The Bobcat Brain Break: A Proactive Strategy for Student Wellness and Resilience by katherine

The Bobcat Brain Break: A Proactive Strategy for Student Wellness and Resilience by katherine - December 2025 Scholarship Essay

Every​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ student at Ohio University is familiar with that feeling. It is 3 AM, the library lights are on, and the heavier-than-air feeling of papers yet to be written or a final exam to be taken is the most dreadful of all. We are a campus packed with diligent and goal-oriented Bobcats, but sometimes that very dedication backfires on us. We neglect food and very often put our mental health at stake.

Should I have the privilege to be your Student Body President, my first and foremost pledge will be to set in motion the Bobcat Brain Break Initiative. I want to alter not only the pace but also the flow of our campus life, thus transforming self-care into an unarguable and indispensable element of a student's success.

Certainly, we are very lucky to have Counseling and Psychological Services at OU. They are the ones to call if a crisis hits you and they come with the best professional care. The Academic Achievement Center is also a big help in saving the grades every semester. However, the truth is that the gap between the moments when we feel like we will collapse under the stress of the everyday grind and the act of actually booking a therapy appointment is huge. Usually, we decide to tough it out until we reach burnout. The whole procedure is too formal, it takes too long, and sometimes we feel ashamed of admitting that we need help.

What I want to accomplish with my initiative is to be the alternative to that burnout cycle. The Bobcat Brain Break will communicate to the world that one does not need to be in crisis to ask for support.

We will establish the weekly "De-Stress Zones," which will be very conspicuous, and extremely convenient retreats for relaxation and even meditation that do not require signing up. What if after a hard lecture or an exam that is the worst you have ever taken, you come across a little quiet corner in a hallway or spot near the dining hall? They will be the small, tranquil islands that will be temporarily there in the midst of the turmoil of daily campus life.

We will not let you go in search of relief; instead, we will bring it to you. The Express De-Stress Stations will be most desirable among those who need a quick fix. We will make use of our best friends on campus, the therapy dogs, who are known to be instant anxiety relievers. We will also provide simple things such as playdough and coloring books because there are times when the only way to calm your mind is by involving your hands. Nevertheless, some students may want only absolute silence and therefore the Calm Corner will be there to serve them with headphones and tablets containing guided meditation pre-loaded. The rule could not be more straightforward: enter, take a five-minute break, breathe, and leave feeling as if you have accomplished your day.

Another thing you could be worrying about is, “Wouldn't this be very expensive?” The answer is absolutely negative. Bobcat Brain Break will take advantage of the already available peer resources on campus and the only things it needs are small, portable pieces of equipment. Still, its influence will be beyond any price. By making wellness so doable all over the campus, we become aware that it is time for self-care. We communicate the message loud and clear: Taking care of yourself is not a diversion. It is the basis of your success.

Let us find the time to breathe. Let us do more than just survive here. Together, let us start to thrive. ​‍​