Brianna Wallen – General Reporter
College students are considered vulnerable to a number of mental health problems. According to a 2023 survey by TimelyCare, 71% of college students reported that they struggle with issues such as stress, anxiety and depression.
Students at this university are no exception. While students tackle exams, extracurriculars and other outside stressors, it is important for students to prioritize their mental health. For this reason, the Health Services department planned the weekly mindfulness series, “Manifesting Your Best Self”.
On Friday, Oct. 20, at 12:30 p.m., the event occurred at the Adanti Student Center in Room 204. Led by Linda Sadinsky, an Advanced practice registered nurse and certified mental wellness coach, participants were able to reach a state of tranquility through a series of deep breaths, visualization and manifesting.
“The purpose of this event is to help the students and faculty to be able to decrease their stress and anxiety and become more mindful so they can achieve their goals,” Sadinsky said.
Participants engaged in mindfulness for their own personal objectives. Jenna Curl, a graduate student and assistant of the Master of Business Administration at the university, said that she signed up for the event two weeks ago due to a sparked interest in learning about mediation. After recently losing her grandfather, the mindfulness session reached her on a spiritual level.
“I’m grieving my grandfather, and I feel this helped with my healing process,” Curl said. “I feel like I can visit him in that space.”
In the 45-minute experience, participants explored the art of mindfulness as they practiced deep breathing and imagined their “happy place”.
Curls said she viewed the meditation as a reset button, and she enjoyed using the lavender oil and amethyst crystal.
The success of mindfulness is not exclusive to this group. Sadinsky recommends that everyone practice mindfulness, as it has numerous benefits.
“It helps you to stay grounded in the present and decreases anxiety about those things we have no control over,” Sadinsky said. “And also have a much more grateful and positive outlook on life.”
Sadinsky has a long history of mindfulness, as it helped her through a stressful time in her life.
“I started my mindfulness journey 15 years ago as I was going back to school to become a nurse practitioner with four kids,” Sadinsky said.
The firm believer of mindfulness has been a nurse for 37 years. Long after graduate school, Sadinsky continued mindfulness practices by incorporating it into her everyday life.
“I do meditation on my way to work to get into the zone and be the best person I can be to help other people,” Sadinsky said.
One of these practices involves the valuable quality of gratitude.
“When I wake up every morning, as soon as I open my eyes, I practice gratitude,” Sadinsky said. “I think and visualize a minimum of three things I’m grateful for. It helps to set a positive tone for the day.”
While mindfulness played an active role in Sadinsky’s life, she said that mindfulness is for everyone.
“It can give everyone a little more peace because we all need it in this world,” Sadinsky said.
