By Eva LeBlanc
——
There are many different ways that people choose to spend the final week of October. October is the time of the year that invites us to embrace the comfort of Fall and the spookiness of Halloween. Many spend their time doing group activities with friends or family, finding tranquility with themselves, or enjoying Halloween’s Fall aesthetic and festivities. Whether you’re indulging in seasonal delights or enjoying the thrill of a scary movie marathon, October offers a pleasing blend of celebration and comfort that captivates the hearts of students.
Despite Halloween being on a Thursday this year, many students decided to spend time with friends and make the most of this holiday.
First-year Honors student Alexa Hernandez said, “On the day of Halloween, my friends and I planned to have a movie marathon while eating popcorn and candy. It was exciting spending my first Halloween at college with my friends.”
Another first-year, Olivia Higbee, chose to make a day full of fun with her friends. Olivia said, “I met up with my friends, and we drove and visited different schools.” They explored USC, UCSD, SDSU, and our very own CSULB. Olivia explained why she has always enjoyed Halloween and likes celebrating this holiday, saying, “I like going out on Halloween because everyone is always really hyped and excited, and I get to dress up and wear cute costumes with my friends!”
Students use Halloween parties to socialize with others and express their creativity or interests through costumes. For instance, first-year Honors student Mallen Mueller said, “My friends and I hung out together and went to a Halloween party. I dressed up as a character from One-Punch Man.” It is always interesting to see the dedication students put into their costumes at Halloween parties.
I grew up with a Halloween-loving family, so I have always enjoyed spending Halloween with loved ones. This year, I spent Halloween with my cousins, boyfriend, and family, passing out candy to the neighborhood and decorating our homemade maze. I have always loved dressing up in cute costumes for Halloween, and I was so excited to dress in a matching costume with my boyfriend. Halloween has always been a special time of the year for me.
However, October doesn’t only have to be about Halloween. October is also the time of the year when the cozy vibes of Fall occur. Fall is when the leaves begin to change colors, the weather gets colder, and nothing is better than being in a pleasant environment. When asked about his favorite thing about Fall, first-year Joshua Paras said, “I enjoy Fall because I find comfort in reading a good book in a quiet place.”
The UHP has also been preparing for the Halloween/Fall season by having exciting and fun activities. On Tuesday, UHPSA welcomed students to the Honors Center LIB 507 to enjoy “Pumpkin Painting and Movie”. Students enjoyed spending time with other Honors students painting pumpkins while enjoying the iconic Tim Burton movie Corpse Bride. Small pumpkins were provided for students, and students painted creative and pretty pumpkins. This event was peaceful and fun, and these activities were the perfect way to prepare for Halloween.
Next week, on Wednesday, November 5, the Honors Peer Mentor Program is hosting a “Pizza and Cookie Decorating Social”. This event will take place in the Honors Center LIB 507 to celebrate the end of the peer mentor program for Fall 2024. During this gathering, students, families, friends, Mentors, and Mentees are welcome to come and celebrate, and there will be a showing of the Tim Burton classic, Nightmare Before Christmas. If you are interested in becoming a mentor for next year, feel free to join and learn more about the program.
I hope all UHP students and faculty had a fantastic Halloween or are enjoying their transition into Fall. Now that we have entered November, students can look forward to registering for classes for the upcoming semester. Students should stay up to date with their emails for their Priority Registration dates and times. The first day of Priority Registration is set for next week on November 4. We are quickly approaching the very anticipated Fall Break, which occurs from November 25 through November 29, 2024. Go Beach!
Comments