Pictured above: Kyra Kalodimos is a sophomore transfer student and psychology major.
Courtesy of Kyra Kalodimos
By Molly Ryan
It was her own journey with mental health that inspired psychology sophomore Kyra Kalodimos to take initiative in reawakening USF St. Petersburg’s chapter of the Active Minds Club.
“When I was at my lowest point, I not only felt all alone, but I also felt that no one would even want to hear about what I had to say,” Kalodimos said. “I wish that I had an organization as wonderful and impactful as Active Minds during this time in my life.”
A transfer student from Hillsborough Community College, Kalodimos said she aims to advocate for and inspire students through the club.
“[Active Minds’] main focuses are putting an end to mental health stigma, guiding those who are emotionally struggling towards the appropriate resources, and creating a judgment-free, compassionate environment that people can feel safe being vulnerable in,” Kalodimos said.
A nonprofit organization dedicated to raising awareness for mental health on college campuses, Active Minds was founded in 2003 at the University of Pennsylvania and currently has over 550 student-led chapters nationwide.
Inspired by the club’s impact, Kalodimos said she knew Active Minds would hold a valuable place at the St. Petersburg campus.
“Through Active Minds, I think that students will learn both more in-depth about themselves and their peers around them,” Kalodimos said. “If you let others know that they’re not alone and that the world is a better place with them in it, the same can of course be said about yourself, too.”
While the club is a beneficial opportunity for those aspiring to go into the psychology field, Kalodimos urged that all students need is “patience, compassion and an open-mind” to help someone in need.
“[Active Minds] is not a place for students to receive counseling; instead, we direct struggling students to the appropriate professionals and services,” Kalodimos said. “We are always willing to lend a listening ear to and validate the feelings of whoever may be in need of such, but the club’s ultimate mission is to guide people to resources that can provide them with insight into their problems, coping skills and so forth.”
Chapter co-founder and fellow psychology sophomore and transfer student, J.D. Dato, was also inspired by the Active Minds Club at his prior university.
“[Kalodmios] is a very driven leader with the resilience and foresight to see things through,” Dato said. “We are both looking forward to getting the club moving very soon.”
As Kalodimos, Dato and other Active Minds members finish the St. Petersburg chapter’s constitution, Kalodimos said the club has already started brainstorming different events they aspire to hold on campus.
When she isn’t studying psychology or building upon the Active Minds mission, Kalodimos engages in creative hobbies like drawing, sculpture-making, writing and playing guitar.
“I think that art in particular can be a wonderful thing to practice understanding more about yourself and release any pent-up emotion,” Kalodimos said.
After she graduates, Kalodimos said she plans to move north for graduate school in hopes of escaping the Florida heat and becoming a mental health counselor for children and adolescents in hospitals.
But for now, Kalodimos said she hopes “to let people know that they are always welcome and worthy of being listened to through the development of [Active Minds].”
“I hope that, as Active Minds continues to grow, students at USFSP will realize how important of a role that mental health is for your wellbeing,” Kalodimos said.
“Having a more open dialogue about what we internally wrestle with and showing kindness and understanding towards those who are struggling will put us all on a productive, insightful path.”
Visit activeminds.org for more information and background about the organization. For any questions about the Active Minds Club at USF St. Petersburg, email kalodimosk@usf.edu and keep an eye out for the club’s Instagram page.
