A film crew from “Chronicle,” New England’s long-running news magazine, visited campus this winter for an episode about the joy found in human connection and giving back.
The episode highlighted the Science of Well-Being class, designed by Director of Psychology and Counseling Jen Hamilton in partnership with Dr. Laurie Santos, podcast host, scientist, and Yale professor, who created the original college course in 2018. Hamilton launched the high school iteration of the course as a senior elective at Nobles in the fall of 2019. Currently, Lead Wellness Curriculum Specialist Kate Harrington teaches the class to all freshman students as part of the personal development curriculum alongside Hamilton and many other co-teachers.
During the crew’s visit on the last day of the semester, Harrington shared a final reflection with the students: “I hope that this class has brought you at least a little bit of joy, and I also hope that the habits that we learned about this semester are things that you’ll remember for the rest of your life.”
The course, which typically begins with entries in a gratitude journal, teaches students the impact that small habits like this can have on their well-being. Rania Hasan ’29, who was interviewed for the show, shared, “Reflecting on your day with something positive can help turn a day that you might have thought was bad around.”
Hamilton reflected on the engaging, immersive nature of the course. “Every week it’s something different,” she explained. “Whether it’s kind acts, or in-person connection, or thinking about how to fight that inner critic. We really dive in in a very experiential way. We’re talking about the science, but we are also having them practice.”
The episode also featured the inspirational work of the volunteers at Boston Children’s Hospital and the little things they do every day to put smiles on the faces of patients and their families. It will come as no surprise that retired English faculty member Tim Carey is one of those joy-evoking volunteers.