Hoover High School sophomores tackled anxiety and stress head-on Wednesday by hosting their first self-care fair.
Around 100 Year 10 students have spent the past four months researching treatments to help improve their mental health.
Their project-based learning began with science and English classes, examining the physiology and social causes of childhood anxiety, depression, and isolation.
Ivanna Ramirez, 15, is an honors student. She proudly admits that she uses animal therapy to help her adjust her attitude.
“Having a dog literally makes me more social. Having a dog always makes me more optimistic,” Ivanna said.
She hosted a booth with cute stuffed animals to educate her classmates about the mental health benefits they enjoy.
Valerie Woodfill was one of the veteran teachers who guided the project work.
“I think we all need a reminder of the techniques we can practice to help our mental health,” Woodfill said. “(That includes) everything from meditation to aromatherapy to breathing exercises. .”
Five hundred Hoover students, from freshmen to seniors, roamed the school’s gymnasium throughout the day, experiencing options for healing and help when they needed it most.
“Therapy is just finding ways to help yourself and make sure you’re doing well and maintain stress,” said Chanel Giron, one of the event’s student organizers.
Other therapies introduced at the fair included vigorous exercise, sensory slime making, and the use of ice-cold water. Tania Garibay, 16, soaked her hands in a bowl of frozen water to improve blood circulation and lower stress levels.
“All I’m thinking about is my hands and what they feel like when they’re cold. It takes my mind off things,” she said. It’s really helpful. ”
Self-care is not often taught in traditional curricula. But Hoover High School is a community school, so it’s the perfect environment for new ideas and solutions.
a community school partners with outside organizations to provide resources that address the specific needs of students and their families.
All students on campus are survivors of the COVID-19 shutdown and its associated effects.
Nattiya Salih, 16, is one of the second-year organizers.
“I think it made everyone feel like they were in their own bubble and very isolated. So it brought it up here and we had to talk about how we were feeling and deal with stress. “I had a hard time finding a way to do it,” she said.
