Listen to your body. Remember who you are. Expand your definition of wellness.
These were among the wellness strategies shared by educator and motivational speaker RaKim “RahK” Lash in his keynote presentation during Keuka College’s Passport to Wellness on Wednesday, Oct. 8.
Passport to Wellness showcases the College’s ongoing commitment to providing an environment that supports all aspects of student health. The daylong initiative highlights the eight dimensions of wellness through dozens of activities and presentations led by faculty, staff, outside experts, and students themselves.
Students take part in a presentation during Passport to Wellness, exploring ways to support their overall well-being.
For the first time, classes were set aside to encourage student participation, and it showed. Nearly 600 students accounted for thousands of individual interactions with the various displays, including the keynote presentation.
Strolling frequently from the podium in the Hawkins Lounge of the Dahlstrom Student Center, keynote presenter RahK didn’t so much speak to the audience as lead a conversation among the 70 or so students, faculty, and staff. His address, “The Most Important Relationship We’ll Ever Have,” focused on how to strengthen one’s relationships by strengthening oneself.
“The relationship we have with ourselves is the most important relationship we will ever have. Every other relationship is influenced and formed by how we think about ourselves, how we feel about ourselves, our insecurities, things we’re still wrestling with, and things that we’re thinking that may not necessarily be rooted in facts.”
A former Director of Student Leadership & Engagement at Keuka College, RahK counseled honest self-examination – emotional, mental, and spiritual – and assessment of how we see the world versus how we are perceived in the world. He also encouraged students to take advantage of the many resources available for overcoming challenges – including tapping the expertise of faculty and staff.
“If there’s someone here you haven’t met,” he told them, “I encourage you to close that opportunity gap.”
Students connect with a therapy dog during Passport to Wellness, highlighting the importance of emotional well-being and self-care.
Opportunity gaps were few and far between across campus though the day. Students had access to some five dozen presentations on topics ranging from suicide prevention to reconnecting with nature to stress management to substance abuse to financial management. There were wellness walks, therapy dogs, self-care crafts, lawn games, and workshops aimed at building communication skills.
The variety of topics and delivery methods are a big part of what made this semester’s Passport to Wellness a success, said Associate Vice President for Experiential Education and Wellness Dr. Carrie Roberts ’02, one of the event’s chief organizers.
“Passport to Wellness invited students to explore all eight dimensions of wellness, and what struck me most was how personal it became,” she said. “Each student walked away with something from every dimension that fit their own needs and lifestyle, whether that was a new way to move, a tool for managing stress, a connection with a peer, or a fresh sense of purpose. With 3,694 check-ins from 593 unique students in a single day, our community showed that wellness isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s a culture we build together, one choice at a time.”
