The R.E.A.L. Peers Health Educators and Center for Women and Families partnered to cover the mirrors of the Sharwan Smith Center as part of the body image awareness week.
Shantel Wright, a junior elementary education major from Pleasant Grove, is over the campaigns. She said the purpose of covering the mirrors is to prevent students from judging themselves negatively.
‘We hope students will be happy with themselves and notice the good qualities they have,’ Wright said. ‘We don’t want the focus on what they think needs to be perfected, but instead to be happy with who they truly are.’
Heidi Vincent, a junior nutrition major from Salt Lake City, said she didn’t realize how often she looked into the mirror until she saw the mirrors covered.
‘I went into the restroom and now that the paper coverings are all over, I was like ‘Oh my gosh that’s a way huge sign that I need to stop and just be happy with who I am,’ ‘ she said.
Wright said that there are so many pressures on women and men to look and be a certain way. Everyone has unique beauty in themselves, she said.
Vinny Hess, a junior business management major from Fielding, and Teanu Tonga, a senior English major from Ogden, said the idea was great because it reminded them to focus on health rather than an outward appearance.
‘Girls that are confident in themselves have that inner mirror which is something that the worlds mirrors cannot give,’ Tonga said.
The student groups have covered mirrors in the past as a part of Body Image Awareness Week, Wright said. But, this is the first time that the groups have asked students to write down something they like about themselves.
‘I feel like some students will truly take a moment to see the positive in themselves,’ Wright said.
Marina Horton, a junior math education major from Cedar City, said the covers jumped out at her as she walked in.
‘Once I started reading the comments, I was like ,’This is really good because we as women need to know that we are beautiful no matter what we look like or who we are,’ Horton said.
Ella Sitake, a sophomore elementary education major from Sandy, said when she walked in that she was surprised at what the groups did.
‘They actually covered the whole mirrors so you have to crouch down to see your face,’ Sitake said. ‘I thought it was something important that a lot of girls need today in their lives.’
One comment left on the paper in a bathroom said, ‘Its all in the eyes.
Another stated that beauty is more than skin deep.
Kelli Herdt, a sophomore biology major from Las Vegas, said that the idea was really cool.
‘Sometimes girls forget how beautiful they are,’ Herdt said. ‘With the media out there, everyone thinks that beauty is only on the outside.’
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