Student Wellness

Student Wellness at LSSC is dedicated to fostering student success by promoting holistic well-being through initiatives grounded in our values of Vision, Strength, and Spirit. We encourage students to thrive by engaging with all eight interconnected dimensions of wellness—physical, intellectual, financial, environmental, social, emotional, occupational, and spiritual. Through small, intentional steps, students are empowered to build healthy habits and make meaningful lifestyle changes. Our mission is to support the personal, academic, and social development of every Lakehawk by nurturing resilience, self-awareness, and a vibrant sense of community.

Discover Your Path to Success with Student Wellness and Life Skills

At LSSC, we believe your well-being and personal growth are just as important as your academic journey. That’s why we’ve created Student Wellness and Life Skills—a collection of resources designed to help you thrive both inside and outside the classroom.

There are no assignments, no deadlines—just support when you need it most. Explore topics at your own pace, on your own time, and discover strategies to strengthen your resilience, manage stress, and build life skills that last a lifetime.

Ready to begin? Dive into our curated modules and resources today, and check out our short video to see how these tools can empower you throughout your time at LSSC.

All LSSC students are enrolled in our “Student Wellness and Life Skills” Canvas shell, which you’ll find on your Canvas Course dashboard.

Dimensions of Wellness

  1. Physical Icon

    Physical Wellness

    • Recognizing the need for exercise, healthy food, safer sex, sleeping and completing routine health screenings.
    • Taking the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator.
    • Making healthy food choices.
    • Maintaining a regular sleep schedule and aiming to get between 7-9 hours of sleep each night.
    • Seeing your primary care doctor on a regular basis.
    • Practicing behaviors to support your immune system and prevent illness.
    • Limiting your use of alcohol, if you choose to drink at all.
    • Avoiding tobacco products and other drugs; taking medications only as prescribed.
    • Approaching sexuality and sexual relationships in a safe, respectful, and positive manner.
    • Taking care of your sexual and reproductive health including getting regular exams and screenings.
  2. Intellectual Icon

    Intellectual Wellness

    • Recognizing creative abilities, remaining curious about the world, and being a lifelong learner. This can be fostered through academics, personal hobbies, cultural involvement, and community involvement that expand your knowledge and skills.
    • Being open-minded, such as listening to and considering the perspectives of others.
    • Finding a new hobby.
    • Traveling or studying abroad.
    • Learning a new language.
    • Reading for pleasure.
    • Attending conferences, programs, and talks that expand your knowledge.
  3. Financial Icon

    Financial Wellness

    • Finding satisfaction with current and future financial situations. Learning how to successfully manage financial expenses for both the short and long term and achieve financial stability.
    • Understanding your student loans.
    • Setting up a savings account and adding a small monthly automatic payment if possible.
    • Planning ahead and establishing budget goals.
    • Beginning with small changes that will add up over time (making your own lunch instead of buying it).
    • Developing a healthy relationship with money including asking yourself “do I really need this?” before an impulsive purchase.
  4. Evironmental Icon

    Environmental Wellness

    • Achieving good health by nurturing an environment that supports your health, safety, and well-being. Respecting all nature and all species living in it. The environment includes your daily surroundings such as your campus, home, work, or neighborhood and each impacts your health.
    • Being aware of the natural and built environment.
    • De-clutter, donate, and recycle things you don’t need.
    • Spending time outdoors in nature.
    • Going to the farmer’s market.
    • Biking or walking for your commute.
    • Speaking up about disrespectful or harassing behaviors and comments that foster a negative social environment.
  5. Social Icon

    Social Wellness

    • Developing a sense of connection, belonging, and a well-developed support system. Building and fostering significant and supportive relationships with people, groups, and communities to be able to establish boundaries that encourage communication, trust, and conflict management.
    • Joining a club, team, or organization.
    • Volunteering in the community.
    • Demonstrating respect for others, oneself, and other cultures.
    • Making at least one connection daily by calling, texting, or visiting someone in your network of supportive family, friends, co-workers, and peers.
    • Building trust and expressing support in relationships with people close to you.
    • Learning how to communicate effectively with those around you.
    • Respecting the needs and wants of others and yourself.
  6. Emotional Icon

    Emotional Wellness

    • Coping effectively with everyday life stressors and creating satisfying relationships. Developing an awareness of and accepting one’s own feelings and the feelings of others.
    • Sharing your thoughts and emotions with people you trust.
    • Practicing gratitude.
    • Seeking or accepting help and support with upsetting emotions.
    • Being kind to yourself.
    • Smiling, laughing, and using humor to decrease stress.
    • Expressing your emotions in healthy ways.
    • Learning relaxation and stress management techniques.
    • Developing confidence in your abilities.
    • Understanding your communication style.
  7. Occupational Icon

    Occupational Wellness

    • Finding personal satisfaction, enrichment, and meaning in your career and hobbies.
    • Regularly reflecting on where you find joy and meaning in your life.
    • Exploring various career and volunteer opportunities in an area you are passionate about.
    • Utilizing career service resources.
    • Keeping an open mind.
    • Establishing realistic career goals and working towards accomplishing these goals.
  8. Spiritual Icon

    Spiritual Wellness

    • Expanding your sense of purpose and meaning in life. Clarifying your values and beliefs. A healthy spirit helps to support resiliency and be better prepared to face life’s challenges.
    • Making time for personal reflection (meditation, yoga).
    • Being curious about the world and life experiences you encounter through mindfulness techniques.
    • Discerning what values, principles, and beliefs are most important to you.
    • Helping others when they are in need.
    • If religious, exploring a faith that aligns with your values.
    • Traveling and experiencing other cultures.

Supporting Our Campus Community Through Food Assistance

Lakehawks’ Harvest Food Pantry at Lake-Sumter State College, in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida and Lake Cares, is a resource available to all currently enrolled students who may be facing food insecurity. Lakehawks’ Harvest Food Pantry is a safe, confidential and judgment-free space.

Two individuals pack canned goods into paper bags; another holds a bag of fresh produce, smiling outdoors.

Contact

Dr. E. Maureen Miller portrait

Dr. E. Maureen Miller

Director of Student Wellness

Millere@lssc.edu
Office
Leesburg Student Center #104
Phone
352-435-6335