Happy Fever
By: Shariah Aldridge
Tags: Special Olympics, Belonging, Collaboration, Learning

Happy Fever

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Happy Fever is an organization I would create at Kennesaw State University that establishes recreational opportunities for students with special needs. Everyone must have some recreation in their lives. Commonly, special needs students do not participate in most fun activities around a college campus. Either they aren’t aware of the opportunities or don’t feel as if they can participate. The goal is to create an organization where special needs students can engage in activities that will help to boost their happiness, health, confidence, and reduce loneliness.

My organization will focus on indoor and outdoor activities to promote active living. Along with giving special needs students fantastic entertaining opportunities, Happy Fever will also give students a chance to participate in the group. Allowing students to help with the organization will open opportunities for volunteer work and community service hours.

Recreation helps participants with limited physical or mental abilities feel as if they are accomplishing something great. Though we may not realize it, we all look for reassurance occasionally. It is calming to know that you are doing something to affect yourself or others positively. When young people feel good about themselves, they operate more effectively and productively in schools and the community. This program will help teach the importance of trust and personal challenge while creating valuable lifelong memories. Leadership positions will be an option for all those in the club who feel they can take on the responsibility. There is no more significant opportunity for people to experience happiness, renewal, and creativity than leisure offers.

The Happy Fever organization will promote wellness and fitness for all involved. The slightest bit of exercise is good for anybody! This club will thrive on helping the active living. This concept connects the mind, body, and spirit in physical activity. Being active, significantly lowers body mass index, blood pressure, and resting pulse rates. Some examples of physical activities include horseback riding, swimming, dancing which will take place in the Special Olympics. Special Olympics, in simple terms, is a field day for special needs students. The special needs field day will take place twice a year. Special Olympics presents an excellent opportunity for students to get involved and promote the accomplishments of their peers with disabilities. As an organization, the focus will be to capture activities that are relatively easy but achieving for disabled students. Leisure activities provide students with the opportunity to flush out energy and emotion not being released in other aspects of their lives.

Mental Health is a keen focus on Happy Fever. Special needs students need to know that they matter and should be able to make friends that appreciate and spend time with them. Everlasting friendships will form from this organization giving all students a sense of belonging. Belonging is vital to all students in college. Those who find their niche thrive better in school as opposed to those who are searching for fitting in. In creating this organization, I hope that I will search for belonging easier for this group of students.