This past week, students gathered around Lake Ruby to enjoy paddle boarding and meditation with Southern Adventures.

Hosted by Student Wellness and Health Promotion, this event is meant to help students get away from classes and take a break.

“So the person I asked said it was relaxing and stuff, and I’ve been going through a lot this week, and I just needed to get my mind off things and not focus on school,” said freshman Zoe Mike-Okunseri. “Just focus on other things apart from school, grades, teachers, and assignments, just to relax. Just focus on the water.”

In order to get into the lake, students had to sign a waiver and do a 5 minute training with instructors from Southern Adventures.

Many students dropped by in between classes for a mental health break.

“This is a really great event, it’s an opportunity to learn how to meditate and it’s a partnership with several campus partners,” said Director of Student Wellness and Health Promotion Gemma Skuraton. “We’re the Office of Student Wellness and Health Promotion, so we’re sponsoring the event. And then CRI is here, Campus Recreation and Intramurals, their Southern Adventures team has brought paddleboards. And then our Counseling Center is here to help lead mediation.”

The Counseling Center was also at the lake to give students information on their department and to make them aware of how important mental health is.

Some students were even given care packages from CVS as a reward for getting in the water and giving themselves a break.

Even though it was raining outside, there was a much bigger turnout of students than these organizations expected, which left them satisfied.