College can and usually will be a difficult transition for many young adults. Many students are leaving home for the first time while also entering a new school, marking the first chapter of their adult lives. 

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), “Anxiety is the top presenting concern among college students (41.6%), followed by depression (36.4%) and relationship problems (35.8%).” 

Mental health awareness is an ongoing issue across college campuses in America. In November and December of 2021, students at Rowan gathered together to voice their concerns about mental health resources at the University. 

Officials at Rowan have taken concerns seriously, working to improve mental health resources at Rowan, as well as raise awareness for the resources already implemented for students.  

On March 21 at 2 p.m., the Wellness Center held an open conversation in room 112 about regulating emotions. 

The conversation was presented by Healthy Campus Initiatives (HCI) intern Maria Espejo. Espejo is a senior majoring in psychology at Rowan. According to the Healthy Campus Initiatives webpage, they are “committed to educating the Rowan University community about making healthy choices and decisions regarding their personal wellness that will enhance the college experience.”

During the hour-long talk, Espejo gave students and attendants tips and tricks on how to regulate everyday emotions such as anger, sadness, anxiety, and frustration. 

“I wanted to go in the way of self-care or ‘what can you do in this moment kind of thing,’” Espejo said. 

Students and attendants were given real-life scenarios and asked, honestly, how they would and should respond to that specific scenario. 

Each individual was encouraged to talk and to answer questions honestly, judgment-free.

The conversation led to a deeper discussion. Individuals openly talked about their own concerns and genuine fears. The safe environment and open discussion were all Espejo had hoped for. 

“This turned out a heck of a lot better than I thought it would be,” Espejo said.

Towards the end of the hour-long event, all participants came together to create a collective scenario of their own. After creating the scenario, everyone was asked how they would respond. Like scenarios before, participants answered honestly.

At the end of the hour, Espejo asked what the moral of the lesson would be. 

The collective answer is: to not let your emotions affect the entirety of the situation.

To learn more about Healthy Campus Initiatives, visit https://sites.rowan.edu/wellness/hci/index.html or follow them on social media at @Rowan HCI.

According to the Wellness Center webpage, Rowan also has a Stress Management and Response Team, (SMART.) The team was created to “provide a form of crisis intervention specifically designed to help the Rowan community cope with highly stressful or traumatic events.”

For more information regarding emotion control or general questions about health, the Wellness Center can be contacted at (856)-256-4333. To speak to a counselor, press option three. 

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