College students often face immense stress, especially during midterms, making overall well-being crucial for academic success. To support students in maintaining their health, Dallas College hosted a Wellness Fair on March 5 providing resources and interactive activities to promote mental and physical health.
The fair featured numerous was booths, each with its own goal. One of the organizations, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, focuses on preventing impaired driving and supporting those affected by accidents. To explain their mission at the event, organization member Kelsey Wilmer said, “We’re just here to offer educational resources and raise more awareness on impaired driving prevention to college students.”
In addition, students had the opportunity to experience a DWI (Driving While Intoxicated) simulator, which aimed to demonstrate the dangers of impaired driving. This hands-on experience allowed students to better understand the risks of driving under the influence.
Mental health was another key focus of the Wellness Fair. Organizations such as Metrocare were present to provide resources for students struggling with mental health issues. Metrocare offers counseling services, safety plans and recovery programs tailored to students’ individual needs. Latrondra King, a Metrocare representative said, “We create recovery and safety plans, set objectives and develop essential skills to ensure we are addressing all aspects of student well-being.”
Students are encouraged to reach out to any of these resources any time. “Breasiah Haywood, who is usually on the Dallas College Richland campus, really connects with students and encourages them to come stop by,” said King.
Health Services and Promotion also had a booth at the fair, promoting the importance of maintaining physical health alongside mental well-being. Kaman Green, a representative from the department, emphasized the significance of balancing health with academics.
“Students need to prioritize their health because staying healthy ensures they can successfully complete their classes and reach their ultimate goal — graduation,” said Green, reminding students that maintaining their health is important to ensure they can successfully complete their classes and ultimately graduate.
The Wellness Fair helped students discover new organizations and resources they could turn to. Torre Sullivan, a Richland student who attended the Wellness Fair said, “The Metro Care, they do a clinic every Tuesday and Thursday, I think, or Wednesday and Thursday. And if I choose when I’m not on campus that day, I can do it online. Yeah. That was very interesting to me.”
The fair also allowed students to engage in hands-on activities, such as trying impairment goggles that simulate the effects of intoxication while being asked to perform different tasks. Josiah Vidal tried them and said, “We played basketball and tried the driving simulation. It was trippy.” These interactive activities helped students gain a better understanding of the dangers of drunk driving and the importance of making safe decisions.
The Wellness Fair was a great way to inform students about the various wellness resources available to them. By connecting students with organizations offering both mental and physical health support, Dallas College helped students learn about the resources they can rely on. Dallas College encourages students to make use of these resources throughout the year, ensuring they have the support needed to academically succeed and maintain their well-being.
