With final projects and exams right around the corner, the beach is still a while away for many of us. However, the Center for Teaching and Learning has made it a little easier to visualize with their end-of-semester event. This fun and entertaining event was held on Tuesday, May 1, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the Iadarola Center lobby.
“This is a chance to celebrate the end of the semester,” Maritza DeJesus, academic counseling peer coach, said. “But more importantly let students know that we’re still here to help them with finals and these last two weeks.”
Iadarola’s lobby was turned into a tropical paradise for the occasion. Tables were decorated with sand, shells and the feel that summer is just around the corner. Each table was also draped with a green plastic table cloth that gave each the feel of an island peacefully adrift in the ocean. The entire setting offered a sense of relaxation and an overall calmness for students and took away the rushed feeling of work.
Also available were several baked goods, candies and other foods that were free to students.
“It’s really fun and cute,” freshman biology major Muse Massaley said. “There are a lot of fun things to do here.”
A few of the activities at the event included art projects, trivia and a raffle that included beach chair for its prize. This kept with the theme of the event vacation.
“This is a great way to relieve some of the stress that comes with finals week,” Massaley said. “It really reminds you of the summer.”
“It gives you something to look forward to and the music is really relaxing,” Massaley said
The event’s soundtrack of coarse kept up with the event’s relaxing beach theme by playing music that included Bob Marley songs, surf music and island songs.
The prize for the trivia questions included a pair of flip-flops that could be decorated by the winner (still in theme with the event.)
The students who attended were happy to take a break from studying for finals and enjoy the atmosphere and the fun that the end of semester event offered.
The theme of the event is what separates it from the previous years.
“We have three events like this every year,” DeJesus said. “We have one at the beginning of the semester to welcome students. A midpoint event for students, and this one at the end.”
DeJesus and Dawn Oliver are also responsible for coming up with the idea for this year’s beach theme.
“We got the idea as soon as we walked into the party store,” DeJesus said.
