With 220 clubs registered for the 2025-26 school year, students may find it difficult to navigate organizations on campus. The Falconer spoke with Bring Change to Mind (BC2M) club co-president Lindsay Lardon (12) to learn about their mission and spotlight one of the clubs offered this year.
What inspired you to start a BC2M club at this school?
My co-president Jack and I started the club last year. It’s a global club that has many different schools around the world participating in its mission. We really wanted to promote open conversations about mental health and reduce the stigma around it. This helps students have more awareness of what’s going on with their own mental health.
Why is mental health awareness especially important for high schoolers?
High school is one of the most important times of life, and students are going through so many changes. It’s not really normalized to talk about what they’re going through. I feel if you’re able to talk about it and just know that there’s other people who are dealing with the same struggles as you, it would really help you.
What kind of impact do you hope that your club will have on the school community?
I hope that it will bring people together who actually [want to] learn about mental health and hold this similar passion and drive for helping students at our school [feel comfortable] talking about their experiences. [We really want to] help everyone feel less alone in high school.
What are some of the biggest misconceptions you have seen people at this school have about mental health?
People just look down upon it [and] think that it’s not a good thing to be going through and it shouldn’t be talked about. When in reality, everyone is dealing with something, whether that’s big or small.
What makes students in BC2M learn to talk more openly about mental health topics?
We have presentations about topics to educate the students. Afterwards, we have questions that the club members go around and talk about. Additionally, we do activities like positive affirmations on a mirror, or stress balls to help everyone destress and relax. We have open conversations about what everyone’s going through.
What are some warning signs that a friend might be struggling, and how can you support them?
If you notice that a friend is becoming distant and they used to talk to you about life, then all of the sudden they become distant. It would be good to reach out to them and ask if they are okay. Be there for your friends and be open about your own personal experiences.
What are some healthy ways students can cope with stress and anxiety during the school year?
Taking time for yourself, finding your own hobbies that bring you joy [and] putting time and effort into yourself. Definitely prioritizing reading and exercising can help. It’s also good to understand that you’re gonna go through hard times in your life. Taking a mental health day is totally okay and [we need to] remember it’s okay to not be okay.
When and where are BC2M club meetings held and how can students keep up to date with club information?
They’re held every other Tuesday. We might be switching them to Wednesdays. They are held in Mrs. Barnes room which is room two. The best way for students to keep up to date with BC2M is through Instagram which is called tpbc2m. We also have a Whatsapp group for club members.
What is the biggest goal BC2M has for this school year?
We want to have a more inclusive environment with people from all of the different grades at this school. Overall, we want more people to come because our club is a little bit on the smaller side right now. We are striving to grow and hope many more Falcons decide to join in!
