Today I Went to the Park:
A Guide to Mental Health Resources and Support at DePaul
It’s a new fall quarter and if you’re new to the DePaul University experience – feeling lost will one day be a core memory. Navigating simple things like making sure you have your ID can be frustrating but trust that it’ll work out… because at DePaul: “Here, we do,” and get it done.
The quarter roars on, and registration for Winter session 2024 is approaching soon. The bustling cityscape of DePaul’s Loop campus can sometimes feel like a nonstop ticking clock, even when we wish for a moment’s pause. If you’re feeling this way, it’s easy to let emotions pile up and feel overwhelmed, isolated in your struggles. But know this: you are not alone!
Being a student at either DePaul’s Loop or Lincoln Park campus places you near some beautiful nature escapes, offering moments of natural captivation. The urge to “escape” can sometimes make us lose focus on our responsibilities. Being a DePaul student means having an innate drive for academic success, but it also means knowing you can find support when needed—whether through study or through spirit.
I’ve been feeling a slight sense of isolation and loneliness in my need to succeed (something many first-gen students can relate to), so: “Today, I went to the park.” Between my busy schedule, I found time to connect with nature and return to the present moment. Luckily, Grant Park is just 10 minutes away from Loop Campus with many parks like Oz park near the Lincoln Park campus! Nature is the current/now/present with an ability to also forecast our future through the seeds it sows. We, too, can plant the seeds we want to see flourish in our mental “park.”
Today, I sowed seeds of “gratefulness,” “patience,” and “understanding” with myself and those around me. I felt the breeze of the present, smelled the waning freshness of the fading summer, and and found solace in knowing I could come back to campus and find additional resources and support. As a DePaul student, I don’t feel alone. If you’re feeling isolated or in need of support, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the many amazing resources available to you. Below are some of my favorite parks near DePaul’s Loop and Lincoln Park campuses, and I encourage you to visit soon!
Sir Georg Solti Garden (Near Loop)
Buckingham Memorial Fountain (Near Loop)
Crown Fountain (Near Loop)
Oz Park (Near Lincoln Park Campus)
Lincoln Park Conservatory (Near LPC)
Mental Health Services | Free Counseling Service | BIPOC-Focused Services
Marco Garcia | IG: AstroTheProtege | First-Generation Latino Digital Marketing Student