By hosting their 3rd annual Health Awareness Week, FMU’s University Programming Board (UPB) is attempting to promote healthy living among college students.
In many cases, health is most likely not a major concern for college students. On top of financial issues, car troubles, schoolwork, and an overall social life, their health is usually not a top priority.
Sophomore Shantequa Green, who serves as the Education and Cultural Chair, said that she believes that the UPB’s reasoning for Health Week may be very beneficial to students.
“With this being the new year, we knew that a lot of students would be making New Years’ resolutions and we felt that it would be good to help people accomplish their goals,” Green said. “We hope that they can take care of their bodies-not just their physical health but their mental health as well.”
The first event of the week was the Health Panel on Tuesday, Jan. 25 that was held in the CEMC Auditorium at 4 p.m. Acting as the keynote speaker, the reigning Miss FMU Bree Boyce spoke to the audience about her personal struggle with obesity. There was also a panel of people from the community who talked to students about physical and mental health.
The Health Fair will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 26 in the University Center (UC) Commons from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Several booths will be set up for students to learn about their well-being, such as the FMU Walking Club, Carolina Center for Sight and local gyms. There will also be booths on information about checking blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol. Students will be able to find out their current height and weight, and financial experts from local banks will be there to advise students about managing their money. AIDS testing will be available for students courtesy of Hope Health as well. Students only need their IDs to be tested.
Graduating senior and executive chair of the UPB Amanda Morales said that she believes that those who attend the fair will receive much from the information provided at the booths.
“We hope students will benefit from the health fair by using the information that promotes overall healthy lifestyle and highlights local resources for students,” Morales said.
Finally, on Thursday, Jan. 27, there will be a Coffee House with live music by Jared Campbell at 7 p.m. in the UC Commons.
Green said that she likes the entire concept of the Health Week but the Coffee House seems more appealing to her.
“I think the Coffee House gives students a chance to come out and mingle together, and we had [Jared Campbell] last year so it’s a great chance to see him again,” Green said.
Morales, Green and other UPB members have worked tirelessly to make the events as successful as and even better than the previous fairs. Although it was a long process, Morales said that she still enjoys seeing it all come together.
“My favorite thing about [Health Awareness Week] is that this is the third year that UPB has sponsored it,” Morales said. “As a part of the team that first started what has become an annual event, I am very proud to be a part of planning it again.”