With midterm season right around the corner, students oftentimes find themselves stressed to no end with exams and projects. Students often put self-care on the back burner until midterms are over. But it’s important to care for yourself while doing some last-minute cramming.
In Ober Residence Hall, an all-girls floor, two junior co-RAs, Michelle Darr McGarrett, who is double majoring in legal studies and criminal justice, and Liliana Zimmerman, who is majoring in social work, put together Sip and Self-Care for their residents.
The creation of Sip and Self-Care was a joint effort between RAs.
“Liliana was the one who found the idea. She is a very big fan of dirty sodas. I’d never even heard of it before, but I did know how to make a DIY lip scrub,” McGarrett said.
And, between both ideas, was the birth of Sip and Self-Care.
Held in the Jay Lounge, Sip and Self-Care had a very low-key vibe about it. From the low lighting to the lighthearted conversation flowing between peers, stepping into the event brought about a sense of connectedness that was easy to revel in. Residents from the floor were encouraged to come starting at 6 p.m. and enjoy each other’s company with dirty sodas and DIY lip scrubs.
“We decided on it because food is the way to people’s hearts, so we know it’s a way to get people connected,” McGarrett said., “Wwhich is the main point of this event: connectedness and wellness.”
Although Sip and Self-Care was more of a floor event, a few friends of residents were in attendance. Some made dirty sodas and lip scrubs, while others joined in on conversations that all ended with loud bursts of laughter.
Hector Franka, a senior in computer science with a concentration and a friend of Michelle, decided that with a few things on his plate, attending Sip and Self-Care would be a good way to hang out with friends and just unwind.
Franka said, “I definitely feel involved, especially hearing that she [Michelle] made the event. So, it feels like everyone’s a community here,.” Franka said.
Throughout the night, Hector felt a sense of community through being around his friends and sharing a few good laughs.
Alexis, majoring in bio pre-med, and Shyla, majoring in business administration, attended together as a reprieve from the stress of exams and being on a screen for an extended amount of time.
Both had agreed on the statement, “It’s just nice seeing everyone come and just have a talk. It’s really nice.”
The inspiration behind Sip and Self-Care, aside from creating a sense of community between residents in Ober Hall, came from an RA that Zimmerman had during her freshman year who did frequent floor events for their residents.
Zimmerman said, “I was really busy, so I’ve actually
never been to a floor event before, and I kind of wish I had been able to be more involved in that during my freshman year.”
From that wish, McGarrett and Zimmerman created an event that was simply a joy to attend. Seeing people interact so casually during a stressful season of college brought a sense of community that could not only be felt but seen around the lounge.
From the Sip and Self-care event, both McGarrett and Zimmerman hope that residents and students in attendance take away a few important things.
“I do hope they take away their sodas and their lip scrubs,” McGarrett said., “Bbut I also hope that they’re leaving with at least one new person, or maybe even have met a new friend.”
Zimmerman agreed and added, “I hope that they take away that Michelle and I are always available to talk, and that they have people around to support them.”
Student-led events are such a joy to attend.; Tthere’s something magical about being part of an event that was put together by a peer, rather than an institution. So, to whoever may be reading, definitely attend a student-led event at Etown. You never know who you might meet there, and the community you’ll build for yourself.
