By Kathy Doering, Spiritual Care Facilitator, Student Wellness and Accessibility
What would it feel like if you were thriving? What would it be like if every member of our SLC community were flourishing? In our health, personal lives, relationships, and careers? Imagine how it would feel to step onto our campuses and feel that this is a healthy and safe place to be yourself? How would that affect the students who study, the faculty who teach, and the staff members who work here?
The Mission Statement of our THRIVE Community is to build a safe and authentic community where every student is welcomed, celebrated, and supported without judgment, so they can grow into who they are and make our school and the world a more wonderful place. THRIVE helps students find a safe place where they can be themselves and build authentic and meaningful friendships. The cornerstone of THRIVE is truly connecting with and celebrating one another, seeing the best in each other and cheering one another on. In THRIVE, we seek to flourish and be healthy together! Through huddle groups, mentoring and community events, our THRIVE student leaders help students find their sweet spot while studying at SLC.
Huddle groups are small student-led groups that meet weekly to do life together, chatting about group members’ thoughts and concerns, and checking in on one another. No agenda, no judgment, and no pressure – just a safe place to be you! Huddle leaders work to ensure that every member feels seen, comfortable, and celebrated for who they are. Students not able to join a huddle can meet with student or staff leaders one-on-one when they need connection and support.
"Huddles provided me with a safe space, positive support, and encouragement to grow into myself while gradually gaining the confidence to voice my mind. I only realized the importance of a supportive community once I joined huddle, where I gained a few friends whom I can always count on, and they know they can rely on me as well. I met Kathy, who greatly impacted my life and gave me the strength to believe in myself. Her guidance taught me the importance of being empathetic, actively listening to oneself and others, and going easy on oneself. Now I get to lead my own huddles while following the golden rules of huddle like providing safe space, active listening, being empathetic, providing support when needed and just being there for each other," said Sneha Thiriveedi, THRIVE Community Intern.
We are all on a journey to figure out who we are, what we’re supposed to be doing, and what’s going on in the world around us. And journeys are best when they’re shared! THRIVE student leaders are seeking to welcome every student into the community that has helped each of them so much. You belong!
Authenticity and honour, safety and kindness, respect and acceptance, these are some of the values of our THRIVE Community. Building a safe community for all, one relationship at a time.
Watch for THRIVE @ St. Larry’s on Kingston campus (coming soon!) and other free community student events on all our campuses for a chance to be seen and belong, just as you are. Watch also for staff huddles, coming soon to a campus near you.
For more information about our THRIVE Community, please contact Kathy Doering at thrive@sl.on.ca.
Encourage students to join our community using this link: I WANT TO THRIVE, or they can meet with Kathy.