A few weeks ago, on August 27th, I spent an hour of my afternoon attending an information session and presentation about the 9 Dimensions of Wellness put on by the Student Wellness Center from 7:00-8:00pm in Mendenhall 100. At this Academic event, we were educated on a variety of topics including the programs and services provided by the Student Wellness Center, the 9 Dimensions of Wellness, how to set “SMART Goals,” and more. It was very useful information and served as a much-needed refresher and elaboration on the services and programs we were educated on during my first year as well as an introduction to other services, programs, and approaches to wellness that I had not yet had insight on.

While this event does not specifically relate to the topic of International Affairs or any other topics I have learned about in my coursework, it can be more broadly applied to either as it has to do with my own personal wellness and the wellness of others, both of which are pertinent to any and all activities or pursuits I might take part in that include other people. With everything going on in the lives of college students these days, I think it was especially important for the first years and second years alike to be educated, or re-educated, on the topic of overall wellness and how to achieve it via individual means as well as through the free campus programs provided by the Student Wellness Center.

I found learning about programs including the Nutrition Coaching, the Body Project, Wellness Ambassadors, and Wellness Coaching to be most interesting and important in the span of the one hour session. While all nine dimensions are important, I feel strongly that, especially for college students, the two most important, foundational, and fundamental dimensions to ensure success in achieving wellness in all other seven dimensions are physical and emotional wellness. With these dimensions being the most important in my opinion, I do not mean to discredit any of the other dimensions or programs affiliated with them. Personally, I have seen and experienced struggle with both of these dimensions and have found that it is helpful to be well in these areas to achieve wellness in the others. Also, these programs stuck out to me because they are either programs I would like to use myself or would like for others to make use of being that they are free and so easily accessed. 

I found the presentation to be extremely helpful and informative. I very much enjoyed the the goal setting activities along with the open discussions about these goals and their relation to the nine dimensions of wellness. The other scholars were very open and revealing in their answers which surprised me because most of the attendees were first years. Their honesty and vulnerability was inspiring and their intentions to accomplish these goals were encouraging. I am very glad that I decided to attend this presentation on the 9 Dimensions of Wellness put on by the Student Wellness Center because of the insight that I gained not only into all the university has to offer but into the lives of my fellow peers, as well.