As a 5-year-old starts summer vacation, her mother faces a difficult decision: let her daughter spend the mornings with her father before he goes to work, or enroll her in session-based activities at school. It’s a choice that highlights both the need for daily parental bonding and the benefits of interacting with peers during the summer break.

Santa Barbara City College is taking a proactive step to support students’ well-being. Extended Learning students can now access free one-on-one counseling sessions, reflecting the college’s broader commitment to mental health resources.