By: Jenin Hattab
On Wednesday, March 20, 20 eager students and staff sat in the Faculty Dining Area de-stressing after midterm weeks, ready to paint and sip on Mocktails. The Paint N’ Sip event celebrating Women's History Month hosted by the Student Government Association (SGA) “was a blast” said second-year, Josie. Everyone participating was given, a medium-sized canvas, paint, paintbrush, water, paper towels, mocktails, and a wonderful evening.
As we sat facing the projector about to begin, the intentions were made clear, this event is a fun relaxing time, painting, and building community. With our materials, we followed Wendy Anderson’s pre-recorded step-by-step video of painting a Shroomin' Monarch butterfly.
In the back of the room was margarita drink mix, piña colada drink mix, and strawberry daiquiri drink mix any choose to combine with La Croix or water. Also, fruit snacks and rice crispy treats fill our sweet tooth cravings.
Director of Student Activities Katie Ordinario, facilitated the event and paused the video for students to catch up. During the pause, there was light chatter and laughter. Towards the end of the video, as it picked up, everyone was silent and concentrated.
The purpose of this event is to “empower yourself to try something new, even if you're not excellent at it, but take a chance. It's a chance to show off your creative side while relaxing and building connections with your peers” Marisa Yee, Student Activities Clerical, expressed.
Heather, a second-semester student discovered the Paint N Sip event through the Wright Times Instagram. Heather informed her two friends, Josie and Sadie, both second years. They had high hopes of a great event and stood correctly, ‘it was a carefree creativity' Heather said.
Josie's outcome art piece. Photo Credits: Jenin Hattab
Oyinkansola, a second-semester student saw the Paint N Sip event in the weekly newsletter, Wright Now, informing all students of upcoming events, for various clubs. “I like to paint, but [I'm] not the best’ Oyinkansola said as was ready to dive into the relaxing event.
Nicole found posters hanging around campus for the Paint N Sip event. This was the first event that she attended, as a second-semester student. The event lasted from 5-7 pm. As much as everyone needed this calming event, life continued, Nicole studied for a Biology quiz quietly with her classmates beside her.
Towards the end of the event, Heather positively reports, "[it was a] fun event to go to with friends. [A] relaxing outlet for midterms, [I] would 100% come to another event."
Stay up to date with clubs and other SGA events, by the Wright Now newsletter emailed to all students every Monday, or keep an eye out for posters around campus.