Now that finals week is long behind us and students can finally take a breath, it is worth looking back at the small moments that helped make a stressful time more manageable. One of those moments was the gingerbread student event organized by the Student Wellness Club, which brought creativity and connection to school just before finals began.
During lunch periods, students were invited to draw and design paper gingerbread figures representing themselves. Once printed, the gingerbreads were colored, personalized, and displayed together, creating a visual representation of the student body.
“I think this event is a great opportunity for kids to have fun, especially before finals start and they’re going to be all stressed,” said Lauren Obrien, senior. She added that the event allowed students to explore their creative freedom while keeping the atmosphere lighthearted. For many students, the timing made all the difference.
“It just pretty much brightened up everyone’s day,” said Will Rauschert, junior. “It was something fun and lighthearted in the middle of getting ready for finals.”
According to Student Wellness Club members Junior Amari Gibson and Senior Cailin Hopkins, the goal of the event was to uplift students’ spirits and strengthen a sense of community ahead of a demanding week.
“We know that everybody’s stressed during finals,” Gibson said. “So we believe that having something that shows the community together can help bring people together and make them a little bit stronger for finals.”
Hopkins explained the symbolism behind the initiative, noting that each gingerbread represented an individual student, while their placement, holding hands, highlighted unity across the school.
Now that finals are over, events like the gingerbread student initiative serve as a reminder of the role Student Wellness Club plays in supporting students beyond academics. By creating spaces for creativity and connection, the club continues to prioritize student well-being and a stronger school community.
