The event at Garner Hall was the candy apple event. This event was designed for the freshmen women who were in 7th grade when COVID-19 caused a disruption to life in the world. These women lost many normal social activities growing up, and the teenage years were full of isolation and blind uncertainty. Therefore, the RDs and RAs from Garner Hall thought they would invite the women to this event to get them together and to feel the community spirit of the building.

The tables were set up with a variety of toppings including Nutella, rainbow sprinkles, crushed nuts, and mini marshmallows to make plain apples into colorful sticky creations. The RAs and the RD were greeting each resident with a smile, either a bright red or green apple, and telling them to have fun letting their imagination go on the toppings, and create a candy apple just for themselves.

“I really like doing these events for the residents because it gets them out of their room for the night and helps them engage with others in the building. Like I enjoy seeing the volleyball girls talking to the soccer girls or even people not involved in a sport talking to athletes because it shows girls getting out of their comfort zone. Events like these also help with their mental health,” Madison Whiting Wagner, resident assistant, said.

For most freshmen, mixing around in social situations was not so easy. The online classes and social distancing had turned spontaneous chats and group dynamics into a thing of the past. The candy apple making session was a sure icebreaker—hands occupied in making and decorating, laughs erupting as they showed their works and told stories of their favorite tastes.

Abigail Mendoza is a freshman from Texas.

“I really only go when my roommate or somebody I know is going. But events like this still manage to get me out of my shell and I try to make new friends every time I go to one,” Mendoza said.

The Resident Directors went beyond candy apples. The activity also provided coloring which was done by many people who were either too full from the Caf or just did not like candy apples very much. The evening’s highlight was when some women were discussing and arguing about toppers and how some of them had the same preference so they decided to stay and color and chat more about what they shared. When the activity started to wind down, the candy apples may have been eaten but the friendships formed were just starting to be noticed.

The RDs and RAs had done their jobs—not only in mixing up freshmen but also in making them understand that they weren’t alone. Garner Hall was no longer a dormitory; it was home, family, a place where friendships could start and grow. That night as the girls returned to their rooms, quite a number of them experienced a feeling of acceptance which they had not had for a long time. The candy apple activity was not just a night of delicious treats—it was a party of new beginnings, tenacity, and the strength that comes from being together.