Rock It Out: Quick Way To De-Stress
Rock It Out offers a calming reprieve for students looking to de-stress as finals approach.
As finals draw near, Aggies juggle assignments, group projects and exams, shifting their study spaces from campus to their apartments. Amid the fast-paced final weeks and following De-Stress Fest, a low-commitment event offers students a brief break: they can spend 15 minutes to relax, paint a rock and then return to their schedules.
“The mental health aspect of painting rocks is that it allows people to become very aware of the present moment — like my hands are holding a flat, smooth rock, and I’m painting a color,” said Kristina Delagarza, senior mental health counselor at University Health Services. “It’s a very grounding, calming activity for students.”
Held outside Sterling C. Evans Library on April 29 at 2pm, Rock It Out is a collaborative de-stress event organized by our Fitness & Wellness program, University Health Services and the Office of Sustainability. Students can paint rocks for a few minutes, speak with mental health counselors and receive tips on practicing sustainability for both themselves and the environment.
Students paint their stress away at Rock It Out
With pocket snacks, free tips and arts and crafts, Rock It Out has grown over the past four years. It started as a larger, campuswide activity where students searched for hidden rocks, decorated them and placed them around East Campus while exploring pocket parks and spending time in nature. Since then, the event has been scaled down and reshaped to better fit student schedules.
“Finals is usually a time where [students] want something quick,” Health Education Coordinator Myrka Lila said. “They don’t want to give you so much of their time; they’re studying for finals. So, if they started painting a rock, you can take that rock home and finish it at your house.”
That quick shift doesn’t just fit into finals week — it also reflects the values the Office of Sustainability aims to instill in students: sustainability isn’t just about the environment.
“Every job is essentially a sustainability job, and everyone contributes to sustainability in multiple ways,” said Kelly Wellman, director of the Office of Sustainability. “It’s essentially a lifestyle, just like I think that wellness is probably a lifestyle. So, these things are synonymous, and I think by making these connections, it helps everyone grow.”
To learn more about Rock It Out, visit the Rec Sports website. Grab free snacks, pick up a rock and paint your stress away!
