The Weight of the World: Places to Pause when Student Life Feels Crushing

For any students who have been even slightly aware of the news recently, they know that the world has been a scary, and frankly bleak place as of late. Being a student is hard enough when you don’t have to shoulder the burden of being so aware of all the reasons things have sucked as of late. It is for this reason, and so many more, that StFx students deserve to have safe spaces around campus and town where they feel can get away from the weight of everyday life. These can often be difficult to find at first, especially if you are a first year trying to find your way. This inspired me - through multiple interviews - to make a master list of people’s favourite places on campus and beyond to de-stress and find some joy in the hopes that somebody reads this and feels a little more seen, heard, and assured that there’s somewhere they belong.  

The easiest to start off with are the on-campus locations, such as the common rooms in your residence buildings, which are always a cozy and safe space, especially when your CAs and classmates join you! There is always something to be involved in thanks to our amazing on campus RAs. To get out of the building you’re staying in, the next place is our very own Angus L. Macdonald Library. When speaking to Jesse Dawe, a second year applied forensic psychology student, he explained how much he “enjoys sitting in the library in a section that has the small dividers” so he can sit by himself and focus on just him rather than everything else happening around him. Another glorious place to spend your free time, especially if you have a stressful midterm to study for, is Wellspring. A warm “home away from home” as they’ve affectionately called it, with comfortable seating, long tables, a prayer room, a kitchenette, and the perfectly dubbed "golden chapel.” It is the perfect place for students and staff alike to find a sanctuary in our little idyllic home of Antigonish.  To find Wellspring Centre, it is located next to the campus Starbucks! 

If you’re looking for some off campus escapes, the Tall and Small Cafe is a hub for so many students who want the aesthetic small town coffee shop experience. They not only have a delicious menu of food and beverages, but they also have the atmosphere that would make anyone want to sit down and stay awhile. The Clayfire Cafe is another notable spot on Main Street, where you can sit and enjoy a snack while painting pottery to your hearts content! Art can be a great calming pastime for those who are overwhelmed. Though those two locations are within walking distance of the school, those aren’t all the off-campus options available to students. Calley Conrad, who is in her second year studying Developmental Studies, had nothing but singing praises for the local beaches, most notably Mahoney’s: “My off-campus escape is most definitely Mahoney's Beach! The best time is around sunset when the sky is pretty, and you can hear the waves crashing over the rocks and the seagulls squawking!” I can attest that it's as amazing as she says!  

Every student deserves to have a safe space where they feel like they can escape from the things that bring them down. Even though I covered many of the basics in this article, there are still countless more for people to discover on their own and experience to the fullest! When the weight of the world feels as if it is on our studious shoulders, it is so reassuring to know that there are places to make the big things seem smaller in our little town.