As academic pressure builds toward the end of the semester, Columbia is encouraging students to prioritize their wellbeing through its third Wellness Fair, hosted by the Student Government Association and the Center for Student Wellbeing.
The fair brought together campus and community organizations focused on different dimensions of health, offering students tools and resources to support themselves.
Tiana Hill, co-director for the Center of Student Wellbeing, said the goal was to have a wide variety of companies to best support students and to address all the different forms of health, such as physical, mental, spiritual, environmental and more.
When picking the organizations to involve for the event, Hill said she acknowledged how wellness can look different for everyone.
“I wanted to invite organizations that aligned in each dimension,” she said. “I was making sure to reach out to organizations that were diverse in the skill set, and diverse in culture and ethnicity.”
Students moved through the first floor of the Student Center, stopping at tables focused on different aspects of health and wellness. Offerings ranged from free massages to accessible therapy resources, with each table highlighting ways students can take care of themselves. Many left with pamphlets and information to help them use those resources beyond the fair.
SGA Vice President Amelia Lutz said the initiative has expanded since its launch, with two Wellness Fairs now held each academic year.
“I truly think that is so incredibly important for the students, because it allows them to get help at different points. Not everyone who needs help in the spring is gonna need help in the fall, and not everyone who needs help in the fall is gonna need help in the spring,” Lutz said. “You’re gonna hit different audiences at different times of when you need it.”
Lutz, a junior film and television major, pointed out how its wide variety is helpful to the students at Columbia all facing different struggles, making each organization tailored to their specific needs.
“I think what’s most important for students to remember that these kinds of events inspire is that we’re people first and students second. Your health and wellbeing should always be your number one priority.”
SGA Vice President of Finance and junior double major in fine arts and arts and entertainment management Michael Kowalkowski said partnering with the Center for Student Wellbeing made organizing the event more effective and visible.
“They have all the resources,” Kowalkowski said. “Having them in the Student Center puts them right in your face.”
For some students, the Wellness Fair served as an unexpected introduction to available support.
Julian Macedo, junior advertising major, discovered the event as he was visiting the Student Center for registration. He ended up taking a look at the tables, discovering what resources they offer.
“It feels like something that if some of the students look into it, they might not even know, but it might fall into something they need,” Macedo said.
The Wellness Fair comes as the semester enters its final stretch, a time when students often seek additional support. Macedo said that it’s even easy for him to neglect himself at times.
“It’s okay to not be okay, but if you do need assistance, you can always find it in places you didn’t expect, and this can be one of those,” Macedo said.
Copy edited by Venus Tapang
