CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. - Experience has taught residence life co-ordinator Sarah Donald that the month of February can be a challenging time of year for students living at UPEI.
Students are getting into midterms while trying to juggle finances, a social life and being away from home – all during the cold days of winter.
“We are a small residence program, so I get to know these students one-on-one, and I hear about their university struggles,” said Donald.
So to help make residents feel “warm and fuzzy”, Donald has brought a new initiative, called More Love Letters, to residents at UPEI in an effort to put a smile of their face.
“We are just trying to look out for our residents and keep conversations going about mental health and do what we can to try and help students that might be struggling with their mental wellness.”
Just the facts
- Residence services at UPEI is looking for short, positive letters from people in the community to give to its residents
- There is no length requirement or parameters around the letters. They can contain words of advice, kind words to a stranger or kind words that would help a student
- Letters can be drop off to residence services on the first floor of Bill and Denise Andrew Hall at UPEI or emailed to [email protected]
- The deadline is Feb. 5. All letters will be delivered Feb. 6
Donald said residence services drew inspiration from seeing the More Love Letters international campaign and decided to bring it to UPEI residents.
The letters contain positive messages, whether it’s words of advice, kind words to a stranger or kind words that are helpful for a student.
“They are really cute,” said Donald on some of the letters they have written for students so far.
Donald is also hoping people in the community will send in some letters.
The letters will be delivered to every resident, a total of 420 students, on Feb. 6.
“The goal of More Love Letters is for residents to feel like there is someone out there that is rooting for them and to get something positive in the middle of a tough month.”
Donald feels the world would be a better place if more people took a moment out of their day to do something nice for a stranger.
“I don’t think we say enough kind things to one another,” said Donald.
“I think we would be all be happier if we did.”
