By Belle Martinelli
Students mid-scream in Central 1 parking lot (Photo by Belle Martinelli)
What better way to enter finals week than to scream out your frustrations in an empty parking lot? Thanks to SOCA [Students of Caribbean Ancestry] students were able to.
At their “Scream it Out” session before their “SOCA Sleepover,” they encouraged all students to gather in the Central One parking lot for five minutes to let their frustrations over finals, work, and life, out.
Led by SOCA vice president Kayla Dike, students let out a scream for each minute between 9:55 p.m. and 10 p.m.
“This first scream is for the professors,” said Dike, as she led apprehensive students into the first scream. Once students got their jitters and anxieties out, they moved on to the second.
“This one is for all the missing work and late assignments,” said Dike, as more and more students gathered around.
The third scream was for having to go back home; for everyone who was thinking “Dang, I gotta deal with my parents," said Dike.
Curious spectators from surrounding buildings, like Starbucks and Fort Awesome, looked on as students continued.
Students from Fort Awesome look on, as some come to join (photo by Belle Martinelli)
The fourth one was “for the next seven days: all the tests and the waking up early.”
As the minutes ticked down, more and more students came to join the commotion, both out of solidarity and sheer confusion.
Eventually, it came time for the fifth and final scream, as students filled up the parking lot.
“This is for having to say bye to your friends, goodbye to the semester ... This is going to be the longest one, alright?” said Dike.
And sure enough, the fifth and final scream echoed throughout campus.
Students during the fifth and final scream (Photo by Belle Martinelli)
“I was screaming because I’m going to miss my friends,” said senior Chu K., who is graduating at the end of this semester.
Students enjoyed the five minutes they were free from social expectations, as they got to scream their frustrations out before quiet hours began. They left the parking lot happy and laughing with their friends, and hopefully less stressed.
“I can do some more screams,” said sophomore Layla Paras. “It should be a daily ritual.”