Chill-Filled Fun for Awareness—The USC Speak Your Mind Challenge Gains Traction

The universal USC Speak Your MIND ice bucket challenge has conquered Redwood High School, but do Rangers understand what it is really about? 

By: Haley Padilla

In 2014, the ice bucket challenge took the world by storm. Fabricated and promoted by activists Pat Quinn and Pete Frates, the crusade was intended to elevate awareness for Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS). It was a simple act: film yourself dumping ice water over your head.

The challenge was a phenomenon, garnering significant media attention with international participation from celebrities, politicians, and other distinguished figures. During its reign, it was the talk of the world.

However—as all things do—the trend came to an end in late 2014, yet it still remained engraved on the tongues of the public. 

In present time, the ice bucket challenge has made its comeback through USC (University of Southern Carolina) Speak Your MIND, launched by members of USC’s Mental Health Needs Discussion (MIND) club. This campaign focused on advocating for mental health awareness has accelerated in popularity since March 31st, 2025, taking over most social media platforms. The challenge echoes the same procedure and success as the original.

The movement has infiltrated all corners of the globe—even Redwood—with extensive public participation mostly fostering important discussions. However, the primary message has been lost as the challenge evolves into a trend.

The public engages in the challenge to nominate their friends and drench them in freezing water merely for the excitement of it all, completely ignorant of what it represents. Upon discovering the true purpose of the campaign, people gaze in bewilderment, claiming the videos they had seen never once addressed it. 

“No, I didn’t really know what it was about before I did it,” says Cami Lewis, ‘27. “I was just trying to have fun with my friends.”

Ava Dodson, ‘28, said, “No, [I didn’t know what it was about before]. I just thought they were bringing it back from 2014. I think it was a smart idea, but they should’ve tried to spread the word just a little more because people thought it was just a regular, silly ice bucket challenge and didn’t really understand.”

But in spite of that, some Rangers were educated on the challenge beforehand. 

“I knew it was about mental health and promoting suicide awareness,” says Annike Taylor, ‘28. 

Matthew Palmillas, ‘28, said, “I knew that it was about mental health awareness. I think [it’s effective in spreading awareness] for some people, but I do find that for a lot of other kids, it’s just a trend from their friends.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I knew what it was about,” says Anel Lua, ‘27. “I do not think it’s an effective way to spread awareness on mental health because it’s mainly a trend people are blindly following. They don’t fully learn the background behind it.”

So, why is it important to understand and advertise the true intent of the USC Speak your MIND ice bucket challenge? 

Addressing the sincere nature of the challenge is crucial to spreading awareness on mental health. Such actions reduce the stigma around the topic and help those struggling to feel comfortable seeking help. They also motivate early intervention and nurture an environment where people with mental issues feel safe. By debunking misconceptions surrounding mental health, we can assist by encouraging people to search for the support they need.

Despite a widespread unfamiliarity with USC’s MIND club, prominent individuals—influencers, and celebrities—have begun to speak up about the issue before getting showered with frigid water and started including links to resource centers where others can explore the opportunities available to them. More and more posts discussing the ice bucket challenge’s purpose are flooding social platforms’ feeds, spreading further with every like and reshare. 

It is always enjoyable to partake in fun trends after being influenced by a companion, though ensure that you never let its genuine intention wash away.

Tags: mental health, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, thebranch, visalia ca