University life is never easy. Deadlines, relationship challenges, and uncertainty about the future can all bring significant stress and loneliness to students. Learning self-soothing—the art of calming oneself in the moment—is the first step in walking alongside ourselves.
From 8 to 10 April, the Wellness and Counselling Centre (WACC) of the Office of Student Affairs hosted the “Walk With You: Take a Moment to Soothe” event. As part of the “Walk with You” Suicide Prevention Campaign, this initiative used the five senses as a gateway, inviting students to pause and listen to their own needs.
Take a Wellness Pit-Stop
Through various self-soothing activities, students opened their senses, shared their emotions, and explored ways that best suited them to relax. Each booth served as a “Pit-Stop”, allowing students to pause and find their own sense of peace through the five senses.
Self-Service Perfume Station with Stress Mini-Quiz
Using a simple and engaging stress test, the self-service perfume machine selected a relaxing scent tailored to each student’s current state of mind. With just a light spray, the aroma helped restore a sense of inner calm.
Mood Sharing and Reflection Activity
An interactive board titled “How do you feel today?” invited students to share their current moods and feelings. Together, the stickers formed a vivid campus “mood map” of the students’ authentic experiences. Whether it was joy, anger, anxiety, or calm—every emotion deserves to be seen and acknowledged.
Energy Smoothie Station
Students could select and taste their favorite fresh fruit smoothies, letting the sense of taste reawaken the body’s sensitivity. A single sip of a refreshing, sweet-and-sour flavor provided a brief but genuine moment of respite for busy minds and bodies.
Soothe and Share
Self-soothing can be practiced easily in daily life without the need for special tools or venues. An interactive board invited students to pick self-soothing methods to try in the coming days, extending these practices from the event into their daily routines.
Exploring Loneliness and Soothing Through Art
In times of loneliness, self-soothing can help us rediscover a sense of inner security and comfort. This booth, themed “The Shape of Loneliness”, invited students to reflect on and express their personal experiences of loneliness through art. A total of 310 artworks were collected, which may be featured in the future (un)Seen Exhibition.
Five Senses Care Pack: A Moment of Comfort
Care packs themed “Take a Moment to Soothe” were distributed to introduce five-senses self-soothing strategies, helping students ground themselves and create moments of comfort in their daily lives.
Each care pack included practical wellness tips as well as information on mental health resources and support services, reminding students that support is always close at hand.
Wellness Workshops
Beyond the booths, students also participated in a series of workshops, designed to help participants reclaim moments of focus and calm through sensory experiences. These included:
Perfume Bar (8 April)
Peaceful Crocheting (9 April)
Although the event has come to an end, we sincerely hope that every student can carry these self-soothing practices into their daily lives. Thank you to everyone who walked with us. We look forward to continuing to “Walk with You” in the future.
