How a 24-Year-Old Innovator Is Reimagining the Future of Mental Health Tools
1. Nutrition & Food as Medicine
Colleges and universities have always been more than classrooms. The entire campus becomes an ecosystem where students learn, grow, and discover who they are. But in recent years, higher education has faced a growing challenge: students are arriving on campus with more complex needs and higher stress levels than ever before. Conversations around wellness and wellbeing are essential. Wellness vs. Wellbeing: Why the Distinction Matters You’ve probably heard both terms used interchangeably, but they represent different, though connected, aspects of student health. Wellness is about the daily habits that maintain physical and emotional health like sleep, nutrition, exercise, and stress management. It’s the realm of fitness centers, mindfulness exercises, and campus health initiatives. Wellbeing , on the other hand, looks at the whole picture: not just what students do, but how they feel, function, and connect. It’s the realm of belonging, purpose, and the environment that supports (or hinders) a student’s ability to thrive. When wellbeing is strong, students show up to class more engaged, persist through challenges, and build the resilience to navigate college and beyond.
With Thanksgiving on the horizon, we’re reminded of gratitude: the simple act of noticing what’s good. But between the deadlines, personal pressures, and major changes that come along with college life, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and forget how powerful gratitude can be. Recently, our co-founder Rebecca Sanchez attended the international Enactus competition, and she noticed something unexpected… At the international Enactus competition, she observed that the U.S. student team, when asked what would be most helpful to them at future competitions, didn’t ask for “more funding” or “bigger impact.” They asked for a quiet space to meet before and between competition. They wanted this space so that they could take time together to pause, to go around the circle and share what they were grateful for about each other. One of the students said that this would be the most powerful way to quiet the overwhelm. Even in the pressure cooker of competition, these students recognized how gratitude and relational connection could make a lasting impact on how they performed. Why Gratitude Matters Most Gratitude rewires your focus. When you intentionally notice what’s good (even small things like “the coffee was hot” or “my roommate asked how I’m doing”) you shift your brain away from chronic stress. Gratitude strengthens connection. A round-robin of telling peers “I’m grateful for you because…” cultivates social wellbeing, builds trust, and deepens community. Gratitude offers a reset. When overwhelm hits (midterms, family stress, job uncertainty) a simple gratitude ritual becomes a lifeline. A Simple Thanksgiving Gratitude Practice Gather three friends (in-person or virtual). Pass around a “talking object” (a mug, a pen, a stone). One by one, each person holds the object, names one thing they’re grateful for about the person to their right, then passes it on. End by each person naming one thing they’re grateful for in themselves. Self-gratitude matters. Gratitude Beyond Thanksgiving Gratitude isn’t just for a single holiday. It’s a habit. Consider: Keep a “gratitude jar” on your desk. At the end of each day, write one thing you’re grateful for, drop it in. At semester’s end, read them. When faced with a setback (a grade you didn’t want, a conflict, illness), ask yourself: “What’s one thing, however small, I can be grateful for in this moment?” Pair gratitude with action: thanking someone publicly (email, text, note) amplifies the benefit. This Thanksgiving, remember: gratitude is about expanding your view. In the midst of change, stress, deadlines and growth, gratitude becomes an anchor. As you build your college years, let gratitude be more than a moment. Let it be a practice that shapes your rhythm, your relationships, and your resilience.
Money stress can hang over everything. Financial Wellbeing doesn’t mean adopting a system to budget every penny, but you do need to know where you stand financially. Clarity reduces anxiety about money. If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , taking a peek at your bank statements is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Check balances. Look at your bank accounts and upcoming due dates. Sort into three buckets. Begin tracking your spending into needs, wants, and savings. Set a buffer. Create a goal to set aside $100 (or whatever you can) for emergencies.
College is a time to experiment, not to have your whole life’s path figured out. Occupational Wellbeing means feeling your studies and work are moving you toward something meaningful. Even the tiniest steps are forward motion! If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , getting clear about the direction you’re headed is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Write your why. Jot one sentence about why you chose your major or current career path. Bookmark a resource. Visit your career center website and save one page or tool. Draft a message. Write (but don’t send yet) a short note asking someone for an informational chat.
Your space can set the tone for how you think and feel. A cluttered desk or messy room can make stress heavier. The fix for Environmental Wellbeing isn’t a total overhaul of your space. If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , clearing one cluttered area is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Do a five-minute reset. Clear off your desk, declutter your nightstand, or clean out your backpack. Create a signal. How can you cue your brain that it’s time to get down to business with items you have on hand? Turn on a lamp or grab a blanket to throw over your lap to signal “study mode.” Park your phone. Pick a spot in your room to leave your phone during focused work time. Don’t forget to turn off notifications!
Spiritual Wellbeing isn’t limited to religion. Making time for identifying meaning, reflection, and alignment with your values are spiritual practices in and of themselves. When you know and honor what matters most to you, decisions and stress feel easier to handle. If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , identifying your values is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Write your values. Put your top three values on a sticky note near your desk. Take five minutes of quiet. Walk, focus on your breath, or just sit in silence without your phone or agenda. Spot meaning. Write down one moment that felt important or grounding today.
Your brain can’t run on all-nighters forever. Intellectual Wellbeing doesn’t mean forcing yourself to study harder and longer Instead, ask yourself how you can study smarter and stay curious about subjects that interest you. Short bursts of focus will do more for your learning than endless cramming. If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , giving the Pomodoro Method a try is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Try a Pomodoro. Set a 25-minute timer, work on one study task, then take a 5-minute break. Ask before you read. Jot down three questions you want answered before you start a reading assignment. Feed your curiosity. Spend ten minutes exploring a subject or a question just because it interests you.
Being surrounded by people doesn’t always mean you feel connected. College can get lonely, especially if you’re in a new place or adjusting to a new routine. The good news? Social Wellbeing often grows from the smallest steps. If you marked this dimension as a (!) in your Student Wellbeing Check-In , sending one simple text message to connect is a great place to begin. First Steps You Can Try Today Send a text. Ask one person if they’d like to grab a coffee, study or walk to class together this week. Visit office hours. Connecting with a professor or TA can create support beyond academics. Say hello. Introduce yourself to a neighbor in your dorm, apartment, or library study space.