Five years ago, Center for Campus Wellness was a small team of 6 individuals. Fast forward to today, and we are double that number with no signs of slowing down. CCW has undergone so many changes and transitions in the past five years and each change has allowed for more direction, growth, creativity, and a greater commitment to our work.
Around this time two years ago, one of closest childhood friends took his own life. I was completely blindsided. The man I had seen 3 months prior seemed excited for his future, telling stories of college, laughing, and cruising downtown with a big smile. Now, he was no longer around. It didn’t seem possible.
In the early days of the CCW, there were two staff health educators to provide health education programming and services for the entire student population. That’s 2 people... in charge of providing for nearly 30,000 students. That’s scary math!
March is Healthy Relationships Month, which can feel like a welcome opportunity to explore as it is a topic that’s not quite as heavy as February’s Stalking Awareness Month. It is a topic we could all spend a few extra minutes on this month. Whether we’re single or in a relationship, or whether we prefer labels or ambiguity, we all deserve safe, respectful, functional relationships with the people who choose to include in our lives.
A Student Perspective: I’ve been volunteering as an ACES Peer Health Educator at the Center for Campus Wellness for upwards of two years now and if Tayler pre-ACES were to see Tayler now, they would not even recognize themselves. One major change I’ve felt has been feeling the confidence to make important decisions about my own wellness.