Hokie ClubVirginia Tech Athletics held its annual THRIVE Rookie Training Camp on Wednesday, Nov. 8 inside Lane Stadium, allowing over 100 first-year and transfer student-athletes a chance to focus on mental health during a time of transition and managing new stress that comes along with new beginnings.
THRIVE was created by Virginia Tech's Student-Athlete Development in conjunction with the Counseling & Mental Performance (CAMP) department to break the stigma surrounding mental health. The initiative is led by Student-Athlete Development's Natalie Wimmer, in addition to the THRIVE Tribe, a small group of student-athletes from each athletic program. This group assists in the planning and execution of THRIVE events.
"It was incredibly rewarding to see so many student-athletes come to focus on their mental health," Wimmer said. "This was the largest Rookie Training Camp we've ever had, so to have so much representation from so many different sports and for them to take an hour and a half out of their night to focus on mental health, it shows that we really are working to break the stigma and that they feel comfortable and are prioritizing that."
The event featured a panel of both current and former Tech student-athletes to help share their stories about dealing with common mental health struggles as a newcomer on campus. Those in the group included lacrosse's Mary Griffin, swimming and diving's Emma Atkinson, football's Matt Johnson and wrestling alumni Collin Gerardi.
It also included numerous interactive activities led by current THRIVE Tribe members and by Associate Athletics Director of Clinical and Sport Psychologist Dr. Gary Bennett.
"We're honestly very lucky to have a resource like this," junior member of the men's soccer team and current THRIVE Tribe member Jordan Black said. "Many student-athletes here are going through the same problems that we as upperclassmen have experienced already, so it's really good to share some of the experiences and it's only going to help the incoming freshmen that are coming here for their future.
"That's all we can ask for, really, just to share the positives that we've learned so that the people coming in are benefiting from what we've learned in the past."
Even with the event continuing to grow year in and year out, the overall goal still hasn't changed, with this just serving as one particular example as to what THRIVE continues to offer to student-athletes each and every time an event takes place.
"I hope that everyone walked out of here knowing that they're not alone," Wimmer said. "That in a room of over 100 people there were people at their table, there were people at the tables next to them, there were upperclassmen and freshmen that are going through either what they are going though or have been through.
"For them to walk out and feel like they have a community, they have a support system and that they're not alone is one of our priorities of hosting and organizing this event."
Gallery: (12-16-2023) Gen: THRIVE Rookie Training Camp