Growing Up to Grown Up: Reflecting and Relaxing
Relaxing and reflecting on the growth as a UBC student
When was the last time you had the chance to reflect on your goals and aspirations over the years? Or thought about the growth and changes you’ve experienced?
On April 3, the Community Programs and Outreach student team hosted Growing Up to Grown Up, a free drop-in event at Ponderosa Commons and University Boulevard where students were invited to reflect on those changes by answering the prompt “When I was little, I wanted to be…Today I want to be….”
Responses ranged from childhood dreams of wanting to be candy canes to songwriters to bookmark engineers, showcasing the expansive spectrum of childhood imagination and wonder! Students’ hopes for today consisted of wishing for happiness, good health, days in the sun and wanting to be someone they are proud of being.
The responses to the prompt will be displayed as a community-generated light installation in Lee Square starting Monday, April 10, to the end of April. Be sure to stop by to read and interact with the responses from the UBC community, and it may spark inspiration to engage in reflection of your own!
Music + Snacks + More Made for a Great Place to Relax and Reflect
Ponderosa was transformed into a vibrant space through live music performances, a guided planting workshop, and free snacks to create a space where students could unwind and destress during the busy time of the year at the end of the semester.
Throughout the event, the talented multidisciplinary student artist Aleeza Yusuf continuously added to her chalk mural adding new bright colours and images of childhood nostalgia. Aleeza engaged attendees in admiring the art and taking part in the creation by drawing alongside her and tapping into their creativity.
As the sun continued to shine throughout the day, so did our student musicians! Trio Baylie Adams, Callum Rudyk and Albert K. and UBC Music Initiative Executives Arjun Barua, Kavya, Misheel Enkhbayar, Saanvi Jassal, Thanh Lieu, Bridget Chu, and Lucia Monchi played a variety of pieces from originals to covers. Everyone passing by could not help but stop to sway to the music under the newly blossoming cherry blossoms!
And to really tie into the idea of growth, a basil-planting workshop took place on the lawn, led by C+CP staff member Aldona Czajewska, who enthusiastically guided students through the ins and outs of gardening and instilled confidence in everyone’s gardening abilities and providing them with their own plant to take home. The Food Hub Market volunteers matched Aldona’s incredible enthusiasm through providing smiles with every snack they handed out, from fresh produce to (the UBC fan favourite) two-bite brownies!
We are thankful for everyone who participated in our event activities, who stopped by to admire the live music and art, and to all the campus groups who partnered with us on the event! It would not have been a success without you all!
– Megan Atwater, Community Event Programmer