TZHS Senior Hosts Wellness Workshops for SOMS Students

Tappan Zee High School senior Pilar Fernandez is teaming up with South Orangetown Middle School Prevention Counselor Bobbie-Angela Wong for a series of wellness workshops for small groups of middle school student-athletes.

Fernandez, a multi-sport athlete and multi-event Section 1 track champion, is headed to the University of South Florida in the fall as a Psychology major. For her Senior Seminar project, Fernandez is drawing on her own experience as a student athlete to offer the guidance she wishes she had received herself.

“Playing a sport can be a lot to manage–especially for middle schoolers who play up or compete alongside older peers. In addition to the pressure you put on yourself, there is a lot of external pressure from parents, peers, coaches and teachers,” she noted. “It’s important to have an identity outside of your sports. It was something that I had to figure out how to deal with myself.”

Over the past three years, Fernandez suffered a series of injuries which sidelined her for considerable periods of time. “I received offers, but decided not to run track in college. It isn’t worth the extra stress. Instead, I’m planning to minor in dance and do club dance, which will still be competitive, but less intense. I need to leave this chapter behind and pursue other passions,” she explained.

An eighth grader observed, “She’s choosing mental health over college sports.”

Over the course of the next four weeks, sessions will focus on identity, healthy habits and how to balance priorities.

“Student-athletes have a lot of responsibilities and more of those responsibilities shift from parents to kids as they enter high school. The workshops that Pilar has created offer tools and strategies to balance those responsibilities,” Wong said.