Thrive Lectures

What are Thrive Lectures?

St. Lawrence is proud to offer a series of classroom lectures rooted in our seven dimensions of well-being. Through these lectures, students will improve skills such as professional communication, financial literacy, and stress management, as well as learn ways to intentionally care for their well-being. Thrive Lectures set students up to flourish at St. Lawrence and beyond!  

Thrive Lecture Topics for Spring 2026:

Balance and Boundaries: Navigating Technology and Social Media with Intention (Digital Wellness): How can use of technology and social media impact our physical, mental, and social health? In this lecture, students will learn how to build balanced and healthy relationships with digital devices and tech tools. 45 minutes, presenting by the Counseling Center. 

Budgeting Basics (Financial Literacy): By popular student request! Students will learn the basics of building a budget and managing expenses, as well as how to navigate credit cards and credit scores (What are they? How are they calculated and how do they impact you?), as well as practical tax prep tips. 45 minutes, presented by Student Life. 

The Purpose of a SLU Education: Connecting Academic Performance to Career Readiness (Meaning-Making, Purpose, & Spirituality): This lecture is designed to help students understand the long-term value of their education and how it prepares them for success after graduation. Highlighting key skills and competencies sought by employers, students will explore how these are developed through coursework, co-cocurricular involvement, and a liberal arts education. Students will gain insight into articulating their skills, experiences, and academic learning in ways that are meaningful to employers and aligned with students' personal goals. 45-60 minutes, presented by the Center for Career Excellence. 

Substances and Your Brain (Mind & Body): Beyond a hangover or missed class, how does alcohol and other substance use affect your ability to focus, form memories, and learn? This lecture will explore the impacts of alcohol and cannabis use on academic performance, including impact on sleep, stress management, mental health, and how we show up in daily life, in and out of the classroom. 45 minutes, presented by Wellness Education. 

Faculty & staff: To book a Thrive Lecture for spring 2026, please complete this request form with a minimum of two weeks' notice. 

Thrive Lecture Topics for Fall 2025:

Building Emotional Intelligence (Mind & Body Dimension): Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is the ability to understand, use, and manage one's emotions in a positive way to relieve stress and overcome challenges. A high EQ is linked to success in personal and professional life. This Thrive lecture will explore the concept of emotional intelligence and ways to build this important skill.  45 minutes; presented by the Counseling Center.

Thriving in a Climate Change World (Environmental & Community Engagement Dimension): We live in an era in which terms like eco-anxiety and climate grief have entered our lexicon. Members of Gen Z not only worry about their own futures but are increasingly reluctant to have children out of fear of the pending impacts of climate change. In this session, students will discuss their perceptions of eco-anxiety and climate grief, as well as examine the work of individuals who believe we can transform our mindsets, focus on the healing power of nature and personal and community resilience, and in the words of author an environmental studies professor, Sarah Jaquette Ray "take action rooted in radical acceptance of our hurt, anger, fear, and fierce love for the planet."  45 minutes; presented by the Center for the Environment.

Organizing Your Internship/Job/Grad School Search (Intellectual & Career Exploration Dimension): During this session, you'll learn practical strategies to streamline your search and stay on track. We'll cover how to make the most of Handshake and other resources to find opportunities, organize your applications and deadlines, and connect with Laurentians through our number one ranked alumni network. You'll leave with a clear plan that leverage your liberal arts skills and sets you up for success. 30 minutes for an overview or 60 minutes for an in-depth session; presented by the Center for Career Excellence. 

Healthy Relationships, Communication, and Conflict Resolution (Social Belonging & Inclusion Dimension): There are many types of relationships. How do you navigate them? How do you communicate within these relationships, especially when faced with conflict? This lecture explores the various relationships students hold, steps to improve communication, and strategies to manage and resolve conflicts. 45 minutes; presented by  the Counseling Center.