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» Go to news mainBuilding a Solid Foundation of Wellness
It should come as no surprise that law school can be a challenging, high-stress environment for students. Between the competition among peers, the pressure to get good grades, and the sheer volume of work, it is easy to feel overwhelmed.
Adam Guzkowski, Schulich Law’s Assistant Dean, Student and Academic Affairs, has witnessed some of that student overwhelm firsthand since joining the Associate Dean Academic's (ADA) office in November of last year.
“I’ve consistently had colleagues and students alike reaching out in search of resources to support their overall health and wellness,” they say. “We are incredibly fortunate to have many excellent supports offered by the university; we also know that there are many benefits to offering supports specifically tailored to the unique challenges associated with the pursuit of a legal education.”
As a result, Guzkowski and their team at the ADA’s office set out to organize a slate of activities for the 2024-2025 academic year dubbed 'Wellness @ Weldon', designed to help law students build solid foundations of wellness literacy and practices that foster and support their overall well-being, now and in the future.
“People often think about wellness in terms of just physical health – nutrition, exercise, rest – but it is so much more,” says Guzkowski. “Think of it instead as the holistic integration of various dimensions of personal well-being.”
This year's events aim to support six of those dimensions – social connection, emotional strength, physical balance, mental well-being, environmental harmony, and spiritual appreciation – which work together, complementing the others and helping students live a better, healthier, and more balanced life.
The first event, Speed Friending, is scheduled for September 25 and supports the social connection dimension, which centers on building healthy relationships and interactions with people and communities.
The event is best compared to a platonic version of speed-dating but instead of looking for romantic partners, Schulich Law students will spend a fast-paced hour meeting other law students, making new friends, and expanding their social networks.
Students, faculty, or staff who are interested in becoming involved with the Wellness @ Weldon initiative, or who have suggestions for future events, are encouraged to contact adam.guzkowski@dal.ca.
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