Hoover cares about your self-care

March 29, 2024

During the summer of 2023, teachers Ms. Jane Westfall and Ms. Val Woodfil designed a project based learning project with the help of Ms. Briana Desingano and Mr. Chase Fite. This was in response to the community schools’ findings that mental health is a priority to all Hoover’s stakeholders.

“What I loved the most was how classmates got together and partnered up to help research about mental health and spread awareness that you are not alone,” said Valeria Castillo. “There are many different techniques and ways that you can use to go help with stress that can impact you life in a negative way.”

The PBL project was shared in the 10th grade AHHC classes in November. The Cardinal Self-Care Fair was created and designed and overseen by students. The booths included art therapy, animal therapy, suicide prevention, nutrition, breathing therapy and much, much more.

“The fair exemplified Cardinal P.R.I.D.E. and Hoover student excellence,” expressed academy director Ms. Ellen Hohenstein. “We are proud of their hard work and appreciate the generous support of our partners UCSD School of Psychiatry.”

Sophomore Ashley Meza of AHHC, “I liked watching all the plays and scenes and seeing how hard my friends and students worked on the fair.”

According to Ms. Hohenstein, one goal of the fair was to expose Hoover students to low cost strategies that could help them reduce stress and improve their mental health. Hoover is fortunate to have a health center on its campus. There are also other resources and organizations that students can find help when needed.

The following organizations were present at the fair: Healthy Start/Wellness Center, Mending Matters, Health Corps, Community Wellness, ESMERA, La Maestra, Center for Community Solutions, SWEAR, Aspen Challenge, SDUSD Counseling Department, CCTE, IMIN.

About the Contributor

Emanuel Cruz, Staff Writer

Emanuel Cruz is a junior at Hoover High School. He was born on April 13, raised in San Diego, California, by his parents who immigrated to live the American Dream. He has two older siblings but he will be the first one in his family to graduate from Hoover, as the class of 2025. He also has two cats that he treasures and loves. He doesn’t really have a plan after high school but does want to attend SDSU. He wishes to have a career and is inspired by both his sister and brother.

Outside of school he enjoys watching movies and of course playing video games. His current favorite movies are Everything Everywhere All At Once, Interstellar, and La La Land. As for his video games, they are Roblox, Good Pizza Great Pizza, and Mario Kart 8. But something else that he absolutely loves is FOOD! His favorite dish is chilaquiles with a cold glass of Iced Tea.

He hopes to work in the medical field, but can’t decide on which career. What he does know is that he wants to help people whether that be helping them physically or mentally. He is currently in FACES and in Cardinals Interact which are programs that will expose him to decide which career is the best option for him.