After benefiting from St. Michael’s wellness services, Jared Calder Floirendo has found his voice championing mental well-being at St. Michael’s. As a member of the Student Wellness Advisory Group, he adds a student voice to the many wellness initiatives on campus.
“To me, wellness is about self-care; it’s about doing the things you like. I think in life, we often forget to do those things,” he says.
Jared became interested in wellness at St. Michael’s after accessing some of the wellness and academic services when he was struggling during his first year.
“Transitioning from high school to my first year at the University of Toronto was a big transition for me. During my first year I felt I needed someone to talk me through this very stressful period,” he says.
He was able to book a same day appointment with a counselor at the University of Toronto. “I found I just needed to talk to somebody; have a cool, calm presence guide me through this very stressful time,” he says.
Jared is now in his second-year double majoring in critical studies in equity and solidarity and diaspora and transnational studies. The decision to declare a major caused him a lot of anxiety. In his first year, he was excited by the diverse array of courses available at the University of Toronto, but then felt pulled in too many directions. After reaching out to the St. Mike’s Registrar’s Office, he met with one of the advisors, Carolyn Ibana, and from there was able to make an informed decision about his major and move to part-time.
“I give a lot of my credit to where I am now to these resources that are offered at St. Mike’s,” he says.
As a part-time student, he’s now focused on taking care of himself and doing what inspires him. This led him to get more involved with St. Mike’s wellness programs. He joined the newly launched Student Wellness Advisory Group, which meets twice a term to brainstorm ideas; evaluate the ideas using current research methods; and provide student feedback to raise awareness, educate, propose or coordinate wellness and mental health-based initiatives, programs and events.
When he met Emily VanBerkum-Farahat, St. Mike’s Manager of Community Wellness, he found someone who’s equally committed to mental health well-being. He shared his wellness journey with her, and they’ve discussed how his experiences could be adapted into possible initiatives at St. Mike’s that were presented at the most recent Advisory Group meeting.
“It’s very energizing to think about all the possibilities that can come from my ideas. The Student Wellness Advisory Group is a unique opportunity for St. Mike’s students to really be a part of the decision making,” he says.
“When I got to St. Mike’s and learned about wellness, I realized I’ve been doing this my whole life.” Jared came to U of T with what he now realizes is a wealth of wellness experience.
His wellness journey began in high school when he visited the guidance office for academic advising, and he became fascinated with the guidance counsellors’ work in providing mental health counselling. “I wanted to learn more about what they do and how they’re able to just sit and talk with people.”
In high school, he co-founded a group called the Student Empowerment Alliance that put a spotlight on students’ mental health. “We wanted students to be empowered to advocate for themselves,” he says.
In his final years of high school, he was a youth worker at Applegrove Community Complex in Toronto. In this role he led workshops on how to navigate the job market, offered help with writing resumes and cover letters and provided mental health supports.
“Personally, I was focused on the mental health aspect. I talked a lot with the youth who used the centre about their experiences as adolescents. I, being a young person as well, was able to relate with them, and that relatability was key to being able to talk with the kids and have them open up,” he says.
Jared’s aim is to continue to advocate for mental well-being by becoming a social worker. “My involvement with the Student Wellness Advisory Group has become a gentle reminder to myself that I need to prioritize my own mental health. If I am to share and teach others about mental well-being, I need to show others what that can look like in my own life,” he says. “If we want a culture where we can openly talk about mental health struggles, I believe we need to hear from young people and amplify what they’re saying.”