SAN ANTONIO — A 'Zen Den' is now nestled inside Harlandale High School. The new room is located inside the counseling center and is to help students share their struggles.
The counselor behind the space is Kimberly Salinas.
"My vision came to life. I would describe as a place that is very peaceful, calm and welcoming."
The high school counselor said she wanted to create a space for the students to feel safe and talk about their struggles.
"We are seeing a lot of students for anxiety, seeing a lot of kids that are stressed and having like a crisis," she said. "The students don't know how to safe regulate."
It was a major transformation, and the makeover was made possible by a $3,000 microgrant awarded by the San Antonio Youth Commission. The 'Zen Den' is filled with sand trays, positive messages and even a cabinet filled with supplies for art therapy.
"It makes them feel special," Salinas said. "It makes them feel somebody does cares about them. It makes them feel that what they are going through right now, the struggles they are going through right now, they don't have to carry that struggle or burden by themselves."
Salinas said this more than just a room.
"I didn't have a counselor when I was growing up that would tell me these kinds of things," she said.
She said all through middle school she was homeless and didn't have support.
"This is why I became a counselor this is why I got in education, because, I wanted to have the impact on my students' life," Salinas said. "I am working on a high school where the kids are at risk, and there are kids that are our homeless and I can relate a lot."
She said she knows the 'Zen Den' will have an impact, as it will be used for small group counseling or individual counseling.
"Just because you come from a family that is homeless, or poor and don't have money you can make it," she said. "You can go to college. You can do anything. Reach for the stars. Don't ever settle for less."