Donya Rouzbehi
Sports Editor
The Office of International Services and Study Abroad hosted its Global Wellness Hour event Tuesday in the Ludwick Center.
Sandwiches, chips and drinks were provided as well as games like UNO and chess.
The event gave an opportunity for students to relax and decompress during midterms, peaceful music played in the background while students painted and colored.
Ebony Williams, CARE co-chair and manager of student outreach and support, gave a presentation on behavioral and wellness referrals.
Williams also talked about the CARE Network and their TimelyCare, Virtual Health and Well-Being for Education is a virtual health provider built for education and mental health services.
With the program, students have 24/7 access to virtual mental and emotional support and can schedule appointments privately.
Maribel Rodriguez, director of international services and study abroad, intends to create a space where all students, international or local, can take a break and connect.
She believes students need an environment where they can regroup during a hectic week of deadlines and exams, especially amidst all the chaos happening around the world.
“There’s not really an agenda,” Rodriguez said. “We provide spaces where students can not only actually get resources such as CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) but also find a way to connect with other students and relax.”
Jim Brooks, an international student advisor, thinks most students are stressed in many aspects of their lives. Whether it be in their studies or personal lives, students everywhere experience daily struggles.
Brooks and other organizers work together to ensure that students have opportunities to attend wellness events.
“We are all looking for a light,” Brooks said. “We’re looking for a bright spot in any day. And any way that we can offer a little bit of that is what we’re looking for right now.”
Senior psychology major Elena Perez enjoyed being able to express herself creatively by painting. She also appreciated the unity of the event and how it brought students together during such a busy week.
“It’s nice to be surrounded by people who are dealing with the same things and take the load off,” Perez said. “You can choose to either talk to people or just be on your own.”
Senior business major Jackeline Santana felt that the arts portion of the event was very grounding.
“The coloring pages with the peaceful music helped refresh my mind in the midst of midterms,” Santana said.
To make an appointment with TimelyCare, visit timelycare.com/lets-talk.
Donya Rouzbehi can be reached at donya.rouzbehi@laverne.edu.
Donya Rouzbehi is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism, and staff photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She has previously served as sports editor and a staff writer for the Campus Times, and is co-editor-in-chief of La Verne Magazine. Her other writing can be found at trillmag.com/author/donya-rouzbehi
Joseph Nocero is a senior photography major at the University of La Verne and a staff photographer for the Campus Times and photography editor for La Verne Magazine. His work can also be found at Joseph Nocero Photography.
