Spring Block Party Fosters Community and Stress Relief Before Finals
By Piper Bo, Photos by Myles Braxton & Lily Attias-Inzano
Content
The end of the school year also marks the beginning of a great period of stress for students, with the looming arrival of Finals Week only growing closer and closer each day. Commonwealth Honors College Residential Community has once again sought to alleviate some of this tension by hosting its second annual Spring Block Party on a beautiful Saturday afternoon just before the university rolls into its last week of classes.
With a food truck, ice cream, creative activities, and music performances throughout the day, the event created a perfect opportunity for students to unwind, connect with others, and not lock themselves away to study until the storm of final exams and projects finally passed on by.
Held on the CHCRC Concourse, the event allowed students to fully enjoy the fresh air and warm sun— things that can be quite easy to overlook amidst days spent cooped up in libraries, laboratories, and late-night study sessions. Hosting the block party somewhere so accessible made it easy for any CHCRC resident to swing on down and receive a much-needed break.
“We had our windows open and we heard the music, and we were, like, Oh my god! It must be the block party!” said Raegan, a sophomore microbiology major.
“So we came down, and we saw the band, and saw that there’s a bunch of other stuff, and we went— oh! This is awesome!” they added.
A sentiment shared by many students was that the block party seemed to create a strong sense of community for those that attended.
Audrey, a first-year environmental science major, thought much the same. “It’s bringing a bunch of people together,” she said. “I keep seeing all these different little friend groups mingling.”
People also felt the event was well-timed, with how it had been placed just before finals— like Ellie, a first-year management major. She expressed how it was good to have it close to finals without being too close, and emphasized,
“Everyone seems really upbeat and happy!”
Around 700 people were said to have attended the block party over the 4 hours it was held, making a lively, exciting atmosphere for anyone that stopped by. Though, of course, anyone wishing for a quieter environment was free to take part in the painting activities happening just inside the Honors Events Hall.
With great music, delicious food, and the community gathered together, the Block Party proved a great success in showing the importance of relaxation during a time when many students feel like they can’t afford to take it.
“I have so much homework, and getting a break is hard to do,” said Monica, a psychology major and Afro American studies minor. Lavinia, a hospitality and tourism management major, agreed, and added, “I think this event was perfect.”