Harmony of Health: Our Senior Project

Written by Fiona Lee

As the soon-to-be graduates prepare to present their senior projects on May 15th, my research partner and I find ourselves reflecting back on our work notably. After abundant qualitative data collection and analyses for our booklet Harmony of Health, Alivia Stark and I have come to some noteworthy conclusions in regards to the role, promotion, and awareness of physical health within our community. 

Through our research, we walked away with several main takeaways. We covered many aspects of nutritional health and physical fitness, and overall, we emphasized both logistical and introspective factors. Regarding lifestyle changes, we clarified things most would expect; prioritizing whole foods over processed foods, balancing discipline with pleasure, educating yourself on nutrition labels and ingredients lists… and much, much more. As Alivia stated in our recorded discussion about nutrition; “There’s a lot more enjoyment when you fuel your body with more important nutrients, like proper carbs, protein, and fat, along with your vegetables for the fiber and vitamins… if you eat like that, you’ll feel so much better–more clear-headed, you’ll sleep better…”

Alivia (right) and I (left) stand in Hardesters after conducting an experiment with their products. (Image credits: Thomas Crago)

We have also gathered a multitude of opinions and statistics directly from students through means of club discussions, interviews, and surveys. According to our survey data and discussions, lowerclassmen show more optimism about their health and knowledge, while upperclassmen are particularly adamant about local and national systems needing to change. As I stated in a recorded discussion with Alivia; “In the discussions we had, everybody mutually agreed that the way that the way that America handles the education and promotion of physical health is so poor, and yet, at times, it almost feels like our opinions are silenced, because, like you said, this is just the way things are. It’s so normal to consume red 40 every day here, while in other countries, it’s seen as what it is: a poison that destroys your hormones. It can hospitalize you, for Pete’s sake.”

While we did note that there are particular things we would do differently should we continue past phase one (such as implementing a better agenda and expanding our communal/conceptual horizons), Alivia and I agree that we are satisfied with the information we both gathered and shared. We look forward to seeing more people deeper investing in their health journeys and using our booklet as their first stepping stone!