Despite my lack of attendance of Stockton events, I was lucky enough to participate in Lolla-No-Booza! This event was hosted by R.I.S.E. A.B.O.V.E. which stands for Ready to Inspire Students to Excel And Better Our Various Experiences. This organization plans to inform students of the misconceptions they may plague the idea of sober colleges through interactive games and activities. This event took place on the 27^th of October in the Event Room in the Campus Center. This was a Halloween dance unlike another other, a silent disco. Aside from dancing zombies, witches, and the occasional t-rex, onlooking this silent disco may seem extremely awkward as people are dancing without music. However, as you continue to scan the room, you notice that everyone is wearing headphones that control the dancer’s movement. With two music stations to choose from, each person can flip through their preference of rap or edm with house and dubstep in between.

Around the campus center were tables with various activities and games to educate us on facts about drinking. Undergoing DUI simulation tests, we were challenged to say the alphabet backwards or forwards, walk a few meters in a straight line, or have the coordination to touch your nose with an extended arm. As a contrary reward for the careful evasion from the cops, we were given a ticket for the huge raffle holding a bountiful amount of prizes like Halloween props to flat screen tvs! The food variety may have been a bit lacking, but the catering from Buffalo Wild Wings alleviated the pain. Overall, the Lolla-No-Booza was a fantastic event that I will attend next year!

On October 22^nd, the Pilipino American Students Association of Stockton (P.A.S.A.S.) visited The College of New Jersey for the annual Adobowl with District 5. Filipino club spans the nation and are divided by sections called districts. District 5 is the collection of colleges, universities and vocational institutes within South Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. The name Adobowl is derived from the filipino cuisine called adobo. This event is where filipino clubs participate in games and food with other students.

Although I arrived late to the event, I still came in time for the games. The teams were randomized after signing up (5 dollars per student, 2 dollars per alumni) and were not categorized by the school you were in. I missed a few team-oriented games like popping another teams’ balloon that are tied to their ankle, and egg tapping. Luckily, I made it just in time during the preparation of tug-of-war. Assigned to the black team, we had to coordinate with each other to pull on the rope at the same time. Our superior pulling skills made it the finals, but were ultimately taken down by the blue team in a very extended war. The last game was a board member trivia relay where one member from each team must race from one side of the recreational center and find the picture of the board member who was the answer to the question.

By the end of the day, all the teams experienced a “thanksgiving” dinner together. The food consisted of pizza, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, banana-chocolate cake, and drinks. We ate and exchanged contacts with each other and were able to experience the filipino community that we seek to preserve. The Adobowl was a fun-filled event that I wish for others to experience as well.

The Day of Service was an opportunity for Stockton students and faculty to engage in service projects. After intense card games and quarts of Chinese food, sleeping for five hours the night before was probably not the brightest idea. However, the morning of the event while walking to the campus center I was invited by the sweet display of free food. This was a perfect start for a 10^th of September morning as I walk into a small room to learn how to perform hands-on CPR. This experience was not the exciting at all. Especially after ending the session 45 minutes early. Nonetheless, I acquired the power of CPR in my very hands and walked out ready to save the world one pump at a time. After the vigorous training, I delighted myself to another blessing, free water! Hydrate or die-drate as they say. Anyways, while waiting for our next event I encountered a friend of mine who was unaware of the service project. With careful persuasion I approached Paul and said, “Hey you should join in!”. To my surprise, he replied in agreement as a recruited member for our next event, food packing extravaganza.

We arrived at our next arena with our assembled five-person team of Paul, Jess, Elyse, Emily and Me. Our unstoppable crew banded together with a handful of other teams and fought world hunger together which was sponsored by Stop Hunger Now. This experience felt very unique. Going back to the land of the East, a gong was struck for every thousand bags we created. This, the blasting music, and mini dance party our crew created was just the right amount of incentive to fill bags chock filled with delicious minerals, vegetables, soy and rice. Saving the world from hunger was pretty cool too. Later on during the hour of packing, the sound of thunder roared twelve times. Twelve-thousand bags were made to feed someone who wouldn’t have eaten without this package. This helped me realize how much working together can impact the world, even if I was just putting a vitamin packet into a bag.

Finally, we ended our event with handmade coloring books for the kids at Saint Jude’s hospital. With our utmost efficient Ford-style assembly line, we constructed over thirty books! Never again shall Spiderman or Mike Wazowski be left uncolored. Our last service was followed by a reflection session in which we discussed the impact our day of service had on us. Although a third of our day was spent on volunteering, those hours flew by quick. The projects held were unique and interesting. Ranging from book organizing, peanut butter and jelly sandwich-making, as well as a variety of self-awareness sessions, this one-semester event opened my eyes to the change that anyone can accomplish.