This afternoon, my roommate and I visited the Celebration of Service outside of the library in the F Wing atrium. In the weeks leading up to this event, I had received numerous emails advertising the day and encouraging students to participate by setting up a table to present their community service projects to their peers and professors. Upon entering the exhibition area, my roommate and I were surprised to notice how few students had chosen to partake in the day’s festivities, and we could actually count the number of tables on our fingers.

            We first stopped at the Water Watch table to speak to a student who had organized various beach cleanup projects in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. She informed us that there would another beach sweep on Saturday morning, and encouraged us to attend. We admired some of the decorative boards, and picked up a few pamphlets from a table advocating for the Peace Corps and other organizations. From there, we visited a small group of students representing Clean Ocean Action, an organization promoting awareness of ocean pollution and taking initiatives to correct this problem. The students running the table asked if we would mind taking a brief survey to help their cause, which would enter our names into a drawing to win a free gift basket. With the small number of students in attendance, we figure our chances of winning are pretty high! The survey asked us questions regarding what proximity we live to the beach, if we are concerned about polluted waters, and what actions we personally would be willing to take to help correct the growing problem. All in all, our visit was brief and pleasant.

            It was encouraging to see the students who did choose to present their projects, as it demonstrated just how dedicated they truly were to the causes for which they were advocating. My roommate and I, who had conducted our own fundraiser this year by selling tee shirts to benefit the Red Cross’s Disaster Relief Fund in reaction to the recent hurricane, realized we very easily could have chosen to present our project as well. I personally left the atrium feeling a bit disappointed in myself for not taking the initiative to present about the hard work we put into our own project over the course of this year, and am now motivated to participate next year. Hopefully in years to come, more students will feel compelled to share their projects with the rest of the Stockton community and inspire us all to give back.

The Wellness Center is a truly enthusiastic department of our school that is dedicated to the health and wellbeing of Stockton’s many students and faculty members. Each week, the Wellness Center sponsors a variety of exercise and fitness classes in order to motivate students to become more active, and give each of us the tools to make smart decisions in order to combat the dreaded “Freshman Fifteen.” Students and faculty members have the opportunity to participate in free Boxercise, Yoga, Judo and Zumba classes on a twice-weekly basis, which encourages all of us to want to live healthier lives.  

            For me personally, coming into college was a difficult transition. Aside from leaving me home, my family and a very close-knit group of friends, I now had to grow accustomed to making positive life choices that would be beneficial in the long run. At first, it was very easy to fall into the trap of college cuisine. Fast food options tasted far better than the healthy stuff, and a meal plan put virtually endless plates of food at my disposal.  I had always been a rather healthy eater at home, and I never truly recognized the benefits of consuming solely self-prepared, home-cooked meals. Thankfully, I was able to realize early on that I was not making the healthiest choices, and I began to clean up my diet and start regular exercise regimen.

            I began taking Zumba classes through Stockton and the Wellness Center in the fall, and it never felt so good to move! The instructors of the class compose upbeat, energetic routines that truly get students on their feet and dancing. Soon Zumba became a part of my weekly routine, and my friends were coming along as well. I watched the class size continuously increase as more and more students came to the same realization that I had a few weeks prior, and soon the gym was full. I am so thankful to attend a school where these unique exercise options are available for students free of charge, and to live in an environment that encourages healthy choices on a daily basis. Choosing to attend Zumba classes at Stockton and actively participating in each routine was the first step for me in reclaiming the version of myself that I knew before college and the temptations of a meal plan.

This week, Stockton is savoring the colorfulness and diversity of our second-annual International Celebration. The campus center food court has been adorned with flags from countries all over the globe, and foreign films are being shown in the Dunkin Donuts coffeehouse each afternoon at 2:00. Additionally, Stockton is hosting it’s annual Multicultural Connection Dinner in the campus center event room on Wednesday evening, and a “Geodome” has been set up in the C and D Wing atrium that allows students to experience 3D tours of various destinations around the world. One of my favorite aspects of this celebration has been the new and exciting variety of food being offered in N-Wing and Homestyle Kitchen, celebrating a different culture at each location every day this week.

From Middle Eastern Dosas to Iraqi Pink Rice or Filipino Beef Stew, the new options at some of Stockton’s most popular dining locations offer students and faculty the opportunity to expand their horizons and step outside of their typical culinary comfort zones. For the less adventurous, or simply those looking for something sweet to snack on, Homestyle Kitchen also offered French eclairs and cream puffs on Monday, and delicious South American churros on Wednesday. My personal favorite dish so far this week has been the Fiesta Lime Chicken and Rice dish, although Tuesday’s vegetable dumpljngs took a close second. The unique cuisine options gave everyone who eats on campus a break from the typical dining options, and helped me personally realize that I am not as picky of an eater as I used to be.

As teenagers and young adults, we tend to forget that life exists beyond the walls of our schools, homes or workplaces. Though it is easier to live within the comfort our little bubbles provide, it is inevitable that someday each of us will encounter a language barrier or cultural difference that prohibits us from connecting with another human being. America is known as a melting pot, and I truly feel that our diversity deserves to be recognized. Additionally, both businesses and healthcare are now expanding beyond the figurative boundaries of our country and spreading their services abroad. With this in mind, I personally believe that it is crucial for students to further their studies of foreign languages and cultures, so that we might one day be able to bridge the gaps that separate different parts of the world. Stockton’s International Celebration is a wonderful way to encourage students to open their eyes to the diversity of our world, and hopefully inspire us all to continue to explore the various cultures around the globe.

            Stockton is a distinctive college for many reasons. Our school is located on a beautiful campus within a national reserve, operates inside state-of-the-art buildings, and has full-time faculty members that truly care about the success of their students. Perhaps the most distinctive of all, the student body, have the potential to make Stockton’s name world-renowned.

Some of the most impressive work from our students can be seen within the pages of Innovations, our undergraduate research journal. Each year, inspired students generate ideas for research that have the ability to enlighten the community on a certain issue, test the validity of a particular theory, or potentially spread awareness regarding a social movement. One of my proudest accomplishments that I can take away from my time spent at Stockton thus far has been the opportunity to work on the editorial staff for Innovations and meet these individuals, who I truly believe can change the world through their research.

            Each year, undergraduates submit InDepth or InBrief research projects to the editorial board, which then have the role of meeting with these authors to create an article that is ready for publication. As an editor, I have the opportunity to read drafts of these articles and interview the authors to gain insight on their personal backgrounds, experiences and motivation for conducting their research. Last week, I met with an author who wrote about social mobility.

Nicole was assigned a research project for her Economic Wellbeing course, and was told that the research could be done on virtually any topic that fell under the umbrella of economics. Nicole saw this assignment as an opportunity to take her knowledge of this concept to the next level, and hopes to continue researching this topic in the future because she believes the concept of social mobility can relate to everyone, regardless of socioeconomic class. She hopes to inspire students to continue their efforts in pursuing their own dreams, and to not give up in the face of adversity. Nicole believes that it is important to be aware of this issue, as is can ultimately affect the economy on a grander scale.  Getting to know Nicole and working as member the Innovations staff has opened my eyes to the impact any of us could make in this world.

Sometimes I think it’s a shame we’re not away at school in the summer and home during the gloomy months of winter. For the majority of the school year, the residential areas on campus are reminiscent of an old-fashioned ghost town. While the temperatures hover in the teens and snowfall frequents the forecast, students stay huddled within the warmth of their rooms or apartments, only venturing outside when they have to attend class or their hunger simply becomes unbearable. In recent weeks, there have been a few spring-like days that have brought life to campus again. When the thermometer reached over 80 degrees, students lay sprawled out on the quad soaking up the rays while volleyballs and Frisbees flew overhead.

Some of my favorite aspects of Stockton in the springtime are the various barbecues hosted for the students by different organizations. Not only is this a huge relief for those who are running out of meal swipes at this point in the semester, but these gatherings offer students a chance to socialize with neighbors they never even knew they had, and enjoy the natural beauty of our campus at the same time. Neighborhood Watch hosted a barbecue in the freshman quad on one of the warm-weather days and received an overwhelming response from the student body. My friends and I had such a pleasant experience, we decided to attend the SET barbecue at Oasis the following week!

Though the weather wasn’t quite as enjoyable, SET put on a great event including food, live music, a surfboard simulator and a tie-dye tee shirt station! As a freshman, I found these events to be a great way to experience other members of the Stockton community and come together to socialize in a pleasant atmosphere- and the free food was definitely a key factor! I have my fingers crossed the weather decides to cooperate again before the end of the semester so that we might be able to get out and enjoy each other’s company once again.  When the weather is nice, Stockton in the springtime is a wonderful place to be.

Hurricane Sandy devastated much of the New Jersey coastline, destroying countless homes and leaving millions without power for days on end. Monmouth County, where I live, was hit particularly hard by the storm. The boardwalk that I stood on exactly one week earlier no longer existed, and the beach towns I frequented were in shambles. I returned to school after days of sitting in the dark with my family, feeling guilty that I could enjoy electricity while they were still without power. It was that very night that I came up with the idea to design a tee shirt that could be sold to benefit the recovery effort.

I wanted to get started as quickly as possible, so in a matter of a few hours, I came up with a design reading “Revive, Rebuild, Recover” and threw together a Facebook page to determine if people would actually be interested in purchasing the shirts. Overnight, my Facebook page received over two hundred “likes”, and countless supporters expressed interest in my idea. The following morning, I contacted a local printer in Mays Landing, who offered to print the shirts for simply the cost of materials. We decided to sell the shirts for fifteen dollars each, and donate all of the proceeds to the Red Cross’s disaster recovery effort.

            I enlisted the help of my roommate in order to accomplish this project, who eagerly took on the role of secretary, creating spreadsheets and charts to keep track of our finances. Within one week, we had sold 46 tee shirts. After placing and delivering our first order, we figured we had reached the end of our fundraiser. We had successfully raised five hundred dollars for the Red Cross, and we were extremely satisfied with our efforts. We didn’t realize just how wrong we were. In the following week, our sales doubled, as we sold almost a hundred more shirts and raised another thousand dollars. As it turns out, our first week was only the beginning of even greater things to come.

            To date, our shirt sale has brought in well over $2,000. I am truly shocked at how an idea that I came up with on a whim has grown into a truly successful fundraiser for those who could really use a helping hand. While sales have finally died down, our efforts have not gone unnoticed. We have received much praise and encouragement from the Office of Service Learning, who even suggested we form a club to continue selling shirts and generating new ways of aiding the disaster recovery effort! Even though it has been months since the hurricane, there is still a lot of work to be done and many people who can use our assistance. We aren’t sure what the future has in store for our fundraising efforts, but we won’t give up until our boardwalks are back, business is booming, and everyone can return to their homes along the shore.

            In high school, one of my proudest accomplishments came from being a member of the Relay for Life committee, which consumed a great amount of my time actively planning and executing one of the most successful charity events in the country. Relay for Life is an overnight walk and community event that celebrates the lives of those who have survived cancer, remembers those who lost their battle, and pledges to fight back against this terrible disease. I joined the committee in my high school four years ago for Howell’s first-ever relay, and was overwhelmed with pride when I realized how much the event grew over the four years that I helped run the event. During my senior year, we put on our most successful Relay to date and raised over $60,000 for the American Cancer Society.

            When I found out the American Cancer Society was now bringing Relay for Life to the Stockton community, I knew I wanted to be involved. I organized a team with the newly formed Health Science Club, and we attended the event unsure of what to expect. Typically, Relay for Life events take place outdoors on a track, where participants walk laps throughout the night to signify that cancer never sleeps. Our Relay took place inside of Big Blue gym due to inclement weather, but the event was successful despite the location change. The event raised over $20,000 for cancer research and ACS patient and family services- not bad for our first year!

            Next year, I would really like to join the planning committee here at Stockton so that I can contribute to the growth of our event in the same way that I was able to in high school. I know that Stockton is capable of expanding our participation in the event, and I have made it my personal goal for our school to raise $60,000 by the time I graduate as well. If a group of high school students can do it, Stockton certainly can as well! In the upcoming years, it would be wonderful to see every club and Greek organization participating in Relay for Life.

            Cancer knows no bounds. Everyone has either been touched by the horrible disease in their own personal lives, or knows someone else who has had to deal with the struggle associated with cancer. I lost my grandfather to cancer, and one of my friends from home is currently fighting for his life as well. I want to know that I am doing everything possible to rid the world of this awful disease, and work towards creating a world with more birthdays.

            For as long as I can remember, my house has always been full of music. My dad has been in various bands throughout the years and the radio is always blasting classics while he works on one of his many home improvement projects. My little sister plays six instruments, and I have sung as a member of my church choir since I was twelve. Though I am not involved with any of musical organizations while at school, I jumped at the opportunity to see the Stockapella concert on campus last week with my roommate.

            The show featured Stockton’s three different a Cappella groups: Stockata, The Stocktones, and Stockapella- each with it’s own unique style and sound. The curtain rose to all three groups on stage together singing a chilling rendition of Fun’s Some Nights that truly started the show off on a high note. Following the opening performance, each of the three groups sang a selection of songs showcasing their own unique sound. First up was Stockata, our newest all-female vocal group. One of my favorite performances of the show was their rendition of Madonna’s Like A Prayer, led by soloist Gabby Marrone. Stockata was followed by the Stocktones, a co-ed vocal group that sang several more alternative song choices, but finished their set with an upbeat rendition of Bonnie Tyler’s Hero featuring soloist Sarah Baginsky.

While all three groups are composed of truly talented singers, it was evident the best was saved for last. The final set of the evening was performed by Stockton’s award-winning competitive a Cappella group Stockapella. Stockapella has won several awards, including Best Choreography and Best Vocal Percussionist at the Quarter Finals this year. After witnessing their performance at the spring concert, it was evident why the group has been so successful. From chilling solo performances of Mumford and Son’s The Cave by Andrew Treuer and Amy Winehouse’s Back to Black by Chrisina Cibotti, to a tear-jerking rendition of Phill Collin’s You’ll Be In My Heart, Stockapella was truly in a league of its own.

            The show concluded with all three groups reconvening on stage for their traditional farewell version of Happy Ending by Mika, during which a Cappella alumni are invited back on stage to sing with current students. It’s evident the a Cappella program at Stockton is truly a family environment, and enjoying their performance on Monday night reminded me of my own musical family waiting for me at home.

            Health Science is one of Stockton’s newest majors, and the program is rapidly becoming one of the most popular among incoming students. Many would say this is due to Stockton’s strong graduate programs in Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Communication Disorders, which previously had little connection with the undergraduate curriculum. In years past, in order to advance into one of these graduate programs, students would first have to major in areas such as Biology or Psychology. One of the benefits of the Health Science major is the early exposure to the healthcare system and the various professions that must work collaboratively in the “real world.” While many Health Science students are members of clubs specific to their career interests, such as the OT or PT Clubs, there are other students who have not yet determined which field they want to go into. Additionally, some students are looking to go into healthcare administration or management.

            The Health Science degree encompasses a wide range of students, all looking to go into different professions. What we really needed was a club open to any student looking to go into a health career- and that’s exactly what we now have! I am proud to call myself one of the founding members of the Health Science Club here at Stockton, and I am so optimistic about where this club will go. In just a few short weeks, we have elected our executive board, of which I am Vice President, and set goals for both the remainder of the semester and next year. Our founder, Nadine, has a wonderful vision for expanding the membership of our club and truly making a name for ourselves on campus. Before the year is over, we will participate in Relay for Life, a beach sweep, and the Special Olympics hosted at Stockton.

            We are extremely excited about the future of our club, and encourage anyone who may be interested to stop into one of our meetings! The Health Science club operates through committees that work collaboratively to accomplish tasks in areas such as community service, events, fundraising ect. While we are looking for every opportunity to become involved for the remainder of this semester, we are even more enthusiastic about the plans we have in store for next year. Keep an eye out- Stockton Health Science will be accomplishing great things!

            As a member of the Occupational Therapy Club here at Stockton, several volunteer opportunities have been presented to me within the field I wish to pursue. Aside from volunteering directly with patients, the club has offered a variety of volunteer opportunities for students to take advantage of. Recently, we held a “used medical equipment drive” where we collected used walkers, canes, wheelchairs and various other pieces of medical equipment to be donated to Good Will. The future occupational therapists are a very passionate group of students on campus, and the program was a huge success! During the first few meetings, I took more of a back-seat approach to my involvement with the club. Looking to play a more active role, my friend and I volunteered to bake and table for the OT Club bake sale.

            To our surprise, the “good-old-fashioned bake sale” just isn’t what it used to be. In an age where students no longer carry cash because we have cards to electronically swipe for meals, many people passed our table by. Similarly, people are much more conscientious about what they eat nowadays, as it seems like everyone is  watching their figure more than generations past. What started out as an exciting prospect for raising money for the Red Cross soon turned into frustrating disappointment. My St. Patrick’s Day cupcakes didn’t bring much luck, and the majority of our beautiful array of desserts were given away for free at the end of the day. In fact, many of our donations came from passersby who did not necessarily want a cupcake, but wanted to help our cause and donated anyway.

            When discussing the bake sale at our last meeting, the club seemed to be in agreement that we were all a bit disappointed with the results. Although the student body and faculty were generally supportive and encouraging of our efforts, we had a difficult time actually selling them on our baked goods. Perhaps the age of bake sales has come and gone, and a fruit and veggie table would be more lucrative in the future?