As mentioned in my last article, it's finals season. But, with finals season at my campus comes an awesome event that really shows how the campus community comes together: I.S. Symposium Day.
For reference: Most colleges have a capstone project. For my college, The College of Wooster, it's Independent Study, colloquially known as "I.S". Seniors devote their entire year to it; in order to graduate, it has to be finished. Still, thankfully, seniors get a break after the turn-in day (known as "I.S. Monday") and their oral defenses for their project. Then, for the rest of the campus, which comes together to celebrate that the seniors are finally free from the shackles of their capstone, all we do is wait for the day we all wait for, the entire year 'round: The Symposium!
Kind of like a second Homecoming Day, Symposium is a day-long event with catering, presentations and students sharing their long-researched projects. Students get the day off. (We don't get days off at Wooster often, so we're all thrilled about this, as expected.) But, unlike with other schools, where many students would just skip out on most of the day and play video games or marathon FRIENDS on Netflix, the entire campus community, in earnest, goes out to support their peers. Not that students don't sleep in--I'll admit, I woke up to see the tail end of the morning presentations as the beginning of my day. Still, considering that a lot of students would use that day to sleep in past noon, it's the thought that counts!
For Wooster students, it's kind of like Academic Christmas. Not only do underclassmen get ideas for their I.S., but they also get to support their many senior friends and learn a lot, too! Overall, the day is magical. A kind of festive mood fills the campus. Alumni and families return for the first time in years. Locals from Wooster walk around and chat with others. I even ran into one of my teachers from High School, who happens to be a Wooster alum! All in all, it's a wonderful day.
The best part, besides the day-long presentations and day off? Free food. Free, catered food. To a college student, there are no words more holy than those, save for "Final cancelled" and "paper extension".
Still, freebies and fun aside, it really is a lovely thing that we have here at Woo. I know other colleges have their own traditions, and each makes their school unique and great. Plus, it gives students something to look forward to.
Considering that this part of the year usually brings nothing but dread, I adore campus traditions like these. We need days like this. And, knowing college students in general, I'm willing to bet that you do, too.
So, go out there. Enjoy the wonderful things that your college or university has to offer. Trust me. You won't regret it!
