By Satyne Doner, Arts & Culture Editor
Writing can look like many things to different people. For some students, it can be a nuisance, a 12-page paper due at midnight. For others, it can look like something vastly different: self-care.
Self-care and writing came together in harmony during the Writing for Wellness event hosted by Saint Leo University’s Wellness Center on Wednesday, Nov. 16.
Sitting under the warm lights of the Wellness Center conference rooms, Jennifer Harman, an adjunct professor at Saint Leo, played relaxing music to set the mood for her writing workshop. Students of all backgrounds were invited to attend—even those who have never written for pleasure a day in their lives.
“I wanted to gift this to you guys to use when you need it,” said Harman.
She explained that her relationship with writing strengthened after experiencing personal trauma.
“I was able to write through it,” Harman said.
Harman is also the president of The Storytellers Alliance, which was established in 2018 and seeks to provide a platform for unheard voices within the Tampa community. It is a service-disabled veteran-owned, minority-owned, and women-owned business that brings the beauty of writing and the arts into the community.
The beauty of writing was certainly brought into this workshop. The small group of students gathered around the table as Harman started off with small prompts such as “what does self-care mean to you?”
If students felt comfortable with sharing their responses, they were invited to share them with the other students. The atmosphere was melodic, relaxed, and welcoming. Students were encouraged to let their thoughts and feelings spill out onto the paper instead of holding them trapped inside.
When asked what her favorite part of the workshop was, Gina Perillo, a freshman at Saint Leo studying nursing, said it was the prompts regarding self-care.
“I think my favorite thing is when we talked about self-care,” said Perillo. “I try to keep my body healthy by exercising and journaling, because I love journaling. Of course, I would come to this workshop again.”
Moving into the new year, the workshop dates and times at the Wellness Center are on a to-be-determined basis. The best way to learn more about the workshops is to contact Jennifer Harman directly through her email jennifer.harman@saintleo.edu. Additionally, students can look on the Wellness Center’s schedule on their website: https://wellness.saintleo.edu/. Just as Jennifer Harman used writing as a tool to “write through” the complexities and stressors of life, students can learn to use writing to reflect and connect with themselves on a deeper level. Learning how to journal as a means of self-care is an important skill and, not to mention, it is incredibly relaxing. These workshops are a good chance to slow down, bond with others, and chill out. It is a great chance for Saint Leo students to loosen up and lighten their mental load!
