This content was published: September 7, 2023. Phone numbers, email addresses, and other information may have changed.
From Overwhelmed to Thriving: Cultivating Well-Being in the Classroom
Posted by anne.grey
In this timely and grounding presentation, Maria Sefchick del Paso (Ethnic Studies and College Success Instructor at Portland Community College) addresses the pervasive mental health and loneliness crisis affecting college students and faculty alike. Drawing from global statistics and personal insights, Sefchick del Paso identifies the core drivers of academic burnout and isolation—ranging from the hyper-individualism of modern society and smartphone-driven disconnection to climate anxiety and the loss of casual, daily community interactions.
Rather than succumbing to the enormity of these challenges, the session offers an empowering framework for weaving trauma-informed care and proactive wellness directly into standard course structures without sacrificing core learning outcomes. Sefchick del Paso and participating faculty share a rich menu of practical, low-barrier strategies designed to lower student anxiety, build a sense of shared purpose, and establish long-term networks of peer support.
Key Outcomes & Takeaways
- Mindful Openings: Utilizing brief, grounding techniques—such as structured box breathing and centering videos—at the start of every class session to help students regroup and focus.
- Countering Heavy Content with “Moral Beauty”: When teaching inherently traumatic or difficult subjects (e.g., systemic racism, genocide, or climate collapse), deliberately closing sessions with inspiring real-world examples of activism, resilience, or kindness to ward off student despair.
- Low-Stakes Trust Building: Gradually moving from entirely innocuous, neutral icebreakers (like favorite foods or cartoons) to deeper self-reflection activities over several weeks to organically develop classroom vulnerability and trust.
- Extended Community Spaces: Encouraging organic peer-to-peer connection beyond class hours via student-led tools like Discord phone chains, study groups, shared slide templates, or informal, term-based field trips.
- Pedagogical Benefits of Cooperation: Implementing intentional cooperative learning structures (such as jigsaw variations) to drastically optimize student retention, conflict management, and critical thinking.