More Than the Scoreboard: How Bowie State Is Equipping Students to Carry the Weight of Success

World Mental Health Day events put resilience, emotional intelligence and asking for help at the center of student success

“It is not a matter of if a student will face an emotional challenge, but when.” That message from Emmy award winning broadcaster Lou Holder set the tone for one of two conversations at Bowie State University designed to help students meet that moment.

Held in advanced recognition of World Mental Health Day on October 10, the "Strength Beyond the Game" and "The Weight of Excellence" discussion panels brought athletes, counselors and students together to talk openly about pressure, resilience and asking for help. Both reflect the university's intentional effort to equip students for success in and beyond the classroom.

"Strength Beyond the Game," organized by Holder, who serves as Bowie State's Executive-In-Residence, featured former NBA player Etan Thomas, former NFL player Kyle Arrington, Lisa Leonard, Founder Competitive Edge EQ and Aquila Mitchell, Director of BSU counseling services. Holder, a former Division I athlete, believes that young people are struggling and silence makes it worse.

"There's nothing wrong with somebody asking for help," Holder said. "My goal is to bring conversations where people will feel more at ease asking for help."

Holder called the panel a beginning. "This is the start of a conversation, but it's not the end," he said.

Arrington, whose E.V.O.L.V.E. Foundation focuses on youth health and community outreach, said young people today face pressures earlier generations did not, from social media to a divisive political climate. His advice: find your people.

"We might not all go through the same thing, but we all share the same feelings," Arrington said. "Nothing happens in a silo. Nothing happens in a vacuum."

Mitchell shared a personal story. She once kept driving after a maintenance light came on because the dashboard said she had 30 miles left. She ended up stranded on the roadside because she ignored the signs.

"When you're working with these young people, don't ignore the signs," she said. "Be intentional about their mental health and their self-care."

That intentionality shapes the university's approach. Mitchell said counseling services emphasize prevention, early intervention and resilience rather than crisis response, and is developing a curriculum to help student-athletes prepare for life after the game.

"The Weight of Excellence," a Black mental health panel hosted by the Alpha Chi honor society, turned to high-achieving students, examining the pressure behind grades, leadership roles and expectations. Its central question: How are you, really?

"In society, we put so much pressure on ourselves to succeed that we sometimes forget to take care of ourselves in the process," said panelist Aniya Baldwin.

Johntae Wallace, a panelist, said prioritizing mental health helps students "show up better not only in the classroom but in every aspect of our lives."

Like Mitchell, one panelist used a driving analogy, asking when a tired driver should pull over. Student Caleb Roseboro said it reminded him of his father's advice: "Rest before your body forces you. Protect your peace before your body acts for you."

Together, the events delivered a shared message: Success means knowing when to push forward and when to pause, recognize the warning signs and reach out. Counseling services is already planning a De-Stress Fest for spring, and organizers hope these panels spark many more conversations across campus and the community.

At Bowie State, equipping students for success means preparing the whole person to thrive. That is what it means to be Bowie Bold.

Students seeking support can contact Bowie State counseling services at counselingservices@bowiestate.edu. Anyone in crisis can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.