By Jack Wynn
Students built and decorated spring-themed baskets on April 15 at the Adele H. Stamp Student Union as part of Student Entertainment Events’ (SEE) Spring Mania.
Participants selected a color theme for their basket before receiving their own mini-bouquet of five flowers along with ribbon, string and markers for decorating. The event, held in the Grand Ballroom, also offered free Maryland Dairy ice cream, and students could enjoy a creative evening.
As the semester progresses and finals approach, on-campus events that prioritize students’ mental health can be greatly beneficial. For many students, designing their basket was an opportunity to relax, recharge and take a break from academic stress.
“It’s okay to take a break,” said Daniela Cornejo, a sophomore Spanish major. “It’s okay to enjoy yourself a little bit, especially during this finals season that we’re about to get into. It’s gonna be really hectic, so [it’s good to take] the time, especially as the weather is getting better, to go outside, make some new friends and enjoy events like this.”
Tuesday’s event was popular and filled up quickly. As the lines of students stretched outside of the ballroom and reached down the hall to the main lobby, it was clear that students valued the chance to have such an engaging experience.
By the end of the first hour, the baskets ran out and the event reached its capacity. Those who were able to enter the ballroom were surrounded by dozens of peers looking to form connections.
“We got to talk to a bunch of people that we didn’t know yet,” said Abbigail Finch, a freshman public health science major. “It’s just a really fun experience, especially if you’re bringing friends along … we met a person here that we didn’t even know, and we just chatted.”
“Build-a-Basket” was the third event in SEE’s Spring Mania program, which hosts activities every Tuesday. The final event, Art Attack 41, will take place on May 2 at Xfinity Center.
Unlike other Spring Mania events, “Build-a-Basket” was created by SEE’s general body, giving its members a chance to organize their own event.
“This one was surprisingly a lot more [popular] than we expected,” said Isaac Plowman, a senior computer science major who came up with the idea for the event. “I suppose because the weather’s nicer, people are just in a better mood generally, so maybe they’re more willing to go and have a good time.”
Featured Image: Students at the Build-a-Basket event on April 15. Photo by Jack Wynn.