April 30th, 2025

By Lauren, a student at Huron Heights Secondary School

Wellness and mental health have always been important to me, so when my school’s social worker asked me if I wanted to attend the Waterloo Region District School Board’s (WRDSB) wellness conference last April, I was thrilled. I honestly wasn’t sure what to expect, but it exceeded my expectations. I was inspired by my peers striving to improve well-being at their school and across the board.

When the opportunity to sign up to help plan the 2024-25 school year conference became available, I was all for it. I had noticed that people were struggling around my school, and I wanted to figure out how to make their lives a little bit easier through wellness. The wellness conference was the perfect opportunity to learn.

Over the next few months, we met occasionally on Google Meet and connected over group email. We were invited to plan at the Board office in mid-October with WRDSB staff. We spent the day discussing our goals, planning and working through issues to ensure this conference succeeded. I got to know other secondary student volunteers with the same goals and passions around wellness as me. Over the next month or so, we met a few times to write the script and do some last-minute organizing. The day before, I went to the Family Centre to help set up the tables, chairs and different stations. We were ready for the excitement of the day ahead of us.

The contributions of all volunteers helped the conference run smoothly. I, along with other students, volunteered to MC the conference. I found it intimidating initially, but I got more comfortable as we went along.

We had planned various workshops so there would be something for everyone! These included topics from test anxiety, to navigating life’s curveballs, self-esteem and healthy relationships, dealing with change and loss, knitting and crocheting for wellness, and more! All of the sessions I took part in I found interesting and helpful. At the end, during the brainstorming period with my school, we came up with plenty of ideas to help with wellness at our school, some of which we are currently working on!

Overall, this conference was an amazing experience, and I am so glad I got to help make it possible. Both planning and participating in the conference gave me the resources to aid my well-being and the well-being of people at my school. I am so proud of everyone who helped make this day possible!

#StudentVoice Series

This article is written by a WRDSB student and is part of the Student Agency and Voice program. Student journalists embody WRDSB’s commitment to creating space for students to tell their stories. They are ambassadors for their peers as they share their personal experiences and stories about their schools and communities in their unique voices.

Categories: News