As a freshman in a college with so many different activities going on, I was somewhat nervous about finding a way to fit in. I wanted to get involved but I felt intimidated by the number of students and all of the various events. I barely knew anyone and I certainly didn’t know my way around the campus. I was happy to receive an email that listed all of the events for the upcoming week because I read about the Event Fair. It was sponsored by the Student Development team and the Office of Service Learning. It was convenient because it was located in the A-J wings which I could find very easily, and it was from 10:00 A.M. to 7:00 P.M. so I could take my time and look at everything between classes without feeling rushed. I felt like this was definitely something that would help me get acquainted with other students and learn more about what Stockton has to offer, so I decided to spend a few hours there.
The hallways were lined with over a hundred tables with free food and prizes. The people behind the tables were so outgoing and friendly. They were eager to get students to join their organization. Their enthusiasm definitely made me feel welcome and interested in what they had to say. One club that stood out to me was called Commuters on the Go. I feel like I can meet other commuters whom I would be able to relate to and find ways to get involved without actually living on campus. Another club that stood out to me was the Circle K club, which is a service based group that does humanitarian charity. I definitely want to get involved with as much as possible while still living half an hour away. The Event Fair helped me examine my options while meeting a lot of new people in the process.
Author Archives: parkhurm
Headliners
This past week I went to a Headliners meeting in the Campus Center Lounge. I really wish I had known about these meetings earlier in the semester because so far it has been my favorite event. To be honest, I only attended the meeting because I needed to go to a dialogue session for the Honors Service Learning requirement and this was the last one that fit into my schedule. When I entered the meeting I recognized Daniel Tome and then there were about seven other students whom I did not know. We sat in a circle and read through the New York Times and picked a few headlines that caught our attention. I was confused at first because all of my friends told me that at their dialogue sessions they just listened to a lecture and did not have to participate. I was excited to discuss some interesting topics with amicable students. The first headline we discussed was Facebook trying to buy the company named Snapchat; Snapchat denied the offer. The second headline we talked about was different energy sources, nuclear power to be specific. The majority agreed that the country should invest in more research for solar energy. We also discussed George Zimmerman, turtles, and the infamous mayor of Toronto, Rob Ford. We covered so many various topics in the span of an hour, and it was very organized. I wish that I had attended these meetings earlier in the semester because I really enjoyed it. I hope that Headliners returns next semester and that more students come out. Discussing such controversial and interesting topics and making friends in the process was such a refreshing way to spend my lunch break between classes.
A New Experience
Last Tuesday night after my final class I decided to attend a flag football game instead of going straight home. After my last class is done I usually go right to my car and leave as soon as possible. However, my friend asked me to attend his flag football game and show some support for the team he was on. I had been to plenty of athletic events throughout high school, but I had yet to attend one at college. With that being said, I was interested to see if it would be a similar experience. The first thing that surprised me was that the games were located off campus. I had assumed the games would be taking place on the main campus. It was my first time going to these fields on Pomona Road, even though I’ve driven by them countless times.
When I arrived at the fields I found that there was a good amount of people there to support both teams. The team that I was there to support was up against a nationally ranked flag football team. It was a team of freshman verses a team of nationally ranked seniors. It was intimidating to say the least. Although the team was supporting did not generate a victory, they put up a good fight. They surprised the team of seniors with their competitive and persistent attitudes. One of the strong points that assisted the team was their speed. With many fast players on their side, they gave the team of seniors a run for their money. It was very intense, and the seniors did not have an easy win. I am glad that I attended this event because I got to see the competitive side of many students I see on a daily basis.