If you were to look at my Instagram page, you would see me at lunch having avocado toast and laughing with friends. This is the lifestyle I prefer, but the reality of me having lunch during the school year is shoving a protein bar into my mouth as I power walk from my class to work, because I forgot to leave enough time in my Google calendar for self-care.
As college students, we can all relate to the feelings of being “stressed” or “overwhelmed.” We all share these feelings, but we each define them differently. Transitioning to college, we all seem to put pressure on ourselves to achieve and succeed. This is especially the case at NC State where we pride ourselves to “Think and Do” and don’t always prioritize self-care.
When I arrived on campus for my freshman year, all I could think about was how to put my best self forward, so that others would see my potential, and hope that I would be seen as “successful.” I think many of my peers can relate to feeling pressured to succeed. We all want to be 100 percent confident that our major is the perfect fit or the first one to nail down a dream summer internship.
I came into college seeking support, community and to be successfully independent. I remember walking into my employee training at University Recreation as a nervous freshman, wanting to impress my bosses and co-workers.
Instead, I was welcomed by a community that asked how I was doing. They asked me about my relationships with my roommates and gave me tips for things to eat and places to go around campus. I was embraced by a culture that supported living an active and balanced lifestyle. This atmosphere encouraged me that college wasn’t just about being the best academic student or professional employee but growing into the best version of myself.
This influenced how I found “success.” It wasn’t seeing a 3.75 GPA on my transcript or receiving a grant to do undergraduate research. My morning workouts, genuine conversations with my supervisors and spontaneous adventures with my friends were where I found my personal sense of achievement. These examples all made me feel independent. I had found my purpose in college.
NC State was where I was supposed to be.
My morning workouts are what energize me to face each and every day. The task of getting out of bed early seems “impossible” every morning, but when I finish my morning workout, I am reminded that I can surpass all of the obstacles ahead of me that day. This personal feeling is what fuels my passion to be a student-employee for Wellness and Recreation in fitness.
Participating in recreation is empowering and I love watching people experience this.
While active movement is an important part of maintaining my well-being, I also feel the power of slowing down. In order to “Think and Do,” I know I need to chill and say no sometimes. Some of my favorite ways to de-stress are inviting a friend to a yoga class or grabbing a latte at Global Village. There is power in recharging, and it has been my supervisors at Wellness and Recreation who have encouraged me to build these habits of self-care.
I have found that my success in college is understanding what supports my well-being so that I can be the best version of myself. This is why I am proud that University Recreation is evolving to be Wellness and Recreation. More students will see that Carmichael is not just a gym, but that Wellness and Recreation is a place that champions a holistic approach to encourage students to understand and act upon their personal well-being.
Molly Rose ’19 is a parks, recreation and tourism management major with a minor in sports science. She is a very active student-employee at NC State Wellness and Recreation as a program assistant for the group fitness program.
