Longhorn Wellness Peer Educators Profiles

Sarah Tran

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Dallas, TX

Major

Chemistry

What does wellness mean to you?

I think that wellness consists of the different strategies to improve on one's physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. Practicing wellness consistently allows us to achieve a healthier lifestyle. Wellness is important because it is difficult to continually work towards your goals and aspirations in all aspects of life without first being the best, happy and healthy self you could be.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I like to read every night before I go to sleep so that I can get my mind off of everything going on and immerse myself in a different world for some time. I also like to play piano to relax and learn new songs that I've been listening to. Finally, my roommate and I play videogames every Friday to celebrate getting through another week of school and it gives me something to look forward to throughout the week

Nikki Hewett

Pronouns

they/she

Hometown

Fort Worth, TX

Major

Heath and Society

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellness means being comfortable with where I’m at. I don’t have to be meeting certain standards set by other people, but I should feel safe and secure in my body and environment.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I keep in touch with the important people in my life, so I never feel too isolated. I also make sure to get outside, play racquetball, read my favorite mangas, crochet, and engage in any other hobbies to keep me grounded mentally and moving physically.

Juliana Murillo

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Round Rock, TX

Major

Public Health

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellness means engaging in activities daily that benefit your physical and mental health.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I play volleyball, workout, bake, read, and drink plenty of water.

Audrey Askew

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Southlake, TX

Major

Human Development and Family Sciences

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellness to me means being actively aware and accepting of your mental and physical health. It also means being proactive in maintaining a healthy body, mind, and soul. Wellness is about balance and prioritizing yourself and your health amidst a busy, fast-paced world.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I incorporate movement into my daily routine to ensure I have some alone time to focus on myself and my health. I also prioritize getting 8+ hours of sleep. Lastly, I try to be self aware and give myself grace when it comes to my mental/emotional state, as each day is different and comes with different challenges.

Elizabeth Purcell

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

San Antonio, TX

Major

Health and society

What does wellness mean to you?

To me, wellness means taking care of myself through healthy practices that promote mental and physical health. Wellness is setting boundaries taking a deep breath, finding joy in where you are at in life, and being kind to yourself.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I take care of myself by going on walks, being around friends who bring me joy, reading a good book, napping, and listening to music (mostly Taylor Swift).

Varsha Narayanan

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Dallas, TX

Major

Computer Science

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellness means taking care of myself and prioritizing my mental and physical health.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I make sure to connect with my friends and family. Also, I take naps and spend time outside in nature.

Noma Ali

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Southlake, TX

Major

Informatics

What does wellness mean to you?

To me, wellness means health and well-being in all aspects of life. Physically, we must engage in activities that make us more energetic and stronger. Emotionally, we must work towards understanding ourselves and the people around us. Cognitively, we must develop skills and capabilities to realize our true potential. Wellness is about internal coherence and synergistic relationships with others. It’s about learning, applying what we learn, and practicing that to improve lives; our lives, and the lives we touch.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I believe in learning by doing. In school, they taught us about nutrition and exercise. It was all good information but the real lessons came when I had to buy and cook the food. I learned how to make better choices when buying groceries and planning meals. I learned about meditation and yoga from books and teachers but the real learning came from doing meditation every day and doing yoga/exercise most days. To do journaling when I feel the intrinsic need to express something. Being in close relationships with people that I value, for me, that's my family. The best thing I do to take care of myself is establish routines, habits, and rituals that nourish my body, my mind, and my soul.

Poulomi Mitra

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Frisco, TX

Major

Neuroscience

What does wellness mean to you?

To me, wellness means to find work, social, and personal balance. It includes finding time to be physically active, eat healthy, and allow my body to rest despite the busyness of life. Wellness is not just surviving, it's thriving!

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I like to make sure I get enough sleep every night (8-9 hours) followed by constantly reevaluating my priorities. I value my mental and physical health and ensure that I am able to make time for exercise, do things that I enjoy (reading, crocheting, going on walks), and hang out with my friends at least once a week no matter how busy I am. I try to stay active throughout the day to keep my brain and body engaged and stay productive.

Eliana Glenn

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Dripping Springs, TX

Major

Psychology (BS)

What does wellness mean to you?

For me, wellness means actively taking care of my physical and mental health. There are instances in which those aspects of my health may be struggling, but as long as I am doing things to better my health and improve my wellbeing, I consider myself in a state of wellness.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I take care of myself by allowing myself time to rest, and I take breaks when I feel at my limit. I also take part in activities that bring me joy, such as singing and going on walks. I surround myself with people who laugh with me and go home to see my parents and sisters often, and I love to hang out with my bunny Nutmeg!

Nixin Pang

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Beijing China

Major

Psychology BA

What does wellness mean to you?

For me, wellness means taking good care and being self-compassionate to yourself. Wellness is the ability to allowing yourself to be not perfect and make less critics but more appreciation to your life. Also, being fully aware in the present moment and deal with emotions wisely.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

In daily life, I use different measures to take care of myself. When I feel like I need to take a little break from a busy day, I always like to listen to calming music and do a short meditation practice. What’s more, every week, I would like to go into the nature for a few hours and recharge myself from being around with trees and sun.

Leah Teague

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Houston, TX

Major

Health Promotion and Behavioral Science

What does wellness mean to you?

To me, wellness means taking care of every aspect of yourself, not just your physical health. This includes emotional, mental, spiritual, physically & more! Being able to balance and maintain these aspects is super important for overall wellness!

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I love to go on walks or sit outside on a sunny day and read a book! I also love having concerts in my car, and have found that journaling is a great way to relax and take care of myself.

Snehaa Arya

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Houston, TX

Major

Human Development and Family Sciences

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellness means filling my life with daily habits that nourish my mind and body, as well as taking care of others around me. It can take many forms at different points in my life, but overall wellness to me represents a commitment to listening to myself and taking care of myself.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I love to journal and integrate mindfulness and self compassion into my life. I also try to sleep consistently and spend time outside in nature.

Elham Ziaei

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Dallas

Major

Psychology

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellness incorporates both the health of the mind and the physical body. Being proactive about overall well-being and general health contribute to greater standards of wellness. Wellness can look different on a daily basis depending on what it is that day that your body needs. That is why it is incredibly important to be mindful regarding your body and letting yourself have the space and time to know what it is that your body needs.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

Spending quality time with family and friends always instantly makes me feel better. I also try to have a constant routine regarding working out and staying active because I find that I feel much calmer and peaceful afterwards. Overall, staying active, going outside, have quality time with loved ones, and sticking to a routine are all ways I take care of myself.

Chandrima Nadam

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Plano, TX

Major

Biology

What does wellness mean to you?

Wellness is being healthy in all manners, including physical, emotional and mental health. Self-care and balance is the best way to achieve a healthy lifestyle in all aspects.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

To take care of myself, I spend time with family and friends as well as doing activities that I enjoy. The main idea is taking a break from obligations, like academics and work. I like to go to arcades, paint, read and spend time with my loved ones.

Anand Jain

Pronouns

he/him

Hometown

Dallas, TX

Major

Public Health

What does wellness mean to you?

To me, wellness is the various practices that allow people to live to their maximum potential. Practicing wellness allows someone to focus on the things that let them feel better regardless of the situations that life throws at them.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I like to lift and go for walks to take care of myself. Additionally, I enjoy having a nice meal and talking to my close friends. I try to focus on drinking enough water.

Belle Bridgewater

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Dallas, TX

Major

Psych BS

What does wellness mean to you?

For me, wellness focuses on aspects of health that affects an individual the most, whether that be emotional, mental, physical, environmental, etc. It involves taking the first steps to setting aside time for one's self to help improve that health aspect.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I box, dance, listen to music, visit places off campus and drink tea to ensure I'm consistently taking care of myself.

Hanming Li

Pronouns

she/her

Hometown

Houston, TX

Major

Biochemistry

What does wellness mean to you?

I have an acronym! HHSS: happy, healthy, safe, sane. In these aspects, it means taking care of yourself and the people around you in all aspects, keeping yourself in a healthy state and balancing yourself.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

I love to journal the big things in my life, and try to make time for the small things that I enjoy. I also like being busy, so scheduling and feeling accomplished is really important to me.