For the last event of Welcome Week 2015, comedian Kevin Wanzer presented his college orientation program in the Performing Arts Center (PAC). All of the seats in the theater were filled with students, waiting for him to come on stage. The second his opening statement started and we heard his unique laugh and his positive personality, I was confident this was going to be a great show. Wanzer’s hilariousness and relatable anecdotes combined to make the show entertaining and valuable. His ALOHA philosophy focused on embracing diversity, being positive, loving one another, and merging the community into a family.

The messages he portrayed in his program summarized what incoming freshmen were being told by different programs throughout the week. The previous programs encouraged students to broaden their horizons, involve themselves in college socially, and empower one another to thrive. Overall, the tones reflected the control students have over their education and their personal success in life. While Wanzer’s routine discussed serious topics, it also had comedic parts to amuse the audience. He did an amazing job of linking an enthusiastic, humorful performance with an enlightening dialogue about inclusiveness and diversity.

One of Wanzer’s anecdotes included a story about him and his son Scout at Disney World. Wanzer attempted to take his son to see all of the Disney characters and wait in line to receive their autographs. Scout, who Wanzer described as being obsessed with vacuum cleaners, preferred to skip the wait and eat in Cinderella’s castle. As Wanzer and Scout sat at their table, Scout began to talk to the waitress. The waitress interacted wonderfully with Scout, engaging in conversation with him about vacuum cleaners. After talking for a while, the waitress took Scout to a back room to show him something. A few minutes later, Scout came out with the waitress, gripping a vacuum cleaner in his hand. She allowed him to vacuum the entire dining area! When Scout was finished, he was so happy and sat back down. At the end of the meal, Scout told his dad that the only autograph he wanted was an autograph from the waitress. When Wanzer asked why, Scout explained it was because she was nice to him, she listened to him, and she allowed him to vacuum Cinderella’s castle. Wanzer used this adorable narrative to establish how important it is for us to take time out to get to know people. Anecdotes like those showed us how we can make a difference in people’s lives and how we can positively embrace our differences and similarities.

Wanzer has an energetic stage presence and utilized it to keep us students laughing. His routine was amazing and it allowed new freshmen to have an upbeat mindset going into college life. It was a very inspirational program that showed students how to promote a tolerant college community. Wanzer repeated the ALOHA philosophy multiple times throughout his performance, wisely demonstrating how students can choose to love. His charisma is infectious and it has helped me see how I can be a more valuable member of Stockton’s community.