Middlebury wrapped up its first year partnering with RADical Hope by hosting guest speaker Aaron Taylor on Thursday, April 11 in Pepin Gymnasium. Taylor is a CBS college sports analyst, Super Bowl Champion and mental health advocate who spoke to several hundred student-athletes and coaches.
 

"Aaron is one of those people that is able to transform his own experience as a Super Bowl Champion and College Football Hall of Famer, which on the surface seems so unrelatable, into something that everyone can resonate with," said Jin Lee '25, a 2024 RADical Hope Peer Guide. "His talk was extremely valuable, and I feel that I'm not alone when I say that I will be striving to apply many of the frameworks and lessons that he taught us during his visit."

 

"Connecting with the Middlebury student body was a real honor," said Taylor. "Sharing the strategies and techniques that have not only helped me, but countless others navigate life's challenges, fills me with purpose. I aim to instill in others a sense of hope and personal empowerment, equipping them with practical tools to foster resilience. Mental health should have the same priority as physical health, and I commend the Middlebury staff and faculty for making the mental and emotional well-being of their students a top priority."

 
Middlebury began its partnership with RADical Hope in the fall of 2023 and had its first class of graduates complete the four-week RADical Health program during J-term of 2024. All first-year student-athletes who were on campus for J-term were required to participate in the mental health program. Each of the 15 groups were led by two student-athlete peer guides, which took place every Sunday night for a total of four weeks.
 

"I am so jealous that the first-years were able to have this opportunity," said Meg Simon '26. "Reflecting on being a guide, I realized how much I craved this program last year. For me, the camaraderie among student-athletes at Middlebury is the heartbeat of this campus and truly defines this place for me. It makes me happy to see the athletics department wanting to foster these special connections and relationships."

 
RADical Health was developed by behavioral health specialists, sports psychologists, academic leaders, administrators and students from across the country. The four-week program is peer-led under the direction of trained guides and explores topics including self-care, stress management, active listening, emotional regulation and informed decision-making. It was developed and piloted with New York University in the fall of 2020 and then scaled nationally. To date, RADical Health has supported nearly 13,000 students on campuses across the country. As of spring 2024, there have been 50 school partners implementing the program, including several NESCAC schools.  The National Football League and several of its teams support RADical Health and the Los Angeles Chargers have run the program for two years with their rookie players. 
 
Melissa White '26, another peer guide, also reflected on the experience.
 

"Radical Health gives students the tools they need to thrive, building a stronger community and a generation of solidarity," said White. "By staying resilient through struggles and connecting with our peers, we can empower each other. The opportunity to be a guide has truly shown me the importance of reaching out a helping hand."

 
RADical Hope funds all costs associated with running the program for every partner to ensure equal access to essential life skills and resources.


 
RADical Hope
RADical Hope is committed to improving the lives and futures of young adults by strengthening connections and building resilience. The non-profit organization is addressing the youth mental health crisis by developing, funding and scaling evidence-based programs that focus on 5 core pillars: connectivity, engagement, emotional Intelligence, empowerment and sustainability. Learn more at www.radicalhopefoundation.org.