The fall semester has been a rollercoaster of excitement, challenges and unforgettable moments. Students experienced the full spectrum of college life. From events that brought everyone together like the football games to the hard work that pushed us to our limits, this semester reminded us of what it means to be part of this community. The Warhawks did not have a shortage of neat things to do this semester.

One of the semester’s most popular events was Hawktober Fest, a lively twist on the German tradition, Oktoberfest. The event brought students together for an afternoon filled with music, games and beverages. This event provided an opportunity for students to unwind and enjoy the beginning of the fall season. Although the music was a little too loud, I enjoyed the time I spent with my friends and the different mocktails they had.

Students enjoyed a week’s worth of events during our annual Homecoming Week. The parade gathered crowds of people to shout and cheer for the student organizations that joined the march. The Homecoming Formal stood out as a night to remember. Students gathered for an evening of dancing and celebration. 

Of course, who could forget our memorable game against Southern Miss which ended in a Warhawk victory.

The semester also focused on the important topic of mental health. During Mental Health Week, students took advantage of resources designed to support their well-being. 

The week featured free Ficus plants and provided information about mental health services. Your mental health is the most important thing to watch and take care of while attending university.

One thing I always told my students as a peer leader was to always seek out help if you are feeling overwhelmed. I cannot stress how important it is for the university to offer mental help to students. 

There are many resources available for students, and mental health week is a wonderful opportunity to take advantage of some of these options. If you do not know where to look for these resources, you can always browse through ULM’s website.  

In the area of career development, the Law School Fair offered an invaluable opportunity to meet different law school admission teams to ask questions. 

Students traveled to Baton Rouge, where we explored over 80 law schools and gathered information about potential career paths as lawyers. Many of us in the program are still unsure on what field of law we want to practice in, but this event helped a lot of us make up our minds. 

On the list of events that were unexpectedly fun, this must be at the top. I got closer with a lot of the people in the same program as me. 

Plus, I found out a lot about which law schools interest me after I get my degree. I will say my throat got sore after talking to so many recruiters.

The Honors Program hosted several unique events, including the return of Joe with Josh. Students could come and grab a donut or cup of coffee while chatting with honors director Joshua Stockley. 

These types of events help foster a sense of academic community, and they support ULM’s goal of promoting academic excellence. Many of the upperclassmen in the Honors Program, such as myself, loved going to this event because Stockley is an interesting and fun professor to chat with. It helps that he clearly cares about all his students. 

More recently was the Presidential Election Watch Party, in which students gathered to watch the election unfold in real time. The event was bipartisan so everyone had a chance to enjoy it, no matter what political party they aligned with.

The event had snacks and included a raffle where fun prizes were awarded such as George Washington socks or a gift card to Sonic. 

Local news outlets were also there conducting interviews with some of the political science professors, and our very own student body president Jayden Maloney covered the story. Despite the rain, many students showed up, making it a surprising success.

Looking back on the semester, ULM provided plenty of experiences from fun-filled events to opportunities for personal and academic growth. Yet, the semester also served as a reminder to prioritize mental health and stay connected with available resources. 

With the new year ahead, students should take steps to resolve their burnout and look forward to a new semester full of fun.