Getting Familiar: University Counseling Center hosts Meet & Greet

On Thursday afternoon, August 25, 2022, the University Counseling Center had their Annual Meet & Greet. It was scheduled to be on the lawn of the Counseling Center but due to the rain it was moved to the Intramural Sports Complex, also known as “The Rec”. Despite the rain, the event turned out to be a success. From free pizza and cold drinks to giveaways, the meet and greet had a lot to offer. Goodie bags were filled with lots of surprising prizes, such as Colgate teeth whitening kits. Students and athletes were excited with all the Counseling Center had to offer including games such as Connect 4, raffles, vendors, music, and plenty of dancing. It was a good time for both the old school and new school. DJ Curtis perfectly matched the playlist to both generations’ liking. Nothing but notable Southern classics were played. It felt like a mini party and family reunion going on a Thursday. Although there was a party feeling, the vendor tables were very informative.
Dr. Valaray Irvin, Executive Director and licensed psychologist at the University Counseling Center, stated what the purpose of the event was. “The last 20 plus years we have done this return to school meet and greet so that students would find out about the services of the counseling center and meet the staff informally. We also invite other staff and organizations. Everyone gives information about their various offices.” To name a few, First Year Experience (FYE), Louisiana Health Connections, and Project Peer partners with the University Counseling Center.
Graduating senior Shania Tyler, majoring in Rehabilitation Services from New Orleans, Louisiana, inform us on how important it is for students to come out to events like this. “So they know what resources they have on campus. It is important to network or partner with programs since a lot of organizations are coming on campus. That’s an additional step to professional development.”
Students were able to enjoy the event while also getting resourceful help from campus offices. “The thing I enjoyed most about this meet and greet is that I know that people are here to help if I ever need something or going through something”, said Alton Holloway, a junior majoring in Computer Science from New Orleans, Louisiana.
The Annual Meet and Greet proves that Southern is not just a “party school” as people mention on social media and in the streets. It’s possible to have fun while getting educated and the help you need. Shoutout to the Counseling Center for putting on such an enthusiastic event. It is so good that the event was not overshadowed by pamphlets and information. The idea of getting to know students informally is great and clearly making a difference.