Taking a Break, Together

Rain pattered gently outside the UC Davis Student Community Center, but inside, warmth and calm filled the space. A mellow playlist drifted through the room, its soft melodies barely audible over the low, cheerful hum of student chatter and laughter. Circular tables were scattered throughout the room with coloring sheets, paints, bracelet-making supplies and even a pile of Lego bricks, inviting students to sit, create and breathe. 

Some painted whimsical cows — a nod to UC Davis’ agricultural roots — while others focused on threading beads or studied over books and laptops while crunching on chips or enjoying wedges of mandarin oranges. On the overhead projector, a slide read “Doing your best is enough.” The space was an unhurried and welcoming, cozy pocket of peace—just ahead of a hectic finals’ week.

Held on March 12, the “De-Stress Together” event was hosted by Student Affairs in concert with the UC Davis Principles of Community 35th anniversary celebration. The event brought students together for creative expression, emotional support and community building — all under one roof.

A Calming Space in a Stressful Time

Despite all the changes happening throughout the nation, the primary stressor for all the students interviewed—and their reason for attending the event—was the impending finals week.

“I wanted to come to this event to find a good study space with snacks and overall de-stress,” said Crystal Chang, a second-year statistics major. “It’s different from your average study space because other places can be overstimulating and busy. But here there’s good music, a good study spot, and a chill environment to relax.”

Kaylianne Jordan, a junior transfer student majoring in viticulture and enology, agreed: “Knowing that there was a quiet environment for me to come to, and knowing that there were snacks and art supplies, definitely brought me in.”

The rainy day weather made the SCC an even more appealing refuge. 

“It can be hard to find a quiet space to study, especially when the weather is bad,” said Andrea Singson, a second-year design student. “Events like this give people a reason to be with each other. It makes it easier to hang out and start conversations.”

Crafts, Community and Cows

One of the most popular tables was the bracelet-making station, where students passed beads around and made new friends in the process. Others found joy in painting —Kaylianne chose to paint a cow, while Stella Liu painted an army of frogs. Regardless of the craft selected, the students appreciated the community-building event.

“Events like these are really valuable because they help build community,” Kaylianne said. “Especially as a transfer student, it can be a little more difficult to find your people, so having spaces like this is really helpful.”

Living the Principles of Community

While the crafts and snacks were a draw, many students shared that what keeps them coming back to events like this is the unique culture of UC Davis — one that reflects the university’s Principles of Community.

“There’s a general feeling of collaboration and learning,” said Crystal. “Everyone is trying really hard, but also helping each other study or improve. At other schools, it’s more competitive, but here it feels supportive.”

Second-year animal science major Bri agreed: “I like the sense of community here at UC Davis. Everyone is really kind and people are willing to hang out and talk to anyone.”

Another student echoed this feeling: “People are very smart and hardworking, but it never feels like they’re out to get each other. There’s always someone willing to share resources or help. That’s what I really appreciate.”

Andrea added, “In the classroom, everyone is willing to help. There’s no problem asking someone for help.”

For students like Ayden Chan, a third-year psychology major and wellness liaison with the Strategic Asian and Pacific Islander Retention Initiative (SAandPIRI), creating space for that sense of community is part of his passions and interest—now and for his future career. 

“I want to pursue a future in social work, and a big part of that is helping to build community and advocate for inclusion and awareness,” he said. “I really appreciate that Student Affairs is setting up spaces like this. It helps people feel better about their community, get to know each other, and just relax.”