WOODBURY — Nonnewaug students are making a splash with their voices. Students are showing their support of the new mental health awareness ice bucket challenge.
According to the New York Post, a University of South Carolina sophomore at an open forum on McCarthy Quad grabbed a mic and strongly spoke his mind about the university’s lack of mental health resources. His roommate waited for his speech to be over, holding a cooler full of ice water, and dumped it over his head. Everything was recorded, and the video went viral with 2 million views in 48 hours.
In just a week, it became an organization with sign-up sheets, speakers, and a student-run livestream. USC college students came together to make awareness of the topic and now thousands of people around the world are joining, including our very own Nonnewaug students.
“Doing the ice bucket challenge was such a fun way to spread this awareness for mental health. It was such a fulfilling feeling being able to participate in spreading awareness for this unspoken problem,” said Aubrie Salisbury, a Nonnewaug sophomore.
Not only are the students of Nonnewaug passionate about this trend, but so is the administration at Nonnewaug.
“I think the ice bucket challenge is a fun way to draw attention to the ability for folks to reach out to anybody, [and] we want all our students to know that we’re here for them,” said Declan Curtin, Nonnewaug’s assistant principal.
Nonnewaug’s administration loves seeing students using their voice for good and showing up for those who can’t.
“Nonnewaug students drawing attention to all sorts of causes are something that we are very proud of, and the administration loves seeing that are own kids are getting involved in activities like that,” Curtin said. “I think it’s always important when kids do things on their own rather than being told to do something. We’re proud of our students anytime that they do something for a cause. It draws attention to something that needs to be improved.”
Never underestimate how much a silly little trend can bring so much awareness about such a little talked subject.
“When I got nominated for the ice bucket challenge, I felt so overwhelmed with happiness that I could be a part of something like this,” Nonnewaug sophomore Erin O’Leary said. “Nominating people to keep this going is one of the best parts about doing the ice bucket challenge. It will never end.”
Some Nonnewaug students, though, think some people take the trend and completely destroy the meaning. They argue that dumping water on your head for the laughs and joining the trend is not how awareness should be spread.
“I don’t think most people understand the meaning behind the ice bucket challenge,” Nonnewaug junior Noah Blood said. “All I see on my FYP [For You Page] is people just dumping the water on themselves and not talking about why they are doing it.”
As the ice melts and the water dries, the only thing that remains is the message: mental health matters. Behind every viral video and every soaked shirt is a voice that refuses to be silent. A student standing up not just for themselves, but for everyone who’s ever felt unseen or unheard.
At Nonnewaug and everyone around the world, this challenge is no longer about the cold water but the warmth in people’s hearts and courage to care. In the end when students use their stories, voices, and even a bucket of ice water to speak up, real change happens.
