Beyond students who began with a physical description of health and transitioned to a discussion of how physical health is tied to other aspects of wellness, a surprising number of students initially described health as a balance. These students too commented on the connection between physical, mental, and spiritual health, but they more frequently mentioned that you cannot achieve one aspect of health without considering the others. For example, a female, junior, nursing major student described how body, and spirit health are all interrelated. “mind, You can’t be healthy in one area until you are healthy in all three. They complement each other.” These students also more frequently discussed the importance of feeling good and being happy for their well-being. Though these particular students appear to be involved in a slightly different health discourse than those focused solely on physical health, this discourse is nonetheless controlling. These students identify health as a balance and are consequently held to achieve it. Though the boundaries of their health relationships may appear dissimilar to physical students, both groups participate in the same health culture on campus. Consequently, their identities both fall within the larger health identity at St. Olaf. The definitions of health offered by this group of students aligned with the visions of health promoted by health resource representatives. For example, the student-run Wellness Center promotes a holistic approach moving beyond health” to encompass mind, body, “body and spiritual wellness. The Counseling Center, like many of the students interviewed, also focused on the importance of balance because the broadest sense [health is] learning how to “in really get good at creating balance in your life, and at the same time part of that is knowing one’s limits and to not compare yourself with others” (Counseling Center representative). A representative from the college Pastor’s Office in particular focused on the importance of fostering in wholeness: think of health and wholeness are, if not synonyms, then good “I
Beyond students who began with a physical description of health and transitioned to a discussion of how physical health is tied to other aspects of wellness, a surprising number of students initially described health as a balance. These students too commented on the connection between physical, mental, and spiritual health, but they more frequently mentioned that you cannot achieve one aspect of health without considering the others. For example, a female, junior, nursing major student described how “mind, body, and spirit health are all interrelated. You can’t be healthy in one area until you are healthy in all three. They complement each other.” These students also more frequently discussed the importance of feeling good and being happy for their well-being. Though these particular students appear to be involved in a slightly different health discourse than those focused solely on physical health, this discourse is nonetheless controlling. These students identify health as a balance and are consequently held to achieve it. Though the boundaries of their health relationships may appear dissimilar to physical students, both groups participate in the same health culture on campus. Consequently, their identities both fall within the larger health identity at St. Olaf. The definitions of health offered by this group of students aligned with the visions of health promoted by health resource representatives. For example, the student-run Wellness Center promotes a holistic approach moving beyond “body health” to encompass mind, body, and spiritual wellness. The Counseling Center, like many of the students interviewed, also focused on the importance of balance because “in the broadest sense [health is] learning how to really get good at creating balance in your life, and at the same time part of that is knowing one’s limits and to not compare yourself with others” (Counseling Center representative). A representative from the college Pastor’s Office in particular focused on the importance of fostering in wholeness: “I think of health and wholeness are, if not synonyms, then good