by Anna Hovey
The office of Transfer and Off-Campus Student Life (TOCSL) hosted their “Vibe and Flow” event on Dec. 5th. Held in Stamp’s grand ballroom lounge, the event featured a variety of arts and crafts with soothing background music to set the mood.
“Vibe and Flow” was designed to allow students to relax and unwind before the start of finals. Those in attendance could create “sensory jars” by mixing sparkles, water and clear liquid glue in mason jars, make their own bath bombs, finger paint, color, decorate their graduation caps or make collages. The event also offered mindful journaling, complete with prompts such as “What is truly worth focusing on today and what is not?” and “What are you struggling with right now?”
TOCSL graduate assistant Stephanie George was a transfer student as well as a commuter during her time in undergrad. As a result, she said she can understand the challenges faced by these groups of students.
“The inspiration for this event was to give students a place to simply exist. So often, students are expected to come to events and provide their information,” said George, who’s pursuing a master’s in geospatial intelligence. “But this is just for students to relax before finals and find a place to exist and be mindful within themselves.”
Junior microbiology major Reagan White is a transfer student who came to UMD after receiving her associate’s degree from the College of Southern Maryland. She’s currently in her first semester at the university and found out about the event through a professor of hers.
“The transition’s been okay, it’s just a lot, especially right now,” White said.
White said that dorms and dining halls are some of the best places to meet people for new students, but she herself lives in an off-campus apartment.
“It definitely is nice to stick around campus and get to know people,” she said.
Freddy Lane is a sophomore in letters and sciences looking to switch into general biology. He said he came to the event to get points for a class, but also for the fun of it.
“I definitely don’t still have to be here, so I’m having a good time,” Lane said.
Sophomore Arsema Negash is an engagement and learning assistant for TOCSL. She chose to work the event because she thought it seemed like a particularly fun one, especially because of the opportunity to do arts and crafts.
“Everybody needs to relax because finals [are] next week. I don’t think anybody’s come to terms with it. I haven’t,” Negash joked.
Negash is a hearing and speech sciences major and currently commutes to school.
“I know plenty about living at home and the struggles,” she said.
Tobi Odebo is a junior transfer student studying computer science. He said he picked the event to fulfill a class requirement, to see his friends and to relax before exams.
“I knew my classmates were going to be here, so I had to see them,” Odebo said. “It’s always fun, you know, getting to de-stress before finals. I made some artsy stuff.”