On January 25, 2021, Miami Lakes Educational Center’s (MLEC) TRUST counselor, Mr. Felix Muñoz, announced in the MLEC 2020-2021 Microsoft Teams channel that he had scheduled a meeting for a new Mental Health Awareness Club, also known as The Walnut Society.
According to Mr. Muñoz’s post, it is the perfect opportunity for anyone who is “interested in joining a club with no fees, ability to receive community service hours, and change the stigma of mental health.”
“The club is an awareness club. The awareness that we’re trying to bring is of mental health,” Mr. Muñoz said. “To let them know that it’s okay to not be okay and provide solutions to people,” he continued.
After their first meeting in which people began to run for officer positions, they have now selected a communications officer, Brianna Bolanos, and a president, Melanie Fernandez.
The new secretary, Khira Diaz, and vice president, Whitney Souffrant, shared their hopes as officers for the club. In her statement, Diaz says she wants to change the stigma surrounding mental health and is very passionate about the issue at hand.
“As an officer of The Walnut Society, I would like to showcase and normalize the effects of mental health. Through The Walnut Society, I’d like to create a safe space where students will be able to freely express themselves and not be judged,” said Souffrant. “I’d like for us to help people and call for the awareness of not being afraid of our minds and the thoughts that run through them,” she continued.
The club is a big change for MLEC. It’s a safe space for students to feel comfortable and less alone. This is one more step toward greatness.
“This is a new initiative. I think it’s kind of neat that people are realizing that maybe this mental health thing does have to do with academic performance and with people socializing with each other,” said Mr. Muñoz. “This club is about spotlighting that mental health issues as normal as any other issue.”
As far as what to expect for the club, it can only get better from here.
