Attending Honors Program Events (3pts): A Very Giithi Holiday Party- Kristian Caldwell

    I had an marvy time at the Very Githii Holiday Honors party. From the moment I arrived, the environment felt celebratory and welcoming. I began the afternoon by enjoying the food selections, and I found the spinach dip to be the best thing on the menu. The sliders with the caramelized onions were delicious as well, and the strawberry drink complemented the meal perfectly. 

    I spent most of my time in the ornament and tote bag decorating room. While working on my ornament, I realized that art may not be my strongest talent. However, I still enjoyed being creative and engaging in conversation with my fellow Honors sisters.

    Throughout my time in the room, I also connected with several of my sisters as we discussed finals, classes, and campus life. Recently, I began doing hair to earn additional income, and I had done Jonai’s hair the day before the event. She shared her experience with everyone which led to overwhelming support and genuine interest from my peers. Their encouragement reminded me of how strong our Spelman sisterhood is and how meaningful networking has been during my time here. Although, I already knew many Honors students, I was able to form new and stronger connections with others in the program specifically upperclassmen. 

    A major highlight of the night was receiving recognition for my ongoing volunteer service at St. Paul AME Church, where I assist with Saturday School each week. Being acknowledged for that commitment truly meant a lot to me and my sisters who were also volunteers. I selected a grey quarter zip as my prize, choosing it over the other available options which were a gift bag, an orange honors hoodie, and a journal, because it aligned most with my personal style. 

    After receiving my prize, my friend Baliee and I visited the photo booth and captures several photos using the Naughty or Nice props. We then participated in cookie decorating, and our cookies turned out significantly better than our ornaments we attempted later. I decorated my cookie as Santa Claus, and it came out surprisingly well, especially compared to my ornament.

    Toward the end of the event, I spent time taking with my Spelman sisters about their goals and what they were looking forward to most next semester. The entire experience allowed me to reflect on the value of community, support, and intellectual growth within the honors Program.