September 2025
Embracing a Year of Wellness
As we get adjusted to the swing of the fall semester, there’s no doubt life will get busier. From classes to clubs to social commitments, our schedules will pull us in a myriad of directions. With this everpresent tug on our time, we can easily forget to fill up our own cups.
One of the ten commandments that has always resonated with me and the way I look at relationships is: “love your neighbor as yourself.” Many times, we might take this message to mean more about treating our neighbors with love and respect – but it can also call us to love ourselves in the same way we care for a friend, or colleague.
Thankfully with the new Palomar Health Student Wellness Center open to our Torero community — wellness can be a bit more accessible to everyone during this busy school year and serve as an everyday part of our campus culture. The university has launched a “Year of Wellness” campaign to help our community navigate all of the mental health and wellness resources we have on campus. From counseling services to group fitness classes, there are wellness opportunities for everyone. During the year, you’ll find Student Wellness Ambassadors visiting clubs, classrooms and events to educate our community on the wellness offerings we have at USD, and how to access them.
75%
of teens believe caring for their mental health is important
Less than 50%
of teens would seek professional help
As a university, we’re also partnering with The JED Foundation (JED), a nonprofit that works to prevent suicide in young adults. As a JED campus, their team works with us to elevate our mental health resources on campus and train our campus on strategies to help students who may be struggling with their mental health. According to a JED report, a large majority of teens believe it is important to care for their mental health (75%), but less than half say they would only seek professional help as a last resort. Our goal is to make sure we are supporting our students’ mental health needs by making resources easy to find, ensuring students know they are not alone in whatever they are struggling with – and showcasing that seeking counseling support can be commonplace, like getting a physical at the doctor’s office.
With the resources available on our campus, and our supportive community, I know we have the ability to do anything when we work together and keep our personal wellness a top priority. Because USD begins with us.
Jim’s Quick Bits
Book I read recently that I enjoyed:
“The Prophet” by Kahlil Gibran
This book has been around for over a century but it wasn’t until Kroc School Dean Darren Kew gave me a copy that I read it. Gibran’s poetry is very moving.
Some music artists I recently started listening to and enjoy:
St. Paul and the Broken Bones, Raye, and Daxlin Veylo
While all of these artists have been around for a few years, I only recently was introduced to their music.
A Pause in Hiking for the Moment:
This past month I learned I have two tears in my meniscus in my right knee, so I will be having outpatient surgery in October. Nothing to worry about and I will be back to hiking in no time!