The Women’s Resource Center held its first self-care event this month, focusing on the mind. The event was held Feb. 27, and included a short, three-session program focused on teaching students the three aspects of self care: mind, body and soul.
Second-year graduate student Lisa Nena conceived and executed the idea.
“I’m a really big advocate person, as one could tell. I think it’s important to speak out for people and to love people. The Women’s Resource Center is just such a great place for that. People don’t realize but really, all we’re here for is just all students – male, female – faculty [and] staff,” Nena said.
Nena explains that she came up with the idea for the event when she noticed a lot of students coming in exhausted or having issues related to self-shaming. She wanted to create a comfortable space where workers could remind people of the importance of self-love and care.
In this first session, the 10 attendees received a reusable cup with a small gift inside, and snacks were provided. Nena began with a prayer and followed up by explaining the purpose of this first event.
“So this week is mind [wellness week], and it’s actually National Eating Disorder Awareness week. And I was thinking about the fact that a lot of the time, self-love is so important, and, like I said, we chose mind first because that’s what you filter everything through,” Nena said. “I think the hardest person to defeat in this is yourself, so I was hoping all the activities could just be a gentle reminder that you are in power and you have the capacity to change your own life.”
The session included a Dove Beauty video, a few readings from the Bible, a couple of activities that allowed the group to share thoughts and a message from Nena. One of the activities encouraged women to share five things they liked about their physical appearance and five things they liked about their personalities.
“I did benefit a lot because while I was writing my list, I was thinking about how it may be seen as conceited, but then it made me realize that it’s OK and it’s totally fine to write things about myself that I like and not be ashamed or anything like that,” said Ladonna Rodriguez, a graduate student in the College Counseling and Student Development program.
Rodriguez helped Nena coordinate the event and shared her personal thoughts on self-care with the group. Although only women attended, the Women’s Resource Center invites all students, faculty and staff to be a part of the sessions. No one is required to share if they don’t feel comfortable, as the WRC aims to make itself a safe place to come and learn.
“I attended this session because I am being mentored by Lisa, who ran the group, and I think it’s really important to work on all aspects of self-care. I think that I’m going to leave here feeling encouraged and that I’m supported in having healthy views of myself despite other influences that may tell me I shouldn’t have a healthy view of myself,” said sophomore social work major Courtney Frybarger.
The next session is March 20 from 1-2 p.m. with a conversation centered around the body and how that relates to self-care.
“We are going to do recipes and just talk about different ways to take care of yourself, like during finals week – how to handle stress and maybe mention alternatives to caffeine to help students stay awake. This conversation will just be a helpful reminder to be mindful of what we are eating or doing on a daily basis. Also, we’re going to have food, so it’s going to be fun,” Nena said.
The Women’s Resource Center is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and welcomes anyone who would like more information.