DCU Students’ Union encouraged students to make positive changes in their lifestyle last week by kicking the second semester off with “Motivation Week.”
The first week back after the Christmas break was dedicated to students’ health, wellbeing and encouraging them to get the most out of the next few months of college.
“Motivation week was all about getting students motivated to study, get fit or become healthier,” said Welfare Officer Domhnaill Harkin. “We wanted to encourage the students in DCU to achieve their goals.”
The main event was the launch of DCU’s Operation Transformation campaign on Tuesday. The campaign is challenging DCU’s staff and students to lose 2016 pounds collectively this year.
Six leaders will run the campaign over the next six weeks and it will tie in with RTÉ’s Operation Transformation, which is running concurrently.
Breifne Earley, a former DCU student and mental health advocate, visited the campus on Wednesday to talk about his overcoming his personal battles. Five years ago he suffered from depression, loneliness and was overweight.
By setting himself a set of goals however, including losing weight, travelling and learning new skills, he has turned his life around and is now sharing his success story with people around the country. Earley has completed triathlons, a marathon and cycled around New Zealand.
Thursday was focused on encouraging students to give up smoking. A station was set up in the Hub to test students’ addiction to nicotine and to share tips on quitting smoking with them.
The HSE returned to DCU’s Nursing Building on Wednesday to share more tips on quitting smoking and its health benefits.
There were also free exercise classes and healthy food preparations as part of “Motivation Week,” with the Students’ Union hoping that the good habits will be maintained by the students throughout the semester.
Eoin Lúc O’Ceallaigh”
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