BUILDING CONNECTION PAR E N T S G I V I N G
BA CK A N D B U I L D I N G FRIENDSHIPS
“I cannot believe our time as current Wesleyan parents is coming to an end,” reflects STEPH ANI E WA S HI N G T O N , mom to Imani Washington ’22 and Jalen Hodges ’16. “We have been tied to this community for ten years, and it has truly been a humbling experience to serve in the community that has given our family so much. “Over the years, I have had the opportunity to serve in a wide range of ways, and each of them have enriched our family’s time at Wesleyan,” recalls Washington. “From volunteering as a greeter at admissions open houses to serving as the team mom for the varsity girls basketball team to chairing the parent diversity council, I jumped at a lot of ways to get plugged in. “Working alongside other moms and dads gave us a wonderful foundation of friendships that I know will be a part of our lives well beyond graduation this spring.” Like many Wesleyan parents, Washington has found volunteering on campus as not only a way to get to know the community, but also a path to building friendships that will last for many years beyond their time on campus. Once a student enrolls at Wesleyan, parents often begin to look for ways to be involved on campus. As a K-12 community, one benefit is the chance to do life alongside the same families for many years. And like with most things in life, involvement and depth of friendship requires intentionality.
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Wesleyan offers a wide range of ways for parents to get involved on campus. From attending Fill the Gill – football season tailgates on campus – or joining parent Bible studies, to serving on various committees or volunteering with extracurriculars, the parent community is loaded with opportunities. Social events like Fill the Gill and the Wolf Trackers Kick-Off Dinner are a great avenue for families to meet and enjoy fellowship. Attending on-campus theater performances and athletic games, meets, and matches also provide an easy way for parents to get to know the Wesleyan community in the evenings and on the weekends.
Volunteering on campus is not only a way to get know the community, but also a path to building friendships that will last for many years beyond the family’s time on campus.
