By Alexander Bessey 

A few weeks ago the Midcoast Campus held it’s aptly named “Welcome (Back) Barbecue”. I say that the event was appropriately titled because there were of course the familiar faces of semesters passed, as well as an encouraging number of new and interested faces joining the Midcoast Campus festivities. There was the traditional draw of any college event: food; but additionally, at the center of the excitement, laughter, and interaction, was a mechanical bull.

As if good food and conversation was not enough, the mechanical bull provided an interesting and unexpected ice-breaker for new students looking to get involved. Once the initial nervousness and reluctance of the crowd had passed, it seemed that the majority of students in attendance tried the thrashing machine at least once; and to the surprise of both students and staff alike, even the Dean of the Midcoast Campus, Mr. Jim Whitten had a turn on the aggressive center-piece.
In the midst of all the comings and goings, there was a prominent feature to the event: fun. It was most certainly an excellent way to break the tension and anticipation of a new semester, a new college career, and new peers. The event demonstrated to new students, and solidified to returning ones, that the Midcoast Campus, small as it may be, has a very real, very large potential for fun, interaction, and achievement. It was refreshing from my perspective (a returning second-year student) to see, even with all of the changes and growth experienced here in Brunswick, that there was still a communal feeling of fun. After all, school is not simply about attending classes and receiving grades, it is about far more. College for me, and many other students here on the Midcoast Campus has become about community, about contributing something fun, vibrant, and successful to the otherwise tense and time-consuming efforts of our studies.

My experience, and hopefully the experience had by many other students in attendance, was one of excitement and anticipation for what the rest of the 2014-2015 academic year has in store. It was an interesting, lighthearted, and welcomed beginning to yet another year of making friends, working hard, and simply getting involved. The “Welcome (Back) Barbecue” served as an introduction to many and a fun time to all. As we all know, college can be an intimidating and stressful place, there is quite a lot to accomplish, and seemingly never enough time; however, it is events like the “Welcome (Back) Barbecue” that remind us just how similar our goals really are.

Somewhere, crammed into the studying and seriousness of academics, there has to be a helping of relaxation and leisure. Here at the Midcoast Campus, we have a staff and student body that is committed to both working hard and playing hard, as proven by this truly enjoyable beginning to the semester here in Brunswick. Let’s face it, how many students get to watch their Dean ride a mechanical bull? Here’s to an enjoyable, productive, fun, and interactive semester on the Midcoast Campus. We are here, and we are growing. Come join us in some fun!