By Grace Holmes
The Center of Counseling and Wellbeing will be hosting “Pop Into the Movies” at the Raider Grill, Oct. 23, from 5-7 p.m. This event, a movie, is the first in a series called “Fall Into Community,” which are social gatherings that help students meet and connect with one another in a way that does not center academics. The main goal of the series is to build a sense of belonging with Grand Rapids Community College students and is not mental health focused.
Movies are a kind of media that have become embedded into our culture. Whether blockbuster hits with million dollar budgets or smaller indie films made for a more curated audience, movies are everywhere.
“Art can bring people together and movies in a lot of ways are art,” said GRCC counselor, Becca Loveall. Movies are also a great way to be social without having to commit to constant interaction which can benefit those who want to be in the company of others but don’t necessarily want to socialize the entire time.
“The event is really community focused, building relationships, having fun,” Loveall said.
Students may struggle to find connection with others from just attending classes as it can be difficult to transition from classmate to friend. The “Fall into the Community” series is a way to curb those feelings of loneliness. Loveall emphasized the “main goal is to create a space for students to foster a sense of belonging on campus.”
In addition to creating community, the Counseling and Wellness Center is looking for feedback and to hear more directly from the students themselves. “If students have suggestions for events or workshops or just any sort of programming that they would like to see… we’d love to receive that,” Loveall said.
To answer the million dollar question: the department has chosen “Hocus Pocus” as the official movie. This spooky film is family friendly and is a Halloween classic that all witch-y fans can appreciate.
For more fun activities, stay tuned for more events from the series.
