BRIDGEWATER, Va. – The Eagle Connections program hosted a self-care social on Tuesday, Feb. 10 to encourage students to look after their mental wellbeing and to encourage students to join the program. 

“This is an Eagles Connection event surrounded by the idea of self-care and promoting better self care,” BC student and Eagle Connections member Emma Arenas said.

The event started at 5 p.m. in the KCC lobby and lasted until 6:30 p.m. There were several different activities set up for students to enjoy such as cookie decorating, journaling, a snack table and a raffle. 

Some  students filtered  through all the activities and some just popped in for a cookie or to join the raffle. The cookie decorating table saw the most interest, however, students were just as intrigued by the raffle prizes. 

“We have two different raffles today,” Arenas said. “ We have a Roma Diffuser and then a self-care basket that we’ll be raffling off throughout the night.”

Adrianna Hayes, coordinator for campus enrichment and belonging, said the event, while open to all students, was especially targeted towards first-years in their second semester as a way to check in and remind them to take a break as spring semester classes escalate.

A 2022 study found that there is a significant correlation between academic stress and mental well-being. Students who had a higher amount of academic stress were also found to have a diminished mental well-being. 

“We’re focusing a lot on self-care in their second semester and what that looks like after the first semester,” Hayes said.

An article from Harvard Health Publishing talks about anxiety and stress in college and provides several tips for how to cope including practicing self-care and utilizing campus resources. 

“Just how to care for yourself,” Hayes said about what first year students should learn from the event. “Also, just first years feeling connected to BC and doing it through events like this.”

The self-care social also aimed to encourage students to join the Eagle Connections program and become peer mentors for incoming freshmen. 

“It’s a fun job opportunity as well and a good place to help support other students if you’re interested in that,”  Arenas said. 

Hayes said, Eagle Connections members plan and host these events themselves, working closely with her to get ideas approved and things set up.