Alumna, coach and adjunct instructor finds meaning beyond the field 

Now a proud ɫ����Ƶ Double Bear and faculty member, Christine Semler, ’06, G’11, felt lost when she first arrived at ɫ����Ƶ.  

“I was supposed to play softball at another school,” she said. “I got injured and transferred to Bridgewater. I was a lost athlete but found my way because of my mentors, it’s part of the reason why I came back to (coach) and teach.” 

As a student-athlete, Semler found herself more often in the training room than on the playing field. She would soon learn why.  

“I was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, it’s a rare condition that kept causing my tendons to tear, I couldn’t function,” Semler said.  

When it became clear that her career as a student-athlete was over, Semler struggled in terms of her mental health. 

“My entire identity was student-athlete,” she said.  

As she worked through a myriad of emotions, a new path revealed itself, one where she could apply her knowledge as an athlete and leader to help others.  

She earned a degree in psychology in 2006 then followed it up with a master’s in clinical psychology in 2011.  

In between she also began a coaching and teaching career. Semler spent two years as the head softball coach at Massasoit Community College before taking over the reins as ɫ����Ƶ’s head softball coach in 2013.  

During her tenure, the team went 92-64 over four years, with a trip to the NCAA Div 3 Super Regionals where the Bears lost to Tufts University.  

Semler also started teaching at Bridgewater within the Counselor Education Program, helping mentor students just as former ɫ����Ƶ faculty helped her.   

“Being assessable to students is important to me,” Semler said. "So many students are hanging on by a thread, they have such unique lives...there is so much going on outside of the classroom, it’s critical that we supply them with resources.” 

That can be as simple as helping a student locate the Wellness Center, where there are counselors available or even just taking five minutes after class to ask them what’s going on in their lives.  

“These things make a world of difference,” she said. “I know it did for me as a student when my professors showed me that they cared. Not only does it help with retention, but ultimately benefits our students and they will come out better than they started.” 

As another way to reach students, Semler recently collaborated with Lululemon’s Global Ambassador program to bring a day of “Movement for Mental Health” to ɫ����Ƶ.  

Throughout the day, mental skill building sessions and events were offered, including a trail-running workshop that exposed students to the , located behind the Adrian Tinsley Center.   

“Events like this create more awareness and show that supports for mental health are more accessible and approachable than what students might think,” Semler said. “We have resources here at ɫ����Ƶ and can help you seek out those resources because we want you to be the best version of yourself.” 

Making connections, being part of a community, it all helps.  

“It’s an honor and privilege to serve our students and make those connections,” Semler said. “Sometimes all you need is to be heard, that you matter and belong.” 

 Do you have a ɫ����Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

So many students are hanging on by a thread, they have such unique lives...there is so much going on outside of the classroom, it’s critical that we supply them with resources.

Sitting alone in his dorm room, Darren Smith’s thoughts began to take over, his internal voice directing him to a frightening place.   

“It was the first and only time I contemplated whether or not my life was worth living. I wondered, should I take it?” he said.   

Suddenly he heard his phone; it was a text from a friend.   

“In that moment, if I didn’t get that text from her...” Smith trailed off.   

The ɫ����Ƶ alumnus arrived on campus in the fall of 2019 and, like many incoming freshmen, admits his first semester was difficult.   

“It was hard. I didn’t know what I was doing, how to register for classes. I even took biology my first semester, I barely got through it, but somehow, I did it,” Smith said.   

To make matters worse, the roommate he was paired with ended up being a failed match, and he needed to switch rooms.  

“I didn’t think things could get any worse, then COVID hit,” Smith said. “I went home to Bourne to finish out the semester.”  

When school started up again in the fall of 2020, the pandemic forced all of ɫ����Ƶ’s classes online. Students were invited to return and live on campus, but with restrictions. It was far from the traditional experience college students were accustomed to.   

Smith opted to live on campus and was assigned to a single room in Pope Hall.   

“There were only three other people on the floor. I lived at the end of the hallway and didn’t really interact with others. It wasn’t the school’s fault, but that was my reality,” he said.   

Taking classes online, limited social interaction—the isolation took a toll.   

“That first COVID semester, it was hard. I know I wasn’t alone, we all lived in these boxes. It left you often alone with your thoughts,” Smith said. “There was this weird sense of loneliness. I think we crave interaction whether we want to admit it or not.”  

Smith started to experience panic attacks and depression, leading him to the day where he sat alone in his dorm room, contemplating suicide. If not for his friend reaching out...it’s something he thinks about often.   

“At the time, I didn’t know how to use my resources. I had a hard time reaching out to people,” he said.   

Eventually he did seek out help and made use of the ɫ����Ƶ Wellness Center’s free counseling services.   

“It helped. I never would have believed talking to someone would help, I’ve always believed that your problems are your own, but sometimes talking to somebody does help,” he said.   

Smith got more involved as a ɫ����Ƶ Orientation Leader and tour guide. He also worked as an advisor in the Academic Achievement Center.   

As for the friend who texted him that day, their relationship blossomed into a romance with the couple still dating today.   

After graduating this spring with a degree in communication studies, Smith applied and was accepted into Fitchburg State University’s master’s program in applied communications. He will start this fall.   

He is quick to point out that despite his success and ability to manage his mental health crisis, that doesn’t mean he will ever “beat it.”   

“Depression never really disappears, it still and always will be a part of me,” he said. “But by telling my story, I hope others can relate and realize they are not alone. I think we all have moments where we deal with depression.”  

For students who might be struggling at ɫ����Ƶ, he encourages them to reach out and find the right outlet or resource that works best for them.   

“I hope students understand that the college does have resources and I think ɫ����Ƶ does a good job promoting these programs through the Wellness Center,” Smith said. “Every student deals with things differently, what might have worked for me, might not be an option for someone else. I never believed I could (graduate college) but you find the outside resources you need and keep pushing through.”  

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis or for those looking to help someone else. To speak with a trained listener, call 988. Crisis Text Line is a texting service for emotional crisis support. To speak with a trained listener, text HELLO to 741741. It is free, available 24/7, and confidential.

Do you have a ɫ����Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

Every student deals with things differently, what might have worked for me, might not be an option for someone else. I never believed I could (graduate college) but you find the outside resources you need and keep pushing through.

In her first semester of college, Kealey Johnson, ’26, knew she’d face stress as she adjusted to a different environment. But thanks to one of her professors, Kealey knows how to effectively manage the emotional strain.

Kealey learned yoga and breathing exercises, as well as the science behind their effectiveness, in ɫ����Ƶ dance professor Jody Weber’s new first-year seminar.

“I knew I wanted a class where I could feel calm and not stressed out in any way,” said Kealey, a health science major and communication studies minor who now uses the techniques daily. “This class has really helped with that.”

That’s exactly why Dr. Weber created the seminar.

“I’ve seen a tremendous increase in student anxiety and mental health issues that have been really exacerbated by COVID,” Weber said. “I wanted to create a course that would give students some tools to manage crises and provide them with the science that backs those up.”

Weber’s seminar is one of several classes for first- or second-year students focused on mental health and wellness. In the Department of Health and Kinesiology, Dr. Lydia Burak emphasizes how physical and mental health are closely intertwined as part of a general wellness seminar. Eric LePage, a communication studies instructor, has students examine the impact of technology on their wellbeing.

LePage, who is also executive director of ɫ����Ƶ’s Teaching and Technology Center, developed the course with a focus on social media use and its effect on consumers. As social media platforms and apps grew in number and popularity, students worried about how social media affected their wellness.

“They want more control over their social media and smartphone app use, more time for the things that are important to them in their lives,” said LePage, who recommends turning off notifications on one’s phone.

All social media is not bad, LePage tells students. Rather, they should assess the value of apps in their lives.

“By finding more of a balance with our tech use, my goal by semester’s end is that they will have greater focus and more time for the things that are really important to them, like completing their course work and degree, being creative in their free time, enjoying time with family and friends, and just being happier and less-stressed people,” he said.

Students monitor their smartphone and social media use and observe how the technology affects those around them. They present on what their life would be like in 1985 without social media or what the future of social media will be in 2035.

Weber, the dance professor, incorporates yoga or breathing exercises into every class meeting. She shows students how being in nature relieves stress. As a writing-intensive course, students also research how yoga affects veterans, college students and other populations.

“My goal is really to help students know they have control and the tools as they navigate their young adult lives,” she said. “These are lifelong practices to help them.”

Abigail Urda, ’26, said the course is a way for students who are uncomfortable seeking counseling to learn about stress and improve their wellbeing.

“I think it’s really important because a lot of first-year students struggle with mental illness,” Abigail said. “It helps to go to a class that can help them navigate coping with these illnesses.”

Do you have a ɫ����Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu.

I’ve seen a tremendous increase in student anxiety and mental health issues that have been really exacerbated by COVID. I wanted to create a course that would give students some tools to manage crises and provide them with the science that backs those up.

As students return to campus this semester and the world continues to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, many may be experiencing anxiety.

For those struggling, it’s important to know supports are in place at ɫ����Ƶ to help manage these feelings.

A great starting point is the ɫ����Ƶ Wellness Center.

“We all need supportive and caring people to help us navigate the stresses and worries of life, people who can help us get through the ups and downs that we all experience,” said Donna Schiavo, clinical director of the Wellness Center.

Confidential counseling services are offered free, in both individual and group settings. For those not comfortable talking with a counselor, there are online tools and services.

is a virtual, peer-to-peer, anonymous support community where students can share their concerns. The online community is moderated by mental health professionals and offers students a safe place to draw strength and gain insights from peers.

Also available is , another free online resource that helps students better understand feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression, and suggests ways to manage these feelings. To register for an account, students can download the WellTrack app on the Apple App Store or Google Play Store and register using their @student.bridgew.edu email address.

Beyond the Wellness Center, it’s important for students to know that community members across campus are invested in their mental health.

“Being a support system is our biggest draw for students to come in and vent, and ask for resources,” said Diana Mendes, interim assistant director of the Lewis and Gaines Center for Inclusion and Equity (LGCIE), located in the Rondileau Student Union.

For some students, there isn’t a safe space at home where they can express themselves, therefore they tend to suppress their emotions.

“When a student is experiencing so many different types of feelings and not being validated at home, that student often suffers in silence,” said LGCIE Interim Director Michael Walsh, adding that many students of color, particularly males, tend to suppress uncomfortable feelings.

Walsh said part of his job is to let students know they do have a place to turn to and that help is always available.

“The LGCIE is a safe place, where students can keep an eye on each other, have conversations and connect with others,” he said. “By having thoughtful, real, careful conversations, we’re able to understand what some of our students are dealing with in terms of their mental health.”

A Quiet Lounge is set up at the ɫ����Ƶ Pride Center where students can sit, relax, read, or work on homework. Coloring books, crayons, markers, puzzles, and paper are also offered in the lounge to help students unwind.

“You can always drop into the Pride Center between classes if you’re looking for a place to hang out, meet and be around other LGBTQIA+ people, find out more about different programs, events and social opportunities,” said Pride Center Director Carolyn Taggart. “I’m happy to meet with students one-on-one to assist them in finding resources.”

The Military and Veteran Student Center hosts ongoing events that focus on peer support, including one scheduled for May 4 where students can come together and de-stress during finals week.

This spring the center is also launching a Green to Grad program intended to bolster support for students transitioning from servicemember to student.

“Our goal as educators is to prepare students for life after college, and one of the things we should be fostering is the belief that it’s okay to be vulnerable,” said Brian Duchaney, director of military and veteran student services. “It’s important for us to be building opportunities for students to come together and share their experiences.”

Do you have a ɫ����Ƶ story you'd like to share? Email stories@bridgew.edu 

Our goal as educators is to prepare students for life after college, and one of the things we should be fostering is the belief that it’s okay to be vulnerable.