Hall doors near cafeteria, across the glistening lake and beneath the trees, lies one of North Lake Campus’s most serene hidden gems, the Mindfulness Garden. What was once an abandoned learning garden is now a restored space for healing, reflection and student-led transformation.
This revitalization didn’t happen overnight. It’s been four years in the making and as of April 22, it also stands as the official 2025 College Project of the Alpha Zeta Eta chapter of Phi Theta Kappa (PTK), a student honor society dedicated to leadership, scholarship, and service.
The project was imagined by Dalia Blell, lead coordinator with Dallas College’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), who discovered the garden during the early, uncertain days of the COVID-19 pandemic. While the campus remained quiet during remote work, Blell found herself drawn to the garden which was neglected, overgrown and nearly forgotten.
“During remote work, I would take walks through the garden, and it just felt so sad. Forgotten,” she said. “But being out there, I began practicing mindfulness just breathing, being still. It gave me this sense of grounding, like everything was going to be okay.”
She teamed up with psychology professor Enrique Ortiz, counselor Grinalda Spears, and art director Rhett Dyer, pulling in support from student organizations like Psi Beta and, eventually, PTK. Students helped repaint the shadow boxes, provided wellness-focused content, and took ownership of shaping the environment.
That vision became reality when students, faculty, and staff gathered to celebrate the garden’s official opening on Earth Day. The ribbon was cut by Nieves Turcios, PTK’s College Project Lead, marking the successful culmination of years of collaborative effort. It was a moment not just of ceremony but of student pride and community achievement.
Immediately following the ribbon cutting, Blell led a group of students to a peaceful meditation session by the garden’s labyrinth. With sunlight peeking through the trees and the sound of the nearby fountain, the session captured the heart of what the Mindfulness Garden stands for presence, calm, and connection.“This was always about student ownership, and we wanted their ideas, their hands, and their presence in shaping it,” Blell said.
The garden includes walking paths, a labyrinth for meditation, and benches for reflection. Hammocks and yoga mats can be checked out through Student Life.
To find the Mindfulness Garden, head out of the J Hall glass doors near the cafeteria and look across the lake toward the trees. Follow the path around the water to the opposite side, where a peaceful wooded nook awaits.
Whether you’re managing school stress, taking a mindful break between classes, or just need a place to breathe, the Mindfulness Garden is a living reminder that at North Lake Campus, students are not just surviving in college; they are supported through it.
