Helping students thrive

By: Isabel Reh ’25

On Sept. 5, the Counseling Center hosted its annual THRIVE program, where students connect with one another while learning practical strategies to foster personal growth and cultivate a positive college experience. 

The event offered activities like experiential exercises to learn about well-being, potting plants, writing encouraging messages, and participating in raffles for self-care prizes. The experiential activities highlight the importance of sleep, movement, digital detox, connection, growth mindset, gratitude, self-compassion, and mindfulness. THRIVE provides a space for students to learn, grow, and connect with the Lafayette community.  

The Counseling Center at Lafayette is a vital resource for students, offering a range of services from individual and group counseling to wellness workshops. The Counseling Center’s mission not only focuses on providing counseling services, but also on empowering students to care for their mental health, effectively manage stress, and build resilience. 

“Students were very engaged in the experiential activities at THRIVE, which allows them to practice the skills they are learning in real time,” shares Keiba Bragg-Best, outreach coordinator for the Counseling Center. “Each dimension of THRIVE provides an opportunity for growth and connection. Community building and creating a sense of belonging are important parts of the college experience. Students were able to cultivate that today, and our hope is they continue to cultivate connection beyond THRIVE.

“Additionally, I am so grateful for my colleagues at the Counseling Center as THRIVE would not be as successful as it is without the whole team effort,” Bragg-Best says.

Activities like potting plants allowed students to take a break from their screens and busy schedules and connect with nature. Writing encouraging messages offered students the opportunity to both give and receive support in the form of affirmations, promoting reflection and self-care. 

“Today I took a half-hour off to pot plants, reset, and reflect more. Everyone needs therapy even if you are not going through tough times,” Tanushree Sow Mondal ’25 shares. 

For students, events like THRIVE are more than just fun; they serve as a reminder that at Lafayette, they are supported not just academically but mentally as well.