included finding a passion for lifting, cooking, painting, and a little retail therapy (if I’m being completely honest).
Navigating being president of an E-board meant another thing on my plate: this is where the mental health prioritization came in. This year, I had to navigate my way through increasingly challenging courses in comparison to freshman year- classes such as organic chemistry, physics, and biomedical engineering courses. I understood that if I did not find a way to balance my extracurriculars with school that it would put a burden on me too large to allow. I wanted to ensure that I found ways to prioritize my mental and physical health in the midst of it all. This included finding a passion for lifting, cooking, painting, and a little retail therapy (if I’m being completely honest).
As students, we constantly hear how important it is to prioritize mental health and take necessary personal days. However, implementing these things is much harder than many realize. One goal I have for this summer is learning how to efficiently and effectively manage my stress and anxiety, and remember to always prioritize all holistic ideas of health through the midst of it all. I am excited to see how this newfound prioritization allows me to grow as a daughter, friend, student, dreamer, and global scholar.
As students, we constantly hear how important it is to prioritize mental health and take necessary personal days. However, implementing these things is much harder than many realize. One goal I have for this summer is learning how to efficiently and effectively manage my stress and anxiety, and remember to always prioritize all holistic ideas of health through the midst of it all. I am excited to see how this newfound prioritization allows me to grow as a daughter, friend, student, dreamer, and global scholar.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse