On Sep. 9, a new room was opened in the BVH library called The Wellness Room, organized by former science teacher and current librarian Adrienne Marriott. The old storage room used to be home to encyclopedias and other library equipment used prior to the rise of technology. According to Marriott, the district had been reaching out to the schools, proposing a safe space for students to relax in before or during classes.
“We have all had a student come into our room and be visibly upset. At school, [students] do not have any privacy and do not want [others to know] that they are upset and so now they can send a student here [The Wellness Room].” Marriott said.
Marriott mentioned how open she is about her own mental health problems and how it helps her relate to the students who have similar struggles. She has found effective treatment for herself and hopes that other students and teachers can use the room to their advantage.
“[It would be nice] if we had more spaces available [like this]. I know that the counselors would probably like to have a similar space as well. They don’t have [enough] space too. I think incorporating some quieter places is a really nice idea,” Marriot said.
Marriott has added a variety of items belonging to her old science classroom to The Wellness Room for students to have and play with when they feel anxious or uneasy. Peer Counseling Advisor and Geography and AP Psychology teacher Laura Lowery, has helped contribute to the Wellness room through her donations.
“I left my yoga mat in here for students to use. Lowery donated some sensory fidget [toys] because students enjoy them. There [are] some stuffed animals if you need to have a cuddle. There [are] foam rollers if you need more of calming your body and a bin of Legos if you need to snap something together,” Marriott said.
Lowery has donated her weighted teddy bear to The Wellness Room as well. Lowery has noted that a recurring topic in her class has been about the effects of stress on students. As the advisor of Peer Counseling, a student-run support group, Lowery has expressed her excitement about the new wellness room and the future opportunities Peer Counseling could have with the room, along with the benefits the room brings.
“I am particularly excited because [for years] the Peer Counseling program, [has] been looking for a space that feels comfortable and safe that students can use that is not completely secluded or private. [The Wellness Room] was the perfect spot because there [are] windows so we can keep an eye on [students] but it also has some privacy,” Lowery said.
Lowery notes later on how Peer Counseling plans in the future to use the room. As of now, she has a plan for how students can contact peer counselors and set up a meeting using modern technology.
“We haven’t used it yet, but we would like to get the word out that students can request to talk to a peer counselor privately by sending us a direct message on our instagram account, and then we can call [them] out of class, get [them] a pass to talk to a peer counselor, and [they will] go to The Wellness Room to talk,” Lowery said.
Peer counselor and senior Kaia Thorsell-Pohl expressed her opinions about the room and the different functions it has, including but not limited to the stuffed animals, books and other various items found inside the room.
“The rooms are a really nice spot, it is a quiet place to get away. You can play music; in there it is almost noise canceling from the rest of the library. There are chairs and sensory fidget toys, magazines and books for students to use,” Phol said.
Pohl mentions that there are around two other one-on-one peer counselors inside the program, and believes that seeing The Wellness Room as a safe space rather than an open space is crucial for those meetings. Phol later goes on to explain her opinion about the one-on-one Peer Counseling sessions inside The Wellness Room.
“[In] one-on-one therapy experiences it is nice to set your mind on an activity like Lego puzzles [or] drawing. When you are talking you can say whatever you want without realizing it. You are not scared or embarrassed to say it, you feel comfort,” Pohl said.
Pohl suggests heading to The Wellness Room if you need to get away. This could range from homework to the noise inside the library, people in the halls or even setting up a meeting with a peer counselor.
“I hope that it is going to be someplace that can provide a genuine one-on-one environment, not just sitting in the back of the library where people [are] talking or checking out books. I think it is going to be a good place [for students] to separate [themselves] and actually focus on the topics at hand,” Pohl said.
Furthermore, Pohl expresses that if you feel it would be beneficial, sign up for Peer Counseling to help relieve your stress and any other problems you may be having. She also notes that there is more than just sitting down at a table and talking, but also that having a connection with one another in a secluded room, such as The Wellness Room can really be helpful.
“I think it is our foundation for how we go into the day and whether or not we can be productive, whether or not we can be focused and successful. If our mental health is struggling, then it is going to be a struggle to do what we are here for,” Lowery said.
