Drue Daley: Organizing in the Face of Finals
Every student knows that feeling. Regardless of where they are from or what they study, no one is immune from the universal experience of finals week. As the end of the semester was rapidly approaching and our finals were inching closer and closer, the Global Scholars Program Student Organization (GSPSO) knew that some well-earned de-stressing was in order. As Co-Chairs of GSPSO, Kayla and I knew that we wanted to hold one more event before exams began; but we did not want to create a large commitment no one could see through.
As a third-year leader in the community, I have learned that it is important for leaders to take care of themselves too. Organizing for social change and implementing large-scale projects can not be done without those involved checking in with themselves and practicing self-care. And so, in the spirit of finals week, we co-chairs and another student leader, Julia, set out to host an event where the members of our community could take a break and prioritize their well-being. Together, we decided upon a crafting-themed event, as we all had experienced the soothing effect of arts and crafts.Â
Coincidentally, Kayla and I also hold the role of Chai Chatter Ambassadors, assisting Nita Shah with her famous weekly event. With Nita unavailable so close to finals, we took the opportunity to combine our crafting event and the final Chai Chatter of the semester; and thus, the Crafting Chai Chatter was born. We ordered tote bags and canvas markers. Kayla supplied us with coloring books and colored pencils. Julia volunteered to serve as a henna artist for us. Kayla also had the genius idea of channeling our inner child through temporary tattoos, which turned out to be the biggest hit at our event. And, of course, it would not be a Chai Chatter without a table full of delicious snacks and tea. Although we provided some art activities, we encouraged attendees to bring their own if they had a work-in-progress or something to share. We were able to highlight the skills of the individuals involved while also bringing everyone together for a shared goal.
2023-2024 Chai Chatter Ambassadors and GSPSO Co-Chairs Drue Daley and Kayla Carpenter.
In the busiest time of the semester, we turned the Bowman Room into a place of calmness and community gathering for a few hours. Some students stayed the whole event and left covered in new ink while others simply popped in for a quick bite and a warm cup of study fuel, but everyone was given a moment of reprieve.
Even though I was an organizer of the event, I had impending finals as well. It was easy to plan and execute an event like this because we share the student identity with the rest of the community. Even when a student I had never met before entered the space, I knew we could bond over the experience of finals week stress. It was a space where everyone could come as they were and take what they needed from it, whether that be a plate of cookies, a beautiful henna design, or a conversation with a friend.
Through this experience, I have taken away the importance of community. Finding a place of belonging on a college campus is daunting and difficult, but GSP has always filled that slot for me. With each new cohort of students and different events executed, the legacy of GSP lives on, connecting new people at every turn and creating that sense of belonging we all seek. Furthermore, it is important to celebrate the community by highlighting the experiences and skills of the individuals. For example, if we had never hosted this event, I never would have learned that Julia was experienced in henna. I also learned more about my peers by witnessing which style of temporary tattoos they would choose. Though these pieces of knowledge may be tiny, they make this community closer and this university seem smaller. By creating more loosely structured events, you are inviting people to open up and share a piece of themselves with the community.
Another thing I have taken away from this experience is the importance of knowing your limits. We began planning this event about two weeks before the end of the semester, which placed us on a limited time frame. Knowing this, though, we were able to base our expectations and goals within an achievable scope. We knew we would be more capable of executing a Crafting Chai Chatter rather than something grander, such as a volunteering experience or group excursion. On this smaller scale, we knew that we would not burn ourselves out and would also maximize our attendance potential. Sometimes, bigger is not always better; and the power of the community will prevail.
Now, as finals are ending and the New Year is almost here, I am grateful for the organizing experiences I have and the people I have met in this community. I cannot wait for my final semester of leading, bonding over chai, and continuing the GSP legacy as one of your Co-Chairs.
From left to right: GSP members Maddy Reese, Julia Kassab, Kayla Carpenter, and GSP alum Erik Anderson.