Senior Works Toward Gold Award by Highlighting Importance of Mental Health

Page Henry '23 is pursuing the most prestigious award in Girl Scouting by working to end the stigma surrounding mental health within the student-athlete community.

Last spring, Page became an ambassador for the non-profit Morgan's Message, which amplifies stories, resources and expertise to confront student-athlete mental health. The organization is named after Morgan Rodgers, who was a Duke University women's lacrosse player. Morgan struggled with anxiety and depression after suffering a serious knee injury before her sophomore season, and ultimately died by suicide at the age of 22.

"As a 3-sport athlete, a season-ending injury has always been a fear of mine," said Page. "When I read about Morgan's injury and how it affected her mental health, it made me want to help other athletes from going through similar situations."

Mental health is such an important topic to Page that she made it the focal point of her Girl Scout Gold Award project by launching the mental wellness club this year at NSA for Upper School students. The Gold Award is the Girl Scout's equivalent of the Boy Scout's Eagle Award. In order to achieve her Gold Award, Page must spend 80 to 100 hours on the mental wellness club and it has to be sustainable after she graduates.

"I look at the Gold Award as a culmination of the skills I have learned in Girl Scouts over the past 12 years," said Page, who has been a member of Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast Troop 5357 since kindergarten. "It is a service project that teaches leadership, time management, communication skills and perseverance. I expect to make growth in all these areas through the completion of my project."

Page created a plan for the mental wellness club this year, which includes a variety of topics she hopes will educate her peers about the growing issue of mental health.

"I think many NSA students and athletes feel pressure to do it all and do it all well," said Page. "It can be overwhelming at times to manage sports, academic work and outside commitments. We want to please our teachers, coaches, friends and parents and that can be a balancing act."

Page also plans to hold athletic events dedicated to Morgan's Message throughout the year. Her first dedication game was the Oct. 11 field hockey game against Cape Henry Collegiate.

"I want current and future students at NSA to feel comfortable talking about their mental health," said Page. "I hope this club will open and normalize those conversations and help all students advocate for their mental well-being."

Page's commitment to mental health doesn't end at NSA. She says she hopes to join the Morgan's Message club at Christopher Newport University next year, where will continue her lacrosse career.