The Fall 2026 Session of Zen Academy was held from October through December. We had an all female group which was something that allowed us to discuss certain aspects of Social-Emotional wellbeing from a female perspective. The students were always enthusiastic about the program and participated in activities such as speed friendshipping, identifying and understanding emotions, art projects and learning about the consequences and potential benefits of stress.
Our members have reported an increase in understanding moods and feelings, an increase in coping skills and a decrease in feeling irritable and sad. Students were administered a pre- and post-session survey of the Comprehensive Assessment of Resilience and Emotional Strength (CARES).
With time, we will continue to check in with our academy members to monitor their progress.