As the semester closes and I prepare to write my last blog post, I can’t help but think back and reflect on all that’s happened these past few weeks during my first few months at Stockton. The campus itself is always a fun, welcoming place to be, but I was surprised to find that many of the students who attend Stockton posses the same jovial, hospitable spirit. Because of this, it has been easy to make a handful of great friends over the course of just one semester.

One of the friendships I’ve made is with a girl I met quite accidentally but felt immediately connected to. Olivia and I have been very good friends from the start of the semester. Recently, for one of her classes, she had to participate in a small play on campus. On November 3^rd in the Campus Center, Professor O’Hara’s Dissent in America class put on a play called The Trial of the Catonsville Nine. The story takes place in Catonsville, Maryland during the Vietnam War. The plot unfolds as nine people go to the draft board and steal over 300 draft files. They take these files with the intention of publically burning them. They used homemade napalm to burn the files and then prayed over the flames while they waited for the authorities. Each of the nine testified in court after, but were all found guilty. The play itself is adapted from court transcripts.

Olivia had a pretty big part and it was great to be able to support her as a friend and watch her perform. The play was creatively stitched together; the fact that it was a small group, performing in a small setting, made it more charming and delightful. It really was a pleasure to see. As a performer, I really appreciated the class assignment and applaud the students on a job well done.