Do Panthers Hibernate, Or Is That Just Bears?

What events have taken place at the agency you have volunteered and how have you assisted this month?

To kick off the month, we hosted an event for World AIDS Day on the first to promote awareness of the dangers of AIDS. At the tail end of November, we also hosted a Juno movie night to inform our peers of life as a pregnant youngster. Complementary Sunny D and Twizzlers were provided.

As we end the semester what have been your best experiences and toughest experiences with your partnership agency?

Among the best experiences were our opportunities to actively communicate with the Drury community about the goals of Planned Parenthood. We were met with difficulty when our resources were tampered with, but nonetheless, it has been a positive experience to grow with my fellow Summit members in our efforts to promote sexual health on campus.

How do you see your group project evolving into the Spring Semester now that you have one semester under your belt?

In our first semester of working with Planned Parenthood, our main goal was to promote Drury awareness of the organization. I feel that we have now planted the seed in the minds of Drury's students, leaving the next semester open to promoting the services Planned Parenthood offers. Next semester, we would like to provide more useful and interactive information to the student body while continuing to break down the stigma of Planned Parenthood.

What skills have you gained or improved this semester that came directly out of being part of the Summit Leadership Experience?

I feel as though I have improved in working as a member of a team and adapting to the needs of others.

As we end the Wellness Program and Stress Free Now Component, what have been the highlights (low and high) of this program and what would you suggest for the future if this is continued?

I recognize the concern shown for our well-being. However, I already have a firm grasp on stress relief. I am a realist, and tend to put things in perspective, thus cutting stress off at the pass. I also found the yoga, tai chi, and acupuncture classes to be almost frightening in their methods. If anything, they only lessened my view of Eastern medicine. On top of that, I feel the time could have been put to more constructive use.

What are you looking forward to over the winter break?

I look forward to taking part in activities cherished as a child, spending time with family and close friends, and celebrating the Christmas season in true South Dakotan style.