May 29, 2023 By Aria Bondesen
YouAlberta is written by students for students.
Aria is entering her 4th year of her BSc in Honors Psychology. She loves to read poetry, talk to people about mental health and wellness, watch sitcoms, and bake fancy desserts. Aria’s dream is to highlight community care in mental health spaces through being a group counsellor one day!
Getting involved with the Days of Action Committee has meant so much to me. It has shaped how I think and act as a community member by showing me exactly what our U of A community needs. I have seen people sharing very personal experiences and memories that are very close to their hearts through this position and have been able to reflect on why it's so important for our Days of Action to be celebrated so people have spaces where they can share and grow and gain knowledge. Our community members deserve compassion and recognition, and the Days of Action committee works so hard to ensure it, and it is why I am so proud to be a member.
One of the most significant things I've learned through my Days of Action involvement is the sheer number of resources we have in our community. As someone involved in mental health conversations and advocacy on the campus, I felt I was pretty well educated on what our university can offer to students, but, as it turns out, I was missing out on an incredible number of resources and interacting with members of the committee. Representing a great number of those resources has changed how I view our campus. As well, it has changed my work within the campus community by allowing me the resources to adequately educate people based on their specific needs.
I also learned how to plan an event through my involvement. Prior to my work with Days of Action, I had never been involved in event planning on this scale. I learned specifics about promotion on a university-wide scale, which I have since been able to adapt and use in other roles I have on campus. When I helped to organize our World Suicide Prevention Day event, I learned firsthand the importance of prioritizing a safe and supportive environment for those that attend. That knowledge has since been utilized in event planning for the countless events I have planned since, and it has been so important in making my events the best that they can be.
One of my greatest experiences on the committee so far has been volunteering for Social Justice Day’s Living Library event. Hearing the stories and lived experiences of U of A community members was such a meaningful experience and one that helped to shape how I view those around me and how I listen to them in vulnerable moments. I have to say in general, that experience was one of my favourite memories of university so far. I think making space for meaningful moments of community like I found there is so vital in maintaining an interconnected campus. It was the first time I had experienced it firsthand, and it was deeply moving.
Apart from the benefits I have personally found from being involved with the Days of Action Committee, it has also meant so much to Jack.org Student Group at the U of A, the group I represent on the committee. Specifically, as a group, we were invited to be involved with committee events through volunteering as well as being able to host a conversation about having supportive conversations for the World Suicide Prevention Day event. We were able to talk to more community members than we normally do while highlighting the work we do, which was so special to us.
Being on the Days of Action committee has influenced me a lot. I feel more confident in my ability to create change on campus and in our community while maintaining a message of wellness and safety. I feel more comfortable at the U of A now. I feel there are people that respect and value my opinions and take them into consideration when decisions are being made, which is so valuable in a committee. I have been able to enhance my skills and gain knowledge I can spread throughout my network, which just brings me so much joy.
I highly recommend getting involved with the Days of Action Committee. Not only has being on this committee given me so many practical skills like event planning and knowledge of our community resources, but it has also given me so much faith in what our community is doing right. Knowing that there is a group like this trying to encourage conversations about wellness and mental health is so comforting. Your involvement can help continue the Days of Action committee's legacy of working towards our communities wellbeing, and I encourage you to try it out.
The Days of Action currently is looking for additional groups to join our committee:
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