Amanda Schuler
Gen 1033: Life of the Mind
Professor Lenard
2 December 2016

Freshman Blogging Project
Run Rudolph Run
The Run Rudolph Run was an event was a great experience to exercise, raise money for families in need, and enjoy the Christmas spirit. This 5k run along one of Stockton University’s nature trails around Lake Fred was part of the Honor’s Programs charity fundraisers which raised money to give a family in need money for the holidays. The social was held on Saturday, November 19th, 2016 and hosted by Stockton’s Honors program. The fundraiser was led by Kate Volpe, the current Director of Service Project. Ms. Volpe coordinated the event which involved making posters, sending out flyers to local schools, and purchasing Christmas decorations to sell at the fundraiser. The overall experience was very upbeat and festive.
The event began in the Townsend Residential Life Center where all of the student volunteers set up tables for the runners, and made trail signs. Music was playing the volunteers split up into groups. As the event began and runners arrived, everyone settled down. Ms. Volpe assigned the groups to different stations; either inside or outside. She asked everyone to participate to make the event a success. While some people took pictures, and collected money from the runners, I was in a small group that help signs up along the trail as the runners passed by. After the race, all the volunteers gathered to share feedback in order to make the next run an even bigger success.
In my person opinion, I thoroughly enjoyed the event. I was very inclined to volunteer because I thought that the festive idea was very creative and was for a good cause. Overall, the Run Rudolph Run hosted by Stockton’s Honors Program and led by Kate Volpe was a great way to raise money for a good cause while having fun.

The Wellness Center’s yoga class was an event full of exercising the mind and body. This program is hosted by Stockton University’s Wellness Center. The Wellness Center hosts an array of events that encourage living a healthy lifestyle. Their events include several fun activities such as zumba, meditation, and yoga. Yoga classes are held twice a week on Tuesday from 6:30 to 7:30pm and Thursdays from 2:30 to 3:00 pm. Tuesday classes are held at the Lodge at Lakeside and Thursday classes are held at the Campus Bookstore.
I attended the Thursday yoga session on October 13th. Before starting, I was a bit hesitant because I am not flexible and have never participated in a Yoga class before. The first ten minutes were without a doubt nerve-wracking because everyone seemed to understand the different stretches. I was unsure what to expect and showed up in the comfiest clothes I owned and my grandmother insisted I bring her old yoga mat. Once I saw a familiar face, I felt confident and finished the remaining twenty minutes. The class definitely taught me to try new things and that stepping out of my comfort zone can be okay. Yoga, I learned, can be a healthy way to relieve stress which is important to me while I attend college. The week of the 13th, for me, was full of essays and tests that made my week feel full of havoc. The session certainly was relaxing and I found it a positive way to calm my mind. In only thirty minutes, I was able to learn new poses such as the warrior stance and downward dog. I am more conscious of my breathing techniques and feel more prepared for future classes.
Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the Stockton event and will strive to attend more yoga classes and try new activities hosted by the Wellness Center too.

The Troy Stende Keynote Social was an event full of ice breakers and the opportunity for socialization. This program was part of Stockton’s Welcome Week, which is a week-long series of events designed for incoming freshman. The social was held on Friday, September 2^nd, 2016 and hosted by Stockton’s T.A.L.O.N.S and R.As. The interactive event was led by Troy Stende, the three-time recipient of the Association for the Promotion of Campus Activities’ “Best Campus Speaker.” Stende walked the students through several ice breakers such as small group activities and rock-paper-scissors. Within the 90-minute event, students were shuffled around the room while testing their memory of previous interactions with other incoming freshman. The overall experience was very upbeat and energetic.

               The event began in the Campus Event Room where all of the students were seated on the floor. Music was playing and a large group of people were dancing to the music in the middle of the room. As the event began and everyone settled down, Troy Stende introduced himself and discussed the importance of college. He asked everyone to participate in several small and large group events which were designed to encourage socialization. A main focus during the event was the high five. Stende instructed that whenever a person met someone new, the two would give each other a high five. This social connection was a major tool in helping students feel less tense and nervous.

               In my person opinion, I thoroughly enjoyed the event. I am a shy person and am hesitant when it comes to meeting new people. The overall atmosphere of the program was very welcoming which eased my nerves. I found the event to be very helpful and encourage that the event continues to be a part of Welcome Week at Stockton University.