TUCSON, Ariz. — University of Arizona students are accessible to a wide realm of clubs, groups and community programs. Students can pretty much find a club or activity for every single one of their hobbies. Although, what if it’s not a specific activity you are trying to be apart of, but instead, are looking for a safe space to express yourself.
The Reflections program on campus is just this. This organization provides a supportive group of woman who talk about, understand, and overcome the pressures of body image. In light of this incredible opportunity for woman on campus to be able to work through and understand body image in a community setting, I’ve decided to make this weeks Campus Celebrity Diane Savarese, who is a facilitator for the program.
Savarese, who is also a University of Arizona student studying molecular and cellular biology, is a figure of guidance for woman who are struggling with body image and related issues. She offers a friend, education and support to those who reach out to the program.
She describes the program as being a primarily Greek community, where woman, “discuss the pressures we face from men, media, from friends and family, from Greek and non Greek members and from ourselves.”
The program strives to change against those pressures, but most importantly work towards a healthy, happy, and positive lifestyle.
“Reflections is by far one of the best programs I have been involved in with on campus!” said Savarese. “It allows us recognize and openly talk about body image constraints that society is telling us we should follow.”
With regular meetings, woman come together and provide comfort and advice for each individual member, as well as addressing the entire group. Our society looks through clouded lens’ when it comes to body image. Pressures to maintain a certain weight, look, or shape has taken over the confidence of many woman, especially those in college.
It is Savarese’s mission to help woman understand that they “are more than their dress size, their cup size, or the color of their hair.”
Woman who struggle with self confidence feel pressures in all parts of their life. With consistent insecurity many find it hard to be successful in the things and relationships that they enjoy.
“By being able to open the door to a discussion, many woman realize that the body image pressures we battle take away from our friendships, sisterhood within our own chapters, school work, and from our overall health and happiness,” said Savarese.
Reflections encourages their members to not only improve the way they feel about themselves, but to also feel confident about the way others look at them. Feeling proud and comfortable in your own skin exhilarates positively throughout all areas in life.
Although, even for Savarese this realization came with time and with help from the program.
“Before going through Reflections I spent a lot of time focusing on what I hated about my body and that really brought me down,” said Savarese. “But after talking about the unrealisticbeauty standards set by the media, I really started to see myself in a positive light, I love the curves I have been blessed with!”
She plans to apply to Physicians Assistant School and after work in oncology where she can help even more people.