Humber Polytechnic’s North campus organized its sip-and-chill event for the winter semester.
The event organized by First Year Experience (FYE) happens once every semester and is based on themes that are appropriate for each semester.
This one was based on winter.
But there is something else that makes this semester’s sip-and-chill special.
The event took place on Jan. 21, 2025, just one day before the youth mental health support day.
“It’s kind of coincidental that these two events are so close considering we schedule our events way ahead of time,” said Sayf Uldin Abub Akar, the organizer of the event. He said the themes of both events go along, as winter is calm and cozy, and that is something along the lines of mental health as well.
Abub Akar is currently in his fourth semester of the Sports Management Program at the Longo Faculty of Business and has been working with FYE for a year and four months.
“I feel I have grown personally and professionally a lot and have a better understanding of so many things including my own mental health,” he said.
Abub Akar said FYE has given him the freedom to voice the things in his head to himself better and even to others which has helped him realize what things he is feeling.
He said FYE is working in collaboration with the Student Wellness and Accessibility Centre to conduct the event emphasizing the importance of mental health and that students shouldn't shy away from asking for help.
Students like Madonah Saroor feel great Humber considers mental health important and organizes related events.
“You know there are so many students that are away from home, might be going through a lot, events like this mean a lot to them,” said Saroor, a second-semester student at the Early Childhood Education program.
She said students away from home could use some help from such events and talk to someone about things they are going through.
“I feel like sometimes just expressing and knowing that someone is here to listen just gives you a dopamine shot and that’s great,” the Humber student said.
She said it is nice that Humber organizes these events frequently because that helps you maintain a balance between studies and a little bit of fun from time to time.
The event took place in the E140 room of the North campus building from 10 a.m. to noon.
Students who attended got a chance to talk to other students and express their feelings as well as help other students who wanted someone to listen to them.
There were some fun activities that students could take part in like creating charms for their phone cases and watching a movie.
Students got a chance to express their feelings by writing them on a sticky note and puttinthemit up on a board to create a board of feelings.
The chocolate and strawberry fondue was the main attraction of the event. Visit North FYE's page to learn more about their upcoming events.
