On Friday, March 1st, Alcorn State University’s (ASU) Office of Career Services took 30 Sophomores to the Twin Lake Cabins in Jackson, Mississippi for a weekend getaway.
The purpose of the getaway was for the Sophomore class to unwind before mid-terms all while bonding and learning more about themselves. The Twin Lake Cabins offered outdoor recreational spaces where the students were able to engage in physical activity and team bonding, and there were also break out sections that challenged them to dig deeper to find out more about themselves.
Upon arriving at the cabins, the students were tasked with group bonding exercises. They had to learn how to work together to successfully pass objects back and forth following a continuous pattern without speaking. They also engaged in a number counting game that forced them to clap and be silent on specific numbers. These tasks taught the students two very important lessons about life. Those lessons being that it is very important to listen and pay attention to the little details in life and that sometimes in order to get to where you need to be, you have to have a supportive team.
On Saturday, March 2nd, the students were able to listen to a variety of motivational speakers including D’Andre Lacey. He shared parts of his story on how he overcame depression and became the person that he is today. Lacey stated, “College is stressful and an individual’s mental health may be tested throughout their experience, so it is important that each individual finds a proper way to cope with it.” Different ways including journaling and counseling were discussed in case any student felt as if they did not know where to look for guidance.
Afterwards, the group was able to ask questions to a panel of individuals from the company Cargill. Students were able to network with them in hopes of landing a Summer internship. The students were also able to create their class schedules for the upcoming Fall semester with their academic advisor.
The entire Saturday was spent learning more about themselves and preparing for their future. In their downtime, they enjoyed canoeing, bond fires, fishing, playing basketball, and completing an obstacle course. At the end of the trip the students were all required to write a letter to their future selves in which they will receive in exactly one year from March 2, 2024.