Mac Ross

“Using what we learned from RADical Health, we were able to have refreshingly honest and open conversations about what was causing our stress and how to manage that stress.”

University of Richmond
Major: Rhetoric and Communication Studies
Minor: Journalism

What drew you to your major?

I was drawn to my major because I have always enjoyed communicating with those around me. I have always valued the importance of communication and loved that it is a part of everyone’s lives. Learning how to communicate effectively, understanding how certain language choices, body movements, and even things such as eye contact can play a role in determining social interactions was and still is a fascinating school of thought. 

How do you think what you’ve learned in RADical Health will help you in future academic and professional settings?

From RADical Health I’ve learned emotional maturity and patience, and it furthered my understanding of the importance of communication. I truly believe that these skills will benefit me in both my academic and professional life by equipping me with skills to navigate difficult situations and conversations.

Many of these skills have already benefited me in my social life by allowing me to reach new depths of conversation and understanding with my friends and family members. I can’t wait to see how these experiences will benefit me in my future endeavors.

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

During our completion of the RADical Health sessions, my friends and I were in the middle of midterm season. In the past, we’d share stories of how we were so stressed and burdened by our academics, but that was almost the entire makeup of our conversations.

Using what we learned from RADical Health, we were able to have refreshingly honest and open conversations about what was causing our stress and how to manage that stress. My friends and I shared ways we try and manage our own stress and we learned and incorporated what we heard from others in our own lives.

What advice would you give to your freshman self?

I would tell my freshman self that challenges and difficult times are such a blessing, even though it may not feel like that at the moment. I believe that the challenges I’ve faced, especially in my past few years at college, have made me into the man I am today. I am stronger, more mature and more patient because I’ve dealt with these challenges.

I’ve also learned to appreciate the times in my life where I’m not feeling challenged, as I know these times will not last forever. Instead of being immediately overwhelmed by difficulties and challenges, I’ve started to understand that it is such a blessing to find myself in challenging situations, as I know these will continue to make me a better person.