On September 15 at Quincy University, the Student Living Center turned into a magical haven of innovation, friendship, and calmness. Students flocked to a bizarre event that was supposed to be a peaceful escape from academic tensions – smoothie-making and coloring. The event that came under Residence Life programming, pulled in students from all over the campus who were eager to unwind, meet new people, and eat some healthy food. The tables were teeming with a selection of fruits; strawberries that were brightly colored, blueberries that were extremely juicy, and bananas that were perfectly ripe. Apart from the smoothie station, there was a second location with coloring books, markers, and a large variety of colored pencils, and students were motivated to discover the artist in them.

“We wanted students to have a place where they could relax, enjoy themselves, and do something beneficial for their health,” resident assistant Luisa Andrade said, who was instrumental in coordinating the event.

The smoothie bar was a tremendous hit with students jostling to make their personalized smoothie blends. While some of the students were very cautious and went for the most popular flavors like strawberry-banana, others gave themselves total freedom and made vibrant, antioxidant-rich drinks by mixing all three fruits. The volunteers were blending and the students were choosing their mixtures and watching their ingredients turn into cool drinks.

At the coloring tables, students were engrossed in coloring complex mandala patterns, calm nature scenes, and even a few goofy college cartoons with soft music playing. They could have been working alone with their headphones on or as a group laughing and sharing materials, applauding and encouraging each other.

“It really refreshes your mind. I haven’t colored in years, but now I’m recalling just how much fun it brings,” resident assistant Alyssa Amaral said.

New students were also allowed the opportunity to meet other students in a laid-back atmosphere. It was for most freshmen who were still trying to settle on campus a nice change from socializing in class.

By the time of departure, the tables were covered with pieces of art, used smoothie cups, and smiles. Students stayed the longest, not wanting to leave the relaxed and friendly environment. The organizers are planning to have more events just like this throughout the semester, including various art and wellness-related programs, to overall achieve the goal of creating a stronger residence hall community.

The SLC’s coloring and smoothie night was evidence that even in Quincy University, the most basic activity can have a profound and lasting effect on student life – sip by sip and brushstroke by brushstroke.