Between balancing class, sleep, a budget, a social life, and healthy living, there is a lot to keep up with in college. There are certain activities that have become tradition at York College of Pennsylvania, including graduating class members signing the huge, painted green rock in the middle of campus as a form of celebration. This list is comprised of activities and classes that, in my opinion, are all things every student should try before graduating from YCP. A few of them have been life changing for me, most are free, and all are fun.
1.) Philosophy Classes with Focus on Zombies, Star Trek, and Human Nature.
While some students roll their eyes at the idea of taking a philosophy class, for non-philosophy majors, they can be a nice break from the intensity of core classes. The Philosophy of Human Nature, Philosophy and Zombies, and The Philosophy of Star Trek are the most interesting. They combine realistic and fantastical concepts, while asking the students to think critically about the “what if’s.” They raise challenging and interesting questions that will help students gain better argumentative and philosophical skills in all areas of their lives.
2.) Grumbacher Fitness Center.
Sports fanatics and couch potatoes alike can appreciate at least one facet of the grand and shiny Grumbacher Fitness Center. It is equipped with a massive swimming pool, a rock climbing wall, a large gym with many different machines, and an indoor racquetball court, and more. All students get access with their student ID. If you like more non-traditional sports, the Grumbacher also holds dance, archery, and judo classes. For the true couch potatoes, it also has a few air hockey tables.
3.) The Teaching and Tutoring Center.
One fantastic academic amenity that YCP provides is the Teaching and Tutoring Center. Available at varying hours, any YCP student can visit and receive tutoring on any subject free of charge. This also includes ESL students who need to improve their spoken or written English skills. For those who are shy about asking for assistance, there are private areas that the students can also receive help in. Most students who seek help from this office see at least one letter increase in their grades. The tutors are both faculty and fellow students who pass the teaching and tutoring classes offered in the YCP curriculum (I speak from personal experience) and they are always extremely patient and willing to assist.
If you’re interested in York College of Pennsylvania, check out our article on 5 Things I Wish I Known Before Attending YCP.
4.) Attend a stressbuster.
I can’t stress enough how beneficial stressbusters are. There is comfort in knowing that everyone else is stressed out as much as you are, and the community feeling at this event does wonders. Not only can you get a free massages, pancakes, and tater tots at midnight, but there are various other activities throughout the entire week before finals that are designed to reduce stress. Every year, YCP even brings a hoard of puppies and dogs onto campus because studies have shown that playing with animals increases mood levels. Free popcorn and movies is always a favorite among students.
5.) The Cultural Series.
One of the most important events hosted by YCP is its’ annual Cultural Series. This is a large, multi-week celebration of the arts that holds events for speakers, authors, artists, musicians, galleries, film, theatre, and ecological studies. The best part about the Cultural Series is that it is different every year, and the guest speakers are often very well known. The last year I attended YCP, the legendary Maya Angelou visited to speak about her experiences with writing, poetry, film, and activism. The other great thing about this event is that it is completely free to YCP students and faculty, and members of the community are always welcome to attend.
There is a popular saying that goes “There are three choices: sleep, good grades, and a social life. The twist is that you can only pick two.” It is often difficult in these impacting years to decide on which two are more important. Luckily, for students of YCP, the school offers events that are beneficial to grades, mental and physical well being, and most importantly: fun.
Jamie Lyn Sawczyszyn graduated from York College of Pennsylvania in 2013 with a Bachelor’s in Professional Writing. She is currently planning to move to Philadelphia to expand on her education while teaching ballroom dancing in her spare time.