By Abigail Rodriguez
Suicide is the second-leading cause of death among college students and one of the top 10 leading causes of death in the United States. Every semester, college campuses across the nation lose students to mental health struggles, leaving behind grieving families, friends and campus communities.
One New Jersey campus, however, has remained committed to advocating for student mental health. At Montclair State University, students advocated for a Mental Health Day bill, which would have allowed students to take up to three mental health days during the semester, excluding days with quizzes, exams or lectures that required attendance. Tyla Morin, then an undergraduate student at Montclair State University and now a graduate student in psychology, spearheaded the initiative to support students facing mental health challenges. Morin also served as vice president of the Future Educators chapter at Montclair. The bill was successfully passed through the Montclair State University Student Government Association but was ultimately not approved by the University Senate.
Even though the bill was not adopted by the University Senate, it strengthened the chapter’s commitment to promoting student well-being through other meaningful initiatives. Rather than ending their advocacy efforts, the Future Educators members looked for new ways to make a lasting impact. The chapter recognized that while policy change can take time, supporting students through visible acts of advocacy and awareness could begin immediately.
With that goal in mind, the chapter applied for the NEA Aspiring Educators CREATE Grant and was awarded $2,000 to design and create a mental health mural at Bloomfield High School, where supporting students’ mental health is an everyday priority.
The mural was designed by the Montclair State University Future Educators chapter, while twins Avaleen and Teagan Schulze, students at Bloomfield High School and members of Future Educators, led the mural’s creation. They hand drew every element of the artwork, bringing their vision to life through thoughtful design, meaningful colors and powerful symbolism. They also organized and guided their peers, assigning different sections of the mural and leading the painting process from start to finish. Deb Schulze, teacher at Bloomfield High School, Donna Sabol, president of the Bloomfield Education Association, and Jo Ann Bonfante, vice president of the Bloomfield Education Association, offered support and guidance throughout the process.
With the remaining funds from the NEA CREATE Grant, the chapter expanded the project by planning a second mental health mural at Bloomfield Middle School. The mural was designed by Teagan Schulze.
As the second mural design came together, it became more than a piece of artwork; it became a symbol of hope, resilience and community. It reminds students that they are seen, supported and never alone in their struggles. The mural will serve as a lasting reminder that every person’s mental health journey is unique and that every journey is beautiful, no matter how long it takes to reach healing. The mural is scheduled to be painted this fall at the middle school and will surely be a wonderful addition.
The Mental Health Day Bill may not have become university policy, but it sparked a movement that continues to inspire advocacy, collaboration and meaningful change. Through leadership, creativity and compassion, Montclair State University’s Future Educators chapter demonstrated that even when one path closes, there are countless other ways to make a difference in the lives of students.
Abigail Rodriguez is a graduate of Montclair State University and is currently pursuing a Master of Public Administration at Rutgers University, Newark. She is president of the New Jersey Aspiring Educators Association.
