Telling My Own Story: How Dance, Design, and Self-Care Intertwine

Hi, I’m Kylie— I am an upcoming senior graphic design student at Xavier University. I have spent a lot of my life learning how to show up for others, and now I am learning how to show up for myself.  Growing up as a competitive dancer, I was surrounded by mirrors. I’d spend hours in the studio, unintentionally comparing myself …

More Than A Letter Grade

Hello all, my name is Angelina Bush and I am the new Advocacy Intern for 1N5! I am a rising junior at Xavier University studying Philosophy, Politics, and the Public with a concentration in Pre-Law. One way I engage with self-care is by investing time in my first love: music.  For me, my mental health as a child and now …

You Did The Best You Could, With The Tools You Had

Looking back at situations where you have regrets can be challenging, but it’s so important to give yourself compassion. You did the best that you could in that tough time, with the tools that you had in that moment. That’s something I keep reminding myself these days. We can look back with regrets or question why we did or said …

My Mental Health Journey

Hi, I’m Lauren Bell, the new social media assistant — and I’m no stranger to mental health struggles. My journey began at a very young age. I was diagnosed with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) when I was just five years old, along with ADHD. For a long time, something still felt “off,” but it wasn’t until I turned 15 that …

Creative Self-Care

Hi! My name is Emma. I am a rising junior studying Media Production at the University of Cincinnati, and I aspire to become a filmmaker and overall participate in the creation of visual storytelling in any way I can. I love doing anything creative, whether that be film making, doing something with my hands like painting, thrift flipping, or crocheting. …

We’re In This Together

Are you stressed, confused, worried, suffocated, or exhausted?  Join the club! (I wish it didn’t have to be under such unfortunate circumstances.) Especially with the pressures of school, peers, parents, teachers—and most of all…yourself!!—it gets tiring trying to keep up with the mounting expectations.  Hi! I’m Rahifa Maricar, a junior at Walnut Hills High School and a member of 1N5’s …

Remember to Pause- You Are Living a Life You Dreamed of

While you’re climbing your ladder of success, don’t forget that you’re living a life you once dreamed of. I had to remind myself of that this weekend while getting ready for my favorite conference of the year with NCAA D2 athletes. I remember very early on in my speaking career, I visualized myself having a consistent partnership with the NCAA. …

Canine Comfort: How Dogs Alleviate Stress

In September of 2019, my wife and I rescued a 12-week-old puppy. Bringing home this little dog, which we named Darcy, into our new apartment was a stressful, exciting, and overall chaotic experience. We had no idea how our lives would be forever changed. Little would we know then that the experiences life would throw at us over the next …

self-care blog: Let Your Why Be What Carries You

Let Your Why Be What Carries You

It was his first flight. And it was the scariest one of my life. Meeting Ayden was not by chance. His late aunt’s name was Ivy, and he felt like he had a guardian angel watching over him for his first flight. We were on a small 8-passenger flight from Massena, NY to Boston, NY. There were 4 of us …