The first Story Space session of the semester, titled “Summer Memories,” took place on September 20, 2023, in the Multicultural Center. Boxes of pizza and jugs of water were lined up on tables for guests to eat and enjoy. Story Space was created by Parth Thakkar, Coordinator of Student Life Programming, in the Spring of 2022.

Not many students knew about the event taking place, but there were enough participants at the Center willing to share their great summer stories. Thakkar himself took the stage as an example to those new to the event, recalling a family trip he took to go whale-watching, as well as other beautiful moments in between his working hours over the summer.

After Thakkar’s story, others were inspired to write their names on paper and drop them into the bucket, giving everyone a turn to share a story. One student recounted good and not-so-good experiences being a camp counselor for child-age and preteen-aged kids. Another student had the chance to travel around Europe and see countries like Germany and Italy, and even went to Disney as a birthday celebration. One participant told a story about an unwanted hiking adventure she took, tricked by her Girl Scout troop.

Jovin Fernandez also participated, telling a story about how her boyfriend took two hours to get “takeout” after she’d brought home a meal he didn’t want. When he returned, he tossed her a small jewelry box that contained an engagement ring! The other guests were happy to share this special story with Fernandez, especially after she waited 16 years for this beautiful milestone. She remarked, “We visualize these moments, and we make it our own.” Though her beautiful moment wasn’t the Hollywood, get-down-on-one-knee sort of moment, the “time and effort he put into [picking] out the perfect ring” made it as beautiful as ever for her.

Khrystyna Svystovych is an international student from Ukraine who just started at Stockton as a freshman. While this is her first time in New Jersey, it’s not her first time in the US; she was a high school exchange student in Ohio. She told everyone about a summer she spent with her friends from Ukraine, going to many places, including the beach, where she had a spur-of-the-moment swimming lesson.

“I think we had a low turnout, but certainly a great group of people, because most of them ended up sharing about their summer experiences,” Thakkar commented after the event was over. “It was just great, learning about what people did over the summer.”

The next Story Space will feature Hispanic voices in honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, though participation is open to individuals of all cultural backgrounds. It will take place in the Multicultural Center on Wednesday, October 4 at 5:00 p.m.