Defensive tackle, STOMP Out Bullying announce new “Wellness Room” coming to high school
From left, Solomon Thomas, Stephanie Roche of STOMP Out Bullying, West Side High School Principal Akbar Cook, Superintendent Leon, West Side High School Athletic Director Keith Veltre.
Solomon Thomas listens to a West Side High School Senior Octavia Pierre ask a question.
NEWARK, N.J. – It’s okay not to be okay.
That was New York Jets Defensive Tackle Solomon Thomas’ message to West Side High School students as he spoke at the school’s auditorium on Tuesday.
Superintendent León and West Side High School Principal Akbar Cook welcomed Thomas, representatives of the New York Jets, STOMP Out Bullying, and The Defensive Line organizations to the high school for the event timed for the start of National Bullying Awareness Month.
“The pandemic unveiled something for me,” said Superintendent León. “Everyone has a mental health issue. We all cope with it in many different ways. Some of us get so confused by everything that goes on in our heads, that we make decisions, and we don’t realize the repercussions of them.”
To support students in a mental health crisis, Thomas and his mental health advocacy organization, the Defensive Line, the New York Jets, and STOMP Out Bullying teamed up to make $22,500 available to create a Wellness Room at West Side High School. When completed, the Wellness Room will be a supervised place where students can retreat from the pressures of high school.
“High school is a very hard time,” said Thomas. “I thought it was important for every student to have a place to decompress.”
Board of Education President Hasani K. Council expressed his gratitude for the contribution.
“The Wellness Room will be a resource that will encourage our students to take care of themselves mentally so they can be at their best while they are in school,” said Council. “I want to thank everyone involved in making this initiative a reality at West Side High School.”
Thomas talked about his own mental health journey – one that has been marked by incredible highs, like being the third-round pick in the 2017 NFL draft and going on to play for the San Francisco 49ers and the Las Vegas Raiders before coming to the Jets in 2022.
“I was living my dream,” Thomas said. “Everything I ever wanted in life I was doing.”
But Thomas has also had very deep lows. In the midst of his success, Thomas’ world was rocked by the tragedy of his older sister, Ella, taking her own life in 2018.
“It hit me like a ton of bricks,” he said.
Thomas suppressed his feelings of grief, depression, and anxiety that set in after the loss of his sister – which is what he thought he was supposed to do as an athlete, as a provider for his family, and as a man. Bottling up his emotions led to what he called unhealthy “explosions.”
It wasn’t until he went to therapy that Thomas learned some essential truths about his mental health.
“I’m not supposed to be happy after the death of my sister,” he said. Talking about his grief helped him understand himself better. After he spoke publicly about his struggle, many people reached out to Thomas to let him know he was not alone.
Octavia Pierre, a West Side senior on the girls’ volleyball team, asked Thomas what steps he took to overcome his grief.
“That’s a very powerful question,” Thomas said. “I didn’t do it alone.”
His parents, family members, and therapy helped, he said.
Thomas added that he had not completely overcome his grief.
“The grief is never going away. There’s a hole in my heart that will always be there,” he said.
Thomas noted some things anyone can do to maintain their mental health, including being mindful of their diet and reducing time spent scrolling on smartphones.
He called up the students to be there for each other by checking in on one another, and asking one another how they are doing.
“People just want to be heard sometimes, so they know that they can be seen and they are valued,” Thomas said.
About Newark Public Schools
The Newark Public Schools is the largest school district in New Jersey and dates back to 1676. The District currently enrolls over 39,000 students in 63 schools. After more than two decades of state operation and upon return to local control in 2018, the District has opened ten new schools under Superintendent León’s leadership with an additional portfolio of new options to be announced in the coming months and years. The Newark Board of Education serves as a beacon of educational excellence, dedicated to nurturing the potential of every student. With a commitment to innovation, inclusivity, and fostering a love for learning, the District continues to shape future generations and make a positive impact within the community.
For media inquiries, please contact:
Paul Brubaker, Communications Director
Email: pbrubaker@nullnps.k12.nj.us
Phone: 973-803-6983
“Thanks to the continued investment of Vice Principal Cook, the West Side Alumni Group, and the MCJ Amelior Foundation, students and families across our city are able to come together throughout the summer and enjoy a multitude of fun-filled activities at the ‘Lights On’ program,” said Christopher D. Cerf, Superintendent of Newark Public Schools (NPS). “Programs like ‘Lights On’ create a strong future for Newark by serving the needs of all students and families, as well as ensuring all children have access to positive opportunities both inside and outside of the classroom.”