By Francesca Pieter 

The Fanfare of Going Back to GCC

The first month of the fall 2021 semester came and went very quickly. Opening weekend at SUNY Genesee Community College (GCC) was filled with fun activities around campus like orientation day. This is where students learn more about the college and meet faculty and staff. There were fun trivia games where students could win prizes, a dance-off between GCC’s mascots, Cougars named Genni and G-Dub, as well as personalized tours of the school for our different academic programs.

Fun fall events

The start of the semester also included programs hosted by the resident assistants at College Village (GCC’s on-campus student housing) and the Student Engagement and Inclusion office (SEI). SEI events included Giant Glow Volleyball, Paint Night, Popcorn Night, Lunch in the Cafeteria and Games, and a Silent Blacklight Dance Party. I myself hosted the paint night and the turnout was so much better than I expected! It was a fun night of painting, making conversations with the new residents and building friendships. Hosting these different events has been so much fun and the interactions and bonds formed during these events were very nice to see.

The return to campus

After staying at College Village all summer with only a small number of students on campus, it was refreshing to see all the new faces! Of course, everybody did their part with social distancing and making sure to wear masks. It is nice to see students settling in, making friendships, going to different events on campus, and studying around campus. 

Rehearsing for the fall show

It has been a fun semester of meeting new students and creating a bond with them as their RA. I auditioned for the fall show that GCC’s Forum Players will perform — Edgar Allen Poe Afterlife Radio Show — and got the part of “Mysterious Woman.” Rehearsals have been great so far, and I am so happy and proud of the cast and crew for doing such amazing work and making the show come alive in three weeks’ time. Stay tuned for more on that in my next blog! 

Francesca Pieter, from the Caribbean island of Curaçao, is studying Theatre Arts at Genesee Community College.