Well-being Stories

Find Purpose with Nick

"As a military member and a student at SJSU, my time in service created a base and a foundation for purposeful wellness, which has been vital in the development in my academic journey. Thanks to the military, I now have an excellent sense for discipline, resilience, and adaptability because, balancing academics and work the demands are essential to maintain my well-being. Through trial and error with my time in service, it taught me how important it is to maintain your mental and physical health, creating cohesion with your team, and qualities of a leader. I now apply these beneficial traits to my profession, academics and interaction with peers inside and outside of school. Staying uncomfortable builds on my sense of purposeful wellness, I was put in leadership roles early in my military career, leading, delegating, and being accountable for others not just myself. Without these moments, I would not be as driven as I am today towards the vision of becoming a strength and conditioning coach. One thing about me is I enjoy being uncomfortable, which led me to committing to SJSU. The unknown, new faces, communities, and opportunities develop a growth mindset. I must be able to chase new challenges, adapt, and overcome adversity, something that I feel that continues to contribute to my success and positive outlook as a SJSU Spartan.
Here's a message I feel delivers a positive and impactful message toward Purposeful Meaning, ‘It’s in beating the sun out of bed. It is in that extra rep, the extra mile. It is in that session in the dark, in the rain, in the cold, that no one wants to do. Champions are in love with the process. Their mindset is focused on the grind, on finding the pain to endure. The wolf loves the hunt, he does not measure the time it takes. The lioness loves the hunt, she will do it injured and in pain. They will hunt until their last breath. The hunt is survival. This is what winners do, we chase, we hunt. It does not matter the time it takes, it does not matter the pain along the way, it does not matter the reward waiting at the end. It’s the love of the process. It’s for the survival, the life, of our spirit. It’s not the prize, it’s the chase.’"

- Nick Molina, '25 Kinesiology

Unwind with Anuhya

"As a student at San José State University, I’ve leveraged several campus resources to support my mental wellness. For starters, the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library has been my go to place for a quiet and peaceful environment, perfect for studying and unwinding. Each floor has a different purpose and I love that it is catered towards SJSU students. The serene atmosphere of the library provides a peaceful retreat from the hustle and bustle of campus life. I have taken advantage of the library’s extensive resources, including their study rooms! Whenever I go, there’s always a slew of students across all the floors. It gives me a sense of comfort knowing that we’re all in the same boat, whether it’s studying for finals or catching up with friends. For me, it’s important to find places that allow you to recharge and help you be productive at the same time. Remember, wellness is everywhere!"

- Anuhya Pennepalli, '26 Public Health