I went to Rise Above’s annual pumpkin picking gathering at R&J Farms on October 25^th. Rise Above is a club here at Stockton that does different service activities, and they even helped at Lolla-No-Booza, among other things. This event was a one-time event for the year, and was super fun because I had not done anything with this club before. I play for the tennis team at Stockton and had finally finished the season around October 15^th so I figured it was finally time to start going to some clubs, especially since I was less busy. Plus, it was a great way to meet some new friends.

This event started off well because not only did we do some pumpkin picking, but we went into a corn maze as well. As we went into the corn maze we had to go around finding seventeen different hints throughout the maze that would help us solve the crossword puzzle that the farm gave us. It took about an hour or so to finally muster up all the clues, and it helped us win a small prize at the end for finding all of them. After that, we got in line to go on the hayride that would then take us to our nice, round, and orange friends. Once we got to the pumpkin patch it took about 15 minutes or so to find the perfect pumpkin, and some of us even took two because of how cute they were. I still even have my pumpkin, and it is amazing how long it has lasted even a month later. Overall, this event was a blast and I’d highly recommend anyone going for next year if they are looking to have a great time with new friends.

The Election 2016 Debriefing, headed by Claire Abernathy on November 10, served as a platform for students to discuss the results of the 2016 election and their concerns about what’s coming in the future. The event was part of Stockton’s Democracy Cafe series in which many discussions about politics are encouraged between students and faculty of the university. The dialogue session filled about half of the Campus Center Theatre with students, and other professors in the political science department where there to assist and answer questions. Professor Abernathy first described the results of the election, showing how the votes fell in the presidential election and the congressional election by state. She then discussed the exit polls, showing statistics about who voted for what candidate in terms of gender, race, education level, and income, analyzing why the votes fell where they did, and how it compared to the exit polls of President Obama’s win in 2012. Afterwards, she posed questions to the students in attendance about the Electoral College, their thoughts about President-Elect Trump, and what they think might happen under his leadership. The longest portion was, unsurprisingly, questions about thoughts and fears about Trump, in which everything from trade and international relations to compromising of LGBT and women’s rights was discussed. Fresh fruit and water were also provided. I think this was a great event to have on campus, especially after the tumultuousness of this election in particular. For many people, Trump’s win was shocking, and many people are frightened and unsure about the future of this country. The university itself even sent out a mass email to students recommending our counseling services because of the extreme anxiety and paranoia that plagued so many after election night. The event provided a safe space for people to talk about these fears with distinguished professors of political science, who were able to honestly answer their questions. It’s extremely important to stay politically engaged, and the Democracy Cafe series allows students a way to learn and get accurate, unbiased political information.

Kate Volpe nearly singlehandedly put together one of the best organized and most underrated 5ks I have ever taken part in. This, coming from a cross country runner, means that out of over a hundred organized 5ks, Run Run Rudolph lies in my top five. Allow me to explain.
Teachers assign groups to tackle case studies, which mainly involve sitting on a couch and delving into the depths of the reliable sites on the internet to find out things about a patient you’ll never actually come into contact with. This, theoretically, can be tackled by one singular person. Sure, it would take copious amounts of time, but it is not impossible for an individual to do. Organizing a 5k takes a multitude of people. Kate Volpe not only set up a course, but she also called news stations, reached out to runners, publicized the run, and recruited volunteers nearly all on her own.
We volunteers woke up earlier than ever before, and we enthusiastically blasted Christmas music while decorating the TRLC. We took every opportunity to hang lights in various places and wear Christmas hats or reindeer antlers. If the weather had been a tad colder, I definitely would have sported my Grinch onesie. The runners were hyped up and excited not only to run but also to experience some of the holiday festivities before Thanksgiving even happened.
Kate Volpe engineered a well thought out, impressive honors event that should have received much more recognition than it did. I fully endorse the Christmas 5k for the 2017 school year!

Normally, when told to wear business casual attire, one would not expect to be taking part in a game show, let alone Family Feud. However, the board of the Student Ambassadors here at Stockton decided that applicant activities are best kept secret until the morning of. So, nearly one hundred well-dressed young adults culminated in the academic spine to give their best impressions.
All of us eccentric prospective student ambassadors recited facts from our sheets to each other. We blurted out sporadic fun facts about our beloved school while trying our best to be personable.
Did you know that Stockton has 18 Division 3 sports teams?
There wasn’t one student in that fish bowl of a room that I wouldn’t have pegged as perfect for the job. We stood up in teams of 5 and gave our best impressions of actual student ambassadors giving tours. Our equally attention-catching personalities demanded recognition as we tried to shout answers over the Family Feud theme song.
Did you know our mascot’s name is Talon?
It didn’t feel as if we were competing for a limited number of spots. The event felt relaxed, only slightly competitive, and friendly. I did not feel judged by the board, even though judging us was literally their job for the day. Rather, I felt supported by everyone in the room, including those I was technically competing against. When we engaged in rapid fire trivia, those who got those impossible questions correct were rewarded with surprised cheers, and those who, like most others, answered incorrectly were rewarded equally for exhibiting the courage to stand up and try.
Did you know we currently have 6,965 undergraduate students?
Family Feud was probably the best fit activity for prospective ambassadors. This, coming from someone who normally detests game shows, means a lot. I guarantee that both those who made the final cut and those who did not had an equally great time participating.

Let me start by saying that applying for Stockton University’s Student Ambassadors program was the most nerve racking and yet rewarding decision I have ever made.
The final round of cuts was upon us, and how else would the board decide who was fit for the ocean than to throw them into the shark tank? Despite the comparison, the open house was nothing to worry about, even though a majority of us applicants had stayed up substantially late rehearsing potential conversations in our heads and practicing our welcoming expressions in the communal bathrooms. Each applicant was assigned to two ambassadors for the day, who would take us in shifts and show us the ropes before letting us take the reins.
My first ambassador and I took charge of welcoming people in the Big Blue gym, which excited me to no end. Wooing adults with a sugar sweet voice and a winning smile was easy, but being able to have actual conversations with potential Stockton students was a challenge all in itself. I dealt with high school students and transfers of all mindsets, some of whom were dead set on coming to this school and some who claimed their parents forced them to be here. No matter what, I greeted every family with equal enthusiasm. I couldn’t wait to share my love for this school with everyone I met. I was even able to help recommend a few prospective athletes to our wonderful athletic program.
I spent a majority of my day doing what I love to do – talk to people. I talked parents’ ears off while giving room tours, and I couldn’t get enough questions about my life here at Stockton from those I gave a campus tour to. I ended the day with a sore throat, cotton mouth, and a few new friends. My name and cell phone number circulated from tour group to tour group as I exchanged information with parents who wanted to know more about our school, as if I had not divulged everything I knew already.
I wish everyone had the opportunity to work an open house. The experience was emotionally exhausting, but so worth it.

I am sitting in the library next to my best friend as she types aggressively on a lap top that is bigger than her torso, remembering just how we crossed paths. If I had to recount a specific point in time where I looked at Millie and reflected on her significance in my future, I would say honors orientation brought this insane young adult into my life. So, before you rip up the invitation to attend this mass convocation of fellow bookworms and library goers, here’s why honors orientation benefited my college life.
Icebreakers are nobody’s favorite things. I can’t express in politically acceptable words how I feel about organized group activities, and if I have to hear the word “ships” or “sailors” one more time within the next decade it will be too soon. However, the time spent on our own was what really changed my perspective on the honors college.
I’ll be brutally honest; I’d made too many judgments toward the others in the honors college. I’d assumed that I wouldn’t get along with anyone who deemed themselves as “honors kids,” and I chose to live outside of the honors living community. I’d written off an entire group of people, only to realize that these human beings collectively made up my ideal crowd. I despise pool, but I played more games of pool with strangers that night than I had ever played in my 18 years of life. I have no hand-eye coordination, but the many hours spent barefoot on the volleyball court were the best hours I’d spent on any school grounds.
And Millie – my dear fellow eccentric – her presence at honors orientation did so many great things that she will never know. Her willingness to drop everything and engage in impulsive athletic feats struck me immediately. I have never met someone who is so much like the person I strive to be.
Honors orientation has not only given me many great friends – and quite an impressive shot at pool – but it has also given me a confidant, running buddy, study partner, and impulsive-index-card-maker all in one body.
Do not think twice about going to honors orientation. It’s not what the OLs plan that will excite you the most; it’s the bonds you form in those precious hours between organized games of charades and Irish dancing that will impact you in the long run.

Run Run Rudolph Run

I volunteered to help out with the Run Run Rudolph Run that Kate Volpe put together. The run took place on Saturday, November 19. We, the volunteers, arrived to start setting up, decorate, and make posters at 7 in the morning. I made a poster that said “Gotta Go Fast” and had a lovely drawing of Sonic the Hedgehog and a picture of Ricky Bobby, Will Ferrell’s character in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby. After we finished putting up Christmas decorations and singing along to Christmas songs my friend Maggie and I headed out to the front of the campus center in order to direct people as to where to go for the run.

The run was well planned, just not very well advertised. I believe only about twelve runners showed up. For next year, we need to try and advertise better off campus and make it more of a donation. Having it set at a standard $10 price may be a little expensive for poor college kids who can barely afford food. Also we could see if we could get more of the school teams involved, such as cross country, track and field, softball, etc. This would encourage students to get involved and perhaps donate more to the cause. If we could get posters out at local shopping stores and restaurants it will also allow for more people off campus to hear about the run. We could also put an add into the local newspaper for it and onto the Stockton Newspaper as well. The run was a great idea and well planned, but if we can get the word out more I believe it will be even more of a success next year.

Freshman Blog: October

On October 2^nd, the honors program took a trip into Philadelphia. In Philadelphia we got the opportunity to see a play/musical (there was a fair amount of singing) called This Is the Week That Is. It was about the upcoming debate, which has been a major topic of discussion within our honors seminar. Seeing as this is one of the more “entertaining” campaigns and debates, people are constantly talking about it. The production was a comedy that mocked the whole campaign. There were a lot of jokes made about both candidates, and a recurring theme of terror for the future of the country.

I thought that the production was funny but I personally am not that into politics. I prefer to keep to myself about my beliefs because I understand that everyone has his or her own beliefs and I find people tend to get rather heated about their opinion or belief being correct. That being said I did enjoy the production as a whole. I thought it was very tastefully done in that it was rather unbiased (perhaps a little left leaning) and the jokes were respectful. Considering some of the things that have been said and done throughout the campaign there were many opportunities to use disrespectful jokes and I feel the actors/actresses all did a wonderful job.

Also, every one of the performers had amazing voices and I loved listening to them cover songs. All of the songs they used were funny, catchy, and well known so it was easy to see how they changed up the lyrics. All in all it was a fun day for the honors program and a great way to spend time off campus with friends.

Freshman Blog: September

On September 13 I attended the Stockton University’s Women’s Volleyball team match. The team played against Montclair State University in Big Blue and was sponsored by Stockton Athletics. The game started at 7 o’clock but we arrived at about 10 to 7 in order to get seats. There was a fair amount of parents there to support their daughters, as well as a student section. My friends and I sat in the second row because we had never been to a volleyball match and were unsure of what was going to happen.

The match started and the girls took the court. It was surprisingly intense as people started cheering. There were two people sitting in front of us that explained the game to us throughout the match. Volleyball works that when the serving team loses the serve the other team receives a point. This is called rally scoring. Each team gets three hits to get the ball over the net, and a block does not count for one of the hits. The game consists of three sets each to 25 points, or if it gets to 24-24 then a team has to win by 2 points.

As the game progressed the crowd was getting super into the match, especially the student section. One student started screaming at a girl on the Montclair team that he apparently knew, seeing as he called her by her name. He would yell things at her such as “Natalia, the ball goes over the net,” or “You can’t hide from me Natalia” when she was not on the court. It was so much fun because the everyone was there to support the girls and they were playing amazingly. They won the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th sets and therefore won the match. They have multiple matches throughout the season. I honestly cannot wait to see another match.

Upon watching our last girl cross the line, I broke down into tears and whispered, “We did it.”
Rewind.
Sidelined by a patellar stress fracture, I took on the both physically emotionally demanding position as a spectator at our cross country conference meet. I watched our girls team start at the gun, and immediately they were off, our top athletes leading and pacing the front group while our other girls held down the back. The Stockton Ospreys tattoos on their faces and ribbons in their hair didn’t do them justice; these girls were more motivated now than they had ever been.
I saw the pain in their eyes as the lactic acid built up and made their muscles sear, but they kept pushing. I watched them conquer the open field, running off rolled ankles galore. As the front pack became visible in the open field, conquering their final 800 meters of the race, the race became a test of strength. The first 5,000 meters of a 6k are a test of mental toughness more than anything. The last 1k is dominated by the runner who feels her legs exploding beneath her and decides that, yes, she can take more. Our top two hang on to each other until the moment they cross the finish line, followed by a gap, and then our third and fourth girls. Five, gap…Six, gap…Seven. Stockton uniforms were blurred by the rainbow of other runners. Our last girl finished, and the tears started flowing.
Truthfully, I couldn’t even identify the real reason why I was crying. I had no idea what our score was, and I didn’t have the patience to add up our runners’ places myself. Regardless, I broke into a dead sprint, despite my aching knee, toward the finish line 400 meters away. I toppled onto my exhausted teammates, sharing tears and sweaty hugs with them before helping them to their overworked feet.
My mind was racing, probably faster than the girls had raced that day. Did we just win NJACS? Did we make Stockton history?
The scores were added up, and sure enough, Stockton University women won NJACS. My team and I shed tears of joy and pride, and we quite literally ran off into the sunset.