Page 13 - The Edge Issue 7

Sources of
Strength
New Edgewood program helps students find support Story by Felicity Torres
Every Edgewood student has noticed the the the posters in the the the hallways and lawn signs on the the the grass that advertise Edgewood’s “Sources “Sources of
of
Strength
Strength
” ” But what exactly does this “Sources “Sources of
of
Strength” club do? This program was built to show students at at Edgewood that there are always resources available to to them when they’re struggling “It helps people who need someone to to to to talk to to to to It It seems like the the type of
club I I I I would want to to to join so so I I I I can help help others and make an an an an impact ” said Makenna Walter 8 Sources of
Strength
is is a a a a a a a a a a a great club to to to join if you are looking to to to help help people its primary focus is is is to to to help help those who struggle with issues at school or or home Sources of
Strength
was originally made to be a a a a a youth suicide prevention project but Edgewood has expanded the club Now Sources of
Strength
simply connects students to to resources and methods to to deal
with whatever problems they may have “The purpose is to to teach people how to to manage their stress emotions anxieties etc or or where to get help before they are in crisis ” said Ms Elizabeth Cofer The “color wheel” of
of
of
the the club represents all of
of
of
the the different
sources of
of
strength a a a a a student has access to For instance the color yellow represents friendship About
twice a a a a a year the club comes out out with a a a a a new campaign to represent different
things
on on the the the wheel Many students for instance noticed the the the turkeys on on on the the the cafeteria wall during Thanksgiving Each “turkey” was was decorated with a a a a a a a a a a a a description of
of
something a a a a a a a a a student student was was thankful for Sources of
of
Strength
made the the the the turkeys and incorporated the the the the student student body into the the the the campaign campaign In addition to to visual campaigns the the the the club supports many many school activities The 2019 Spirit Week for for Sources of
Strength
was an an an an opportunity for for many many students to get their mind away from stress and have some fun The week included activities designed to help students relax All of
these programs and and campaigns have the the purpose of
of
helping students to become more comfortable and and open with talking about their mental health “Sources of
Strength
is is a a a a a a a a a a a a group that is is designed for peer involvement in in in mental health and and anti-bullying awareness and and and we strive to to to work on ways for students to to to be able to to to reflect and and talk about these things
” said Maisy Davis 10 Last year when Sources of
Strength
was new to Edgewood it launched fewer mental health awareness ventures Over time however the the club expanded and and this year there are are many more campaigns to spread awareness about support These campaigns work to make sure that students recognize their own sources of
strength When a a a a a a a student student feels uncomfortable talking to their their their friends about certain issues in in in their their their lives it can be a a a a a a a a a a good idea for them to consult their their family Family support is is one of
of
the the the the most important “Sources of
of
Strength
” as it can be very helpful for a a a a a a a a a student to know they have a a a a a a a a a reliable and constant support system “My source of
strength is family because they help me me me through hard times and encourage me me me to do my best ” said Chloe Payne 7 Students like Payne Payne benefit from extracurricular support systems such as their families But some some students need to to talk to to someone they trust at school Sources of
of
Strength
helps to to connect students to to all of
of
the the the ways they they can get help help and feel better when they’re struggling Mentors which occupy the the the green wedge on the the color wheel are a a a great resource for students A mentor is is an experienced and trusted adviser someone you can go to to at any time Mentors are all around Edgewood not only in the the form of
teachers but aditionally other students can act as mentors for someone who needs to talk Positive friends are people who who always look on on the bright side of
things
and and and make difficult situations easier to handle Sometimes friends help us us find our our strengths and and and encourage us to be ourselves All of
of
of
of
the the the the different
different
wedges on the the the the color wheel have the the the the purpose of
of
of
of
reminding students of
of
of
of
all the the the the the the different
different
methods of
of
of
of
support support they have have available to them “They have have a a a a a a a a a a a a a support support system whether it is is here at at at school or or at at at home Just talking about your issues can help alleviate some of
of
the stress ” said Ms Czajka Sources of
of
Strength
is a a a a a a a a a a a great way for students students to help others While many students students already have a a a a a a a a a a a a a a lot on their plate it can be be a a a a a a a a a a a a good idea to to take some time to to think about other students students who may be be be struggling “If students students want to be be be involved they should ask their teachers if it fit may be be a a a a a a a a a a good fit for them and by all means join!” said Davis While this new club is is is available at many other schools across the the country it has been uniquely molded to Edgewood Edgewood and now represents a a a a a a constant avenue of
of
support for Edgewood Edgewood students students Sources of
of
Strength
students students will continue to to to to work to to to to implement new plans and campaigns to to to to encourage every student to to to to think about their mental health 12