September 12^th marked Stockton’s 12^th annual Day of Service, organized by the Office of Student Development.  Day of Service, an all-day event (8 to 4), offers both students and staff the rewarding opportunity to participate in service projects around the campus by exposing them to a wide variety of service projects and enlightening volunteers about the impacts they could make as opposed to simply jumping directly into work. Upon entering the event room, participants were asked to choose a team that they would be rotating with throughout the day.  About a half hour in, keynote speaker Todd Bernstein was introduced.  Bernstein explained how it is up to the citizens to bring about change, not the government.

Although there were four service projects, two in particular stood out to me.  The first service project I attended was in regards to the environment.  Richard Dovey, the CEO of Atlantic County Utilities Authority, discussed his company’s efforts to maintain a sustainable environment.  Stockton’s very own Water Watch organization and sustainable farm volunteers also spoke about their works in reducing pollution and properly utilizing land and water.

Another service project I attended was in regards to education.  An organization called Books Without Borders collects books ranging from children stories to chemistry textbooks for those who cannot afford books or simply do not have access to books.  Whereas other service projects were more so presentations, this one was more hands-on; volunteers helped put together boxes, organize hundreds of books based on topic, and carry particularly heavy boxes from the building to a storage container.  A lot of volunteers actually opted out of the final service project to continue their work with this organization.

Day of Service was an excellent way to work with peers and make a difference.  Learning should not be restricted to just the classroom, but integrated into our everyday lives as well.

The transition from high school to college can be a nerve-racking one.  In attempt to help incoming freshmen assimilate to college life, there is Welcome Week, an eventful orientation the days preceding the first day of classes.  Stockton’s Welcome Week began on August 28^th, the official Move-In Day for incoming freshmen, and continued until September 1^st.  The first mandatory event to kick off Welcome Week was a Residential Life Floor Meeting, where everyone met in the common room of their respective floor to meet other residents and their Resident Assistant.  During Welcome Week, students had to attend all mandatory events.  Although attendance at other events was not required, students could win a free Stockton stadium blanket by attending all passport events as well.

Most of the mandatory events were mandatory for important reasons.  Maximize Your Buzz was in regards to alcohol consumption in college; Let’s Talk About Sex discussed consent and being cautious about sex; and True Life 101 discussed campus safety and policies in both an entertaining and educational manner.  Something that was stressed during Welcome Week was the importance of socialization.  For instance, the Troy Stende Keynote Social was solely for the purpose of getting to know people.  RHA Building Community Battles was another event that allowed for the bonding of residents, as well as the Greek Council Dance Party.  Other events, although seemingly fun on the surface, held deeper messages – developing team building skills.  For instance, ThinkFast trivia night or the SET Amazing Race Treasure Hunt.  Although most activities were entertaining, a select few were taken to heart.  The Warrior Champions Movie recounted the stories of American heroes gravely injured during war; Sam Offer was about being cognizant and accepting of differences in our increasingly diverse and complex world; even the comedian’s stories had lessons.  On the whole, each event was helpful in assimilating to college life by teaching about how to deal with certain situations.

Although August 28^th marked the official Stockton Move-In Day, some 250 incoming freshmen moved in a few days early.  These freshmen arrived to campus on August 25^th, three days before the start of Welcome Week, to participate in Stockton’s Outdoor Adventure Retreat, or S.O.A.R.  S.O.A.R. is something of a camping trip that lasts three days and two nights.  First held in 2005, S.O.A.R. is a pre-orientation program that offers incoming students the opportunity to exercise both teamwork and leadership skills, as well as meet new people and begin their college journey with close friends.  This memorable experience takes place at Camp Ockanickon, about 45 minutes from campus.

Before students are moved in and bussed to Camp Ockanickon, they are assigned a tribe.  There are a total of eight tribes that make up S.O.A.R: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Navy, Sky, and Purple.  Each tribe is led by four or five T.A.L.O.N.S., or The Activity Leaders of New Students.  T.A.L.O.N.S. are upperclassmen who work to help new students assimilate to college life; they assist during both S.O.A.R. and Welcome Week.  Once students are assigned their tribe and bussed to camp, the real fun begins.

The first day of S.O.A.R. is an introduction day.  Students move into their living quarters, which are cabins containing bunk beds.  Students also get the opportunity to meet fellow tribe members and participate in a variety of recreational activities.  On the second day of S.O.A.R. students participate in low-ropes, which are trust building activities with members of their own tribe, as well as other tribes.  The third day is designated for high-ropes, which are more difficult and personal challenges.  Most of these challenges take place at least ten feet off of the ground and require the use of a harness.  Some challenges, for instance, include rock climbing and tightrope walking.  Students were encouraged to challenge themselves, but not to the extent of discomfort.

S.O.A.R. is an excellent way to meet other incoming freshmen.  Camp Ockanickon offers the perfect opportunity to participate in a thrilling camping experience where students can go canoeing or kayaking, swimming, hiking, practice archery, and socialize with fellow students.  Perhaps most important of all, S.O.A.R. teaches students to challenge themselves and to persevere in the face of difficulty, something that incoming college students may need to hear every now and then when they are discouraged or overwhelmed.