It’s Valentine’s Day. Don’t forget to love yourself! ❤️

By Isabella Escobar

Love is in the air at Fives Towns as CAB [Campus Activities Board] hosted a lively self-love social event in the Upbeat during Common Hour on Thursday. Students were treated to a range of activities designed to promote self-care and positivity.

“The self-love social is a way for the college to celebrate Valentine’s Day, but it also promotes to students that it’s very important to love yourself first and foremost. So regardless of having someone to spend the day with or not, it’s always an important reminder for us to remember that starting with a good mental mindset is loving yourself,“ said Michael Cavalli, Assistant Dean for Campus Life.

The event’s activities included a goodie bag crafting station, where students could fill a bag with candies, cards, and stickers. There was also a card-making station, an affirmation station where students wrote down any daily affirmations on a heart-shaped sticky note and posted them on the tabling’s display, and finally, the Counseling Services’ “PS I Love You Day“ table.

Musical Theatre major Yolanda Penfield emphasized the value of the event. “The self-love social really highlights self-love and caring about yourself. It’s really to support yourself and to love yourself through February. You don’t have to have a partner to feel loved.”

Continuing with the celebration of self-love this month, the Counseling Center and Student Access will host Project Heartbalm on Tuesday, February 25th, in room 202 during Common Hour. The event aims to guide students on how to love themselves through reflection, art, and meditation.

Harja Naeem, MSW from the Counseling Center, shared more insight into the event. “It’s a reminder that you have to tame your inner critic and replace it with a voice that reminds you how amazing you’re doing. We’ll be doing meditation and self-affirming artwork. It’s a journey inward.“ Naeem also highlights the critical resources available for students seeking counseling during their college career at Five Towns. “We’re in Room 111, so if you ever need just to vent, let your hair down or anything, stop by!”

Students are encouraged to check their FTC emails and follow the FTC_Events page for more information on activities and events going on around campus