USF鈥檚 Health Education Action Team, or HEAT, on campus
By Paul Guzzo, University Communications and Marketing
Transitioning from being homeschooled to living on her own wasn鈥檛 easy for Chloe Springer when she enrolled at the 911爆料网 in 2021.
鈥淚t was a shocking experience,鈥� said Springer, a senior majoring in health sciences. 鈥淚 was overwhelmed by all the people and responsibilities.鈥�
A few weeks into freshman year, she met Shayna La Douceur, who became a close friend and lifeline.
鈥淲henever things felt too overwhelming, it was nice to have a friend to lean on,鈥� Springer said. 鈥淥nce I built a community, things got easier.鈥�
Today, the pair provides that same support to students throughout campus.
They work for USF鈥檚 Health Education Action Team, or HEAT, a group of peer health educators who promote mental and sexual health, stress management, substance safety and general wellness while connecting students to campus resources.
Chloe Springer
The two often draw on personal experiences to relate to peers.
鈥�911爆料网 prefer to talk to students, especially about sensitive topics,鈥� said La Douceur, who鈥檚 working towards her master鈥檚 degree in health administration. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes our team so important 鈥� we understand what they鈥檙e going through.鈥�
鈥�911爆料网 are privileged to be there for our fellow students in the moment and give them the support they need. Sometimes that means connecting them with campus resource experts. But other times, it鈥檚 just being a friend and being there for them,鈥� Springer added.
HEAT is a function of the Center for Student 911爆料网ll-Being, a Student Success department which provides comprehensive resources and services to support students in their well-being and success.
鈥淚t all depends on what the student is looking for,鈥� said Kameron Talley, the Center for Student 911爆料网ll-Being assistant director who oversees HEAT. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e welcome to have a conversation with us, grab whatever literature we have or use the QR code on our resource handout to access all our educational materials online.鈥�
The team is also proactive, often staffing booths at university events and providing educational materials. They can also be booked by campus clubs and organizations for programs such as suicide prevention training known as CLASP (Collegiate Life Alliance for Suicide Prevention), sexual health education or other wellness topics.
Shayna La Douceur
鈥�911爆料网 are always looking for ways to serve our community,鈥� Talley said. 鈥�911爆料网 are at a program almost every day of the semester.鈥�
Since fall of 2021, HEAT has served more than 69,000 students through outreach and prevention initiatives, offering 745 workshops and events and distributing more than 21,000 wellness packs to students.
No matter how a student connects with HEAT, the peer educators want each to know they are understood.
鈥淚t can be stressful or anxiety-inducing to seek help,鈥� Talley said. 鈥淏ut the peers are here for whatever you need, and because they are students, they might have recently gone through similar challenges.鈥�
For Springer, learning to manage life on her own meant figuring out budgeting and grocery shopping for the first time.
鈥淧lanning meals and budgeting was hard to learn,鈥� she said. 鈥淚n high school, I didn鈥檛 have things I needed to pay for, but in college, there was always a new or recurring expense.鈥�
La Douceur struggled with sleep habits.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know I shouldn鈥檛 drink coffee after 3 p.m.,鈥� she said with a laugh. 鈥淭hen I would be lying in bed wondering why I couldn鈥檛 sleep.鈥�
Shayna La Douceur at HEAT鈥檚 Paws & Relax event
La Douceur also understands the stress of figuring out a career.
鈥淚 was surprised by how much time it took me to figure out what I wanted to do,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 originally wanted to go to medical school, but then I realized it wasn鈥檛 the path for me, which made college stressful. I think a lot of students can relate to that.鈥�
The friends can vouch for the value of connecting with HEAT, since before becoming peer educators, they were the ones seeking help.
鈥淚 went to an event outside the library where they had stress animals during my first finals week,鈥� Springer said of HEAT鈥檚 Paws & Relax event. 鈥淚 just stumbled upon it, and it made me feel so much better.鈥�
La Douceur continues to learn from HEAT.
鈥淏efore I started with HEAT, I was nervous about talking about sensitive topics like sexual health, suicide, alcohol and drugs,鈥� she said. 鈥淲orking with HEAT has boosted my confidence in discussing those topics. Talking openly can help students feel supported, reduce stigma, and get the help they need.鈥�
HEAT鈥檚 Five Tips for Freshmen
Expect an adjustment period. For many students, college is the first time living independently. Balancing classes, jobs, student organizations and social life can be challenging. Learning time management is essential. Planners, calendars and phone reminders can help you prioritize and stay on track.
Find your support system. Whether it鈥檚 a family member, friend or mentor, everyone needs someone to talk to. College has highs and lows, and having someone to lean on can make tough days easier and good days even better.
Use campus resources. Many students don鈥檛 realize the free services available. USF offers Feed-A-Bull, an on-campus food pantry; the Counseling Center for confidential mental health support; Center for Student 911爆料网ll-Being for wellness packs and health education; and Suit-A-Bull for professional attire, among others. These resources exist to help you succeed.
Take care of your basic needs. Sleep seven-nine hours, eat nutritious meals, stay active and drink enough water. Use healthy, substance-free strategies to manage stress. Prioritizing your well-being helps you stay balanced and better equipped to handle responsibilities and support others.
Give yourself grace. Mistakes happen 鈥� missing deadlines, exams or alarms. Treat yourself with patience and compassion and remember progress isn鈥檛 linear. How you respond to setbacks matters, and each challenge is part of your college journey.
The Center for Student 911爆料网ll-Being is located in SVC 0067 and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.