Wellness Week with Puppies, Mocktails, and More
October 15, 2024
UNC School of Law energized its campus with wellness activities last week. The annual Wellness Week, from October 8-10, immersed Carolina Law students in experiences supporting their mental health, stress management, and overall well-being.
Students engaged in activities beyond traditional academic support. They played with adoptable puppies, crafted mocktails, and celebrated the opening of a new on-campus food pantry. These events gave future legal professionals tools to maintain their well-being throughout their education and careers.
Students felt the impact immediately. One participant in the “Puppies on the Porch” event said, “This was exactly what I needed. Taking a break to play with puppies really helped me reset and refocus.”
Lucinda “Cindi” Gardner, director of student services at Carolina Law, explained the week’s broader vision. “We’re cultivating a culture of wellness that extends far beyond a single week,” Gardner said. “By providing students with various tools and resources, we’re supporting their well-being throughout their law school journey and into their professional lives.”
The “Mocktober Mixology Social” showed the school’s commitment to holistic wellness, offering students a chance to network and relax without alcohol. Gardner elaborated on this initiative, saying, “We’re helping to destigmatize the concept of walking into a bar and not ordering a drink. You can order a mocktail, or a Diet Coke, or whatever.”
The school also tackled food insecurity by opening “Food for Thought,” a new on-campus food pantry. Jessica Hobbs ’24, a recent Carolina Law graduate, spearheaded this initiative and returned to campus for the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “I’m thrilled to celebrate the grand reopening of Food for Thought,” Hobbs said. “Everyone deserves support, food, and the resources they need to survive and thrive – whether they’re prospective students, current students, staff, or faculty.”
Dean Martin H. Brinkley ’92 reinforced the community focus of this initiative. “It’s about lifting up people in our community through compassion who are enduring food insecurity,” Brinkley said at the ceremony.
The week also addressed mental health in the legal profession, featuring discussions with representatives from the Wake County Bar and North Carolina BarCARES. These conversations aimed to normalize mental health discussions among future legal professionals.
As the academic year progresses, this commitment to nurturing the whole student continues to shape a supportive community at Carolina Law, where success is measured not just in grades, but in well-being.