Dylan Sulcer

UT Martin
Major: Strategic Communications and Media Design
Minor: Psychology

Which week was your favorite or most memorable, and why? Anything you’ve learned about yourself in the process?

My favorite week was “What Matters to Me?” of Week 1. I really enjoyed defining those top 10 words that relate to the priorities I want to have in my life and asking myself if/how/and why I want these to be important to me. As a Guide, I found this week was a very strong one, and my team resonated well with it. I learned that I have control over these priorities and when I focus on them, making my life align more with these, I am taking steps to become the person I want to become, and in turn experience less stress because I am spending my time more wisely in areas that fill me.

After completing the program, what surprised you most about what you got out of this program? Any tool(s) you anticipate will continue to be integrated into your academic and athletic life and continue to be impactful going forward?

What surprised me the most was how much I actually enjoyed it and how impactful the videos actually were. The intro and ending videos each week provided a strong visual and often helped the overall message click. Moving forward, I will definitely be using the time and energy management tools discussed in Week 1, as well as the tools to help me identify and manage stressors.

How has being a guide shaped the way you approach your own mental health?

It has helped me have more practice with myself and grace.

What has the role of guide taught you about listening or holding space for others?

I really enjoyed having the opportunity to step into the role of Guide after getting a small taste of what it was like being a participant on our initial Guide training Zoom call. Being in this role taught me to listen well and not jump to what I wanted to say next or respond with, but to stay present. It also grew my confidence when it comes to leading and guiding a space. I have had an experience like this before, but this one specifically taught me not to be quick to end the silence because sometimes it just means people are thinking.

Can you share a specific situation where skills from RADical Health helped you manage stress or overcome a challenge?

Over winter break, I began to feel stressed about all the internships I had to apply for. I quickly remembered to focus on just the closest one that was due and take that one step forward rather than trying to jump to the finish line immediately. I remember in Week 1 the ending video speaking on how our sailboat shifts side to side but still moves forward when we may not even be noticing it. I relied on the tools I learned about priorities and managing my stress to deal with completing my internship applications one at a time.

What advice would you give to future participants of RADical Health?

Bring a journal to the sessions and don’t be afraid to change.