11 Reasons Why Peer Leadership Was The Best Time of My Life
I was able to go to places that I have never been to before. It also gave me a new perspective on the peer leaders because I never knew more about them until that program brought us all together.
When I was a senior at high school, I did peer leadership as an extracurricular activity. It was very fun because I was able to do things that I have never done before.
1. Meet different people
Peer leadership had a summer project where the peer leaders and I have to hang out with each other. The minimum is 12 peer leaders. I had a fun time with them. I was able to go to places that I have never been to before. It also gave me a new perspective on the peer leaders because I never knew more about them until that program brought us all together.
2. Golfing
One peer leader took me out to golfing with his girlfriend at Monster Mini Golf. It was my first time there and my first time playing golf. Golf was very fun! I do not mind coming back here to golf again. I even won in the first try!
3. Pool party
One peer leader invited all peer leaders including myself to her house. The first time was very fun because there was a pool party. It was fun splashing people and spraying the hose on the male peer leaders! I also had fun throwing the ball on the male peer leaders as well.
Another peer leader invited all peer leaders to his house before graduation. We had another pool party. This time, I kept splashing one peer leader. As payback, he carried me and made me jump in the pool with him! It was very fun! I never had a guy do that to me before, but it was a risky move! Despite the risk, it was still a very good experience.
4. Camp with friends
During the fall and winter, the peer leaders and I had to go to Camp Bernie. It was very fun! We stayed overnight and did a lot of physical activities. For example, I never held on to a rope before. I had to swing myself to safety. During the winter retreat, it was very icy. We were slipping as we walked. We even have to hold each other's hands as we walk together. One funny incident was when one of the peer leaders played tagged with me. I was going to throw my glove at him, but I slipped and fell on the ice. Even though it hurts, it was still a very good experience. Then, we have our own talent show and that was very fun as well! I never danced in a whole performance before.
5. Teach freshmen
Our main job in peer leadership is to teach life skills to the freshmen so that they will become better people throughout their lives. We had a very fun time with the freshmen. We did a lot of activities with each other and that was an unforgettable experience. Hopefully, the freshmen will always remember us!
6. Play with students with special needs
Not only do we give fun to the freshmen, but we also give fun to students with special needs. There were some days when we will play activities with them. As we played the activities, they were enjoying it! They really like to spend time with us. They even brightened us with their effort and vibrant personalities. The teachers who taught the students with special needs observed us and they enjoyed the fun that they saw. They were also grateful to us for giving their students an experience that they will never forget.
7. Funny conversations
I learned new ways of communication. These new ways make me sassy and funny. One example is when a peer leader told us that "Black Panther" was a very good movie to watch. I replied by asking him, "Is it better than 'Pink Panther?'" He looked at me and replied, "Of course it's better than 'Pink Panther,' Amber!" The peer leaders laughed after he said that.
8. Bowling
There was a time when we went to Bowlero during the winter storm. As I was bowling, the ball slowly hit the bowling pins. The peer leaders were like OMG and said, "Amber, you got to make the bowling ball go quicker!" Just as it was about to hit the pins, they said, "Wait for a minute." Then, BAM! It turned out to be a strike. The peer leaders reacted, "Good job, Amber!" Later on, some of the peer leaders pressured other peer leaders to make their bowling balls go faster, but their bowling balls went into the gutter. They reacted, "Look what you did! You made me go to the gutter!" Other reactions were screaming and punching the sofa. We all laughed when we saw the reactions. I really had a fun time there.
9. End of the year party outside of high school
Our teachers that led the program held an end of the year party for us at Camillos before graduation. The food was good and the conversations were great! We took pictures with each other and gave each other a hug. We also gave a hug to our teachers as well. They were both awesome! Those were the good times!
10. Time management
Usually, I put academics first before extracurricular activities. However, senior year was when I really tried to manage time for both. I quickly did all of my assignments, so that I can hang out with the peer leaders. I was able to make time for them and still do well with my classes. Sometimes, people need a break from academics.
11. Say my full name
I told my peer leaders about how I got my name from my parents. My full name is Amber Nian Chai. Next thing after that, everyone started to say, "Amber Nian Chai!" I never felt so touched. No one has ever said my name like that before.
I thank all the peer leaders and teachers for giving me the best time of my life. Senior year will not be the same without you all.
11 Things To Do On Those Easygoing Fall Weekends We All Love
Let's be real, sitting in your dorm room or going out and partying all the time gets pretty old.
When boredom hits, it hits hard. I know I'm not the only one who dreads just sitting in my dorm room with my friends, and sometimes we need a change of scenery from our usual hang-out spots. I compiled the perfect list of fall dates for you and your friends or significant others.
Go Apple or Pumpkin Picking
It's one of my favorite things to do. The experience of the crisp fall air and the beauty of the apple orchards or pumpkin patches is unlike any other.
Plus, you can usually do this for a relatively cheap price. Bonus points if you go to a local farm. Support your small businesses!
Have a Fall Photoshoot
Another one of my favorite things about fall is the fashion. I'm a sucker for sweaters, leggings and my favorite Doc Martens. Your iPhone works great, or a polaroid camera goes perfectly with the season!
Drive to your local pumpkin patch, farm or just walk around your area. There are so many cool places to take pictures.
Pumpkin Painting
This is a great solution if you live in a dorm or apartment building and don't want or can't have an actual rotting, live pumpkin out for the entire month of October. Jack-o-lanterns are fun, but you can always buy the Styrofoam ones from Michael's and paint them. Have a contest with your friends or turn on your favorite Halloween-themed movie and go nuts.
Scary Movie Drive-In
This can still work if you don't have a drive-in theater near you. I was lucky enough to grow up 30 minutes away from an actual drive-in, where I could go hang out with my friends. But there's nothing wrong with building a fort in your living room or just hanging out in bed under the covers. The important thing here is the scary movies.
Go Out for Brunch or Bagels
If "Sex and the City" has taught us anything, it's that you can never go wrong with brunch with your friends. Bypass the mimosas and go for apple cider. Or if you're over 21, drink as many mimosas as you please.
Either way, I know I love bacon, egg and cheese bagels. And I will never say no to lazy Sundays with bagels and my friends.
Bowling
I always forget how much fun this is until I'm invited to do it for a group-bonding activity. Cosmic bowling takes me back to my middle school days, but I still find singing to classics with my friends and laughing at my subpar bowling skills fun. Don't @ me.
Bake Halloween Cookies
My grandma makes those Pillsbury sugar cookies with the cartoons on them for every single season. As the years go by and they add more graphics, she still doesn't get tired of buying them and baking them for us and the kids she teaches at her Sunday school classes.
Do it for grandma. Bake the cookies.
Go Thrift Shopping
This can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be. I have a fear of trying things on in thrift stores, but I love buying XXL shirts from the adult-men section and making them into crop tops — then washing them three times before I consider them wearable.
It's fashion. Or laziness. Either way, now I have an outfit to go pumpkin picking in or to wear at my fall photoshoot.
Paint and Sip
I, like many of my friends, am underage. My mom has gone to those wine-and-paint parties, and they look super fun. I'm deciding to take it up a notch and do a cider-and-paint party.
Most towns have these studios, or you can invite your friends over and throw one yourself. They're super fun, and you get art to take home afterward!
Go on a Coffee Tour
Or a hot chocolate tour. I'm a big coffeehouse person, and I'm always looking for an excuse to drink as much coffee as I can in a 24-hour period. It keeps you inside, and the aesthetic of coffee houses is very pleasing.
Decorate Your Dorm or Home
You don't have to spend money on this! You can draw some pumpkins on computer paper, cut them out and tape them up. Or you can be extra like my roommates, buy a light box and put "It's freakin bats… I love Halloween" on it. You can buy skeleton decorations for your TV. It's up to you.