LBCC students decorated miniature pumpkins and colored pictures of flowers as part of an election therapy workshop held inside the Student Union section of the B Building on Wednesday.
The workshop allowed students to process their emotions following the results of the 2024 presidential election
“Coloring helps because it takes your mind off of things. I think it will help out students especially on the psychological basis and especially how hard the student may have taken the elections,” LBCC student Sergio Atanacio, said.
The workshop provided students with stress balls and snacks like cupcakes, donut holes, and granola bars.
LBCC student Jennifer Cortez shared her thoughts about Donald Trump being elected for a second term at the meeting.
“I was a bit distraught because Trump has been impeached. He’s been caught doing stuff, lying, and you can’t put feelings over facts and he seems really emotional. When you’re a politician you can’t be emotional, you need to think with this (points to head) not your heart,” Cortez said.
The students who attended the workshop did not know the school would be hosting one until staff members announced that the event was starting.
“I didn’t even know they were going to have one, but it seems nice. Everyone is on edge because it’s the election, it’s really stressful, some people were going bonkers, it’s nice to have these things to kind of distract,” Cortez said.
The stress and anxiety following the election was a new feeling for LBCC student AJ Cryer, as this was the first election he was able to participate in.
“It’s my first time being able to vote. I’ve always been an unbiased watcher, and I guess now I was an unbiased participant. I knew the possibilities of what could happen if Trump won, but I always thought of it as we don’t really know what’s going to happen in the end,” Cryer said.
Another student, Parker Ellertson, was particularly stressed after the results of the election were announced.
“I myself identify as bisexual. I have been with a boyfriend for eight years, but it is hard to keep the mentality. With Trump being elected, it is going to affect people with my identities,” Ellertson said.
Other workshops to help students deal with election stress will be available for students to attend on Nov. 13 and 14 from 3 to 5 p.m.