One of the key features of our High School Semester and Summer Term programs is that our students fully unplug from the internet during their time on campus. Giving up cell phones and disconnecting from social media and life back home allows students to be fully immersed in their experience, and allows space to get to know themselves and their community at a deeper level. 

Garrett Pilgrim F16 is currently pursuing his Master’s of Sport and Exercise Psychology at Springfield College. Inspired by his time as a Semester student at The Island School, Garrett has developed a passion for helping athletes realize their full potential through mental health and mindfulness practices. Like many students, Garrett chose a semester away program because he wanted a change of pace from his traditional school setting. 

When speaking with Garrett recently, he reflected, “When I think of an experience that has made me into the person I am today, my mind immediately thinks of Island School. My best friends are still the people I met on Eleuthera and I can’t imagine my life without them. It’s very rare for a teenage boy to find friends who are emotionally intelligent and willing to discuss hard topics, such as mental health, but the boys from my semester are still the first people I call whenever I need advice or had a hard day. This encouraged me to discuss my own mental health and has pushed me towards my eventual goal of working in mental health. I also don’t think I would have gone to Colorado College (where I attended undergrad) without learning about the school through Island School connections. Additionally, Island School was truly my first experience with mindfulness and that has inspired the research I am doing today. During my time at Island School, I not only made my best friends but also was able to regain my confidence in myself before transitioning back to the ‘real world.’”

This summer, Garrett received a grant from the Association of Applied Sports Psychology (AASP) to complete his master’s thesis entitled “An examination of mindfulness profiles in recreational surfing.” This work is beginning to look at the mindful properties of surfing and how future intervention studies can use this knowledge to enhance their own research. For Garrett, this is just the start, as he hopes to pursue his PsyD in Clinical Psychology to work with athletes on both mental performance and mental health concerns. 

While Garrett’s studies and career trajectory are focused on athletes, he shares how mindfulness practices can benefit everyone. “As I’ve started to work on my thesis, I have done so much research into the benefits of mindfulness practice for the average person. Regular mindfulness practice has been linked to decreased rates of stress and anxiety, both of which are extremely prevalent in many people’s lives. Mindfulness practice has also been linked to changes in brain chemistry that allow one to be more in touch with bodily sensations, which has been linked to better eating habits, exercise habits, and more efficient goal setting. Finally, mindfulness practice has been associated with increased relationship satisfaction and an ability to express your emotions in a better way. There are also so many other benefits and so much research about the benefit of mindfulness practice.”

If you’d like to support Garrett in his research, you can connect with him via LinkedIn and take his research study today!