Coming at a much needed time in Week 9, Mental Health Awareness Week was an interactive week organised by MUSA Activities and MUSA Welfare to help students de-stress nearing the end of the semester. With a range of different activities every day of the week, it was a unique experience filled with game booths, workshops and DIY events to let students take their mind off semester end assignments, even if it is only for a little while.

Monday: MODOFO X ALLTOU

Monday was all about the MODOFO and ALLTOU “Refresh Your Day Monash Edition” giveaway, a fun collaboration between MODOFO and  ALLTOU. Students could jump into a little challenge of rearranging the cups in the right order to win a prize, which was either a small bag or a cute plush. The excitement was real, as some people were lining up just to get their turn quickly and snag one of the two limited-edition small plushies before they were gone. Beyond the game, there were also plenty of goodies to shop for, like an adorable water holder or a handy little hand fan to help beat the heat, perfectly fitting the whole “refresh your day” theme. And it did not stop there some more unique finds, like a hair dryer, made an appearance, giving everyone a bit of a surprise alongside all the cuter picks. With 5 winners in total walking away with prizes ranging from cute tumblers and water bottles to handy little fans, it was a refreshing way to kick off the week.

Tuesday: Mood Village

Tuesday was all about the Mood Village, a non-food bazaar, where little stores were set up near the cafeteria area for students to wander through. From small trinkets to pick up to handmade pieces like crochet goods, perfumes, and even tattoo art, there was something for everyone who wanted to slow down and find a little something meaningful. Stores like Wicks and Quills, Piu Piu Lab, Beads to Beads, and Purrfect Day brought along their handcrafted charms, keychains, and adorable crochet creations, giving the whole area a cosy, creative buzz. The little jewellery stores were especially popular, as students had fun trying on the rings and bracelets, taking their time and asking their friends for opinions on what suited them best. It made for a relaxed, feel-good afternoon where browsing turned into a fun little outing with friends.

Wednesday: Whisk Away

Wednesday was for all the matcha lovers, as there were two sessions of  workshops where participants learned how to make their own cup of matcha. Though many showed up for the chance to score free matcha, it was a nice experience for them to learn how to make it for themselves for once. As the sessions went on, people were helping each other measure out the matcha and the vanilla syrup, and there was plenty of laughter shared along the way as everyone worked through the steps together. It made the whole thing feel a lot more relaxed and friendly, rather than just a quick stop for a free drink. Towards the end, the little groups of friends would gather to take pictures together, wanting to capture the experience and hold onto the moments they had made during the session

Thursday: Express Your Emotions

On Thursday, multiple DIY booths were set up to help destress and relax. The first stop was Sand Quartz Painting, where we were free to create whatever our heart desired on a canvas, using paint mixed with sand, creating an interesting texture to work with. The freedom provided was nice as instructions were merely placed on the table, allowing us to paint whatever we wanted, but some extra guidance would have been nice, just so participants could gauge if they had the right consistency of paint and sand. Next was the Make a Wish booth, which provided glass bottles, sticky notes and brightly colored sand so we could write our wishes and encapsulate them within the bottle, and bury it in sand of various colours. I really liked this activity since it allowed me to think about my goals but also decorate them with sand and cute stickers. Last was Sculpt Your Emotions, where clay and tools were provided so we could 

Friday: Cue the Cake and Movie Night

To finish off the week with a small celebration, there was a cake decorating workshop in the afternoon, where participants were provided with cakes of different flavours like vanilla, chocolate and earl gray, and icing. They were given the freedom to choose however they would like to decorate it and it was fascinating to see all the unique design variations, like flowers, memes and even inside jokes. Overall, it surely was a sweet way to spend a Friday afternoon. 

A movie night at the Monash Field was scheduled for the evening, complete with free flow popcorn and cotton candy. However the weather had other plans, as the rain delayed the start of the movies. Still, with raincoats and some perseverance many people eventually were able to go sit and enjoy The Greatest Showman (a personal favourite of mine!). Eventually the rain did stop, just in time to begin the cozy Studio Ghibli classic, Spirited Away.

Photos by Daven F. I Grace L. I Jia Tong. I Ryan Issac