December Notes from Student Culture & Community: De-Stress, Reflect & Recharge
Dear Huskers,
As the semester winds down and the air turns crisp, we hope you’re taking time to pause, breathe and de-stress. Finals may be around the corner, but so are moments of celebration, gratitude and rest.
We hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving break filled with warmth, good food and even better company - and that you’re feeling ready to finish strong before heading into Winter Break and the holiday season. To all our December graduates, congratulations on reaching this incredible milestone! On December 19 and 20, you’ll cross the stage and begin your next chapter, and we couldn’t be prouder of you.
“Take a rest; a field that has rested gives a beautiful crop.” – Ovid
November was full of memorable moments, and we’re grateful to everyone who joined us for our events - from our special Dish It Up sessions with the Kawasaki Reading Room, UNL Fulbright Association and Delta Phi Lambda Sorority, to the thought-provoking Lunch & Learn with the Center for Great Plains Studies, and our signature Stop, Serve & Mingle celebration. Together, we explored what it means to redefine beauty across cultures, discover the strategic value of kindness, honor Native American heritage and experience the unifying power of music with the world-famous Soweto Gospel Choir.
As we wrap up the semester, remember: your well-being matters just as much as your grades. Finish strong - but don’t forget to de-stress, unwind and celebrate your journey.
Stay tuned below for details on our upcoming DE-STRESS FEST - your perfect way to relax before finals!
With warmth and encouragement,
Student Culture & Community
Image of tatreez embroidery with event date, time and location
De-Stress Fest: Tatreez
Monday, December 8 | 5:30 to 7:00 PM | OASIS Lounge,
Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center
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What if unwinding for finals could also spark your creativity?
Step into an evening designed to calm your mind, lift your spirits, and help you recharge before the semester’s final stretch.
De-Stress Fest: Tatreez offers a hands-on, low-pressure space where you can relax, make something meaningful and share the room with others who are taking a moment to breathe.
You’ll explore the beauty of traditional tatreez (Palestinian embroidery) while also enjoying crochet activities, coloring sheets and conversations. It is a simple, peaceful way to pause, create, and reconnect with yourself.
Food from Sultan’s Kite will be provided, including pita, shawarma, fries, tzatziki and soft drinks.
This event is free for UNL students and co-hosted by Student Culture and Community and Students for Justice in Palestine.
Take this time to slow down, make art, enjoy great food, and give yourself the mental break you deserve. Let Tatreez be your reminder that rest is also part of success.
Image of trail mix in a cup and event details: date, time and location
De-Stress Fest: Fuel for Finals
Wednesday, December 10 | 12:00 to 3:00 PM | OASIS Lounge,
Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center.
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What if the best study strategy is knowing when to pause?
As finals week approaches, take a moment to step away from the pressure and give yourself the fuel you need to stay focused.
De-Stress Fest: Fuel for Finals offers a flexible, come-and-go break designed to recharge your energy and reset your mind.
Build your own custom trail mix to keep your study sessions going strong, sip warm hot chocolate that melts away tension and unwind with board games that give your brain the reset it needs. This afternoon break is a reminder that productivity grows when you allow yourself space to breathe.
Free for UNL students and co-hosted by Student Culture and Community and the William H. Thompson Scholars Learning Community.
Stop in, warm up and walk out feeling ready to conquer whatever finals send your way.
Image of a coffee cup and donuts with event details: date, time and location
De-Stress Fest: Grab-n-Go Brunch
Friday, December 12 | 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM | OASIS Lounge,
Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center
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What if the easiest way to finish your week strong is to start your morning gently?
As finals wrap up, treat yourself to a moment of calm before heading into the rest of your day. De-Stress Fest: Grab-n-Go Brunch offers a simple, restorative pause with quick breakfast snacks and light creative activities designed to help you reset and refocus.
Pick up breakfast burritos, fruit, yogurt, donuts, string cheese, coffee, juice and more to fuel your morning. If you have a few minutes to spare, make your own felt bookmark or try your hand at origami - small crafts that offer a surprisingly soothing sense of relief.
This event is free for UNL students and hosted by Student Culture and Community and the Kawasaki Reading Room.
Give yourself a quiet moment of nourishment and creativity as you close out the semester.
Image of Japanese house with big red circle and "Kaizen & Ikigai" text
Kaizen & Ikigai Workshop: Finding your WHY, Improving your HOW.
Wednesday December 10 | 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM | OASIS Lounge,
Jackie Gaughan Multicultural Center
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Discover how two timeless Japanese philosophies can guide your personal and academic journey.
This workshop introduces two influential frameworks - Kaizen and Ikigai - and their applications in academic, professional and personal settings. Participants will gain tools to enhance productivity, refine goals and cultivate a deeper sense of meaning in their work and life.
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, pastries and snacks will be served
Promotional Poster with the information about the mentorship program and the QR code to the Interest Form.
Photo collage from the event
Recap: Dish It Up – Rhythms of Peace with the Soweto Gospel Choir
We had the privilege of hosting a deeply moving Special Edition Dish It Up session with the world-renowned Soweto Gospel Choir, co-hosted with the Lied Center for Performing Arts. What unfolded was more than a conversation, it was an intimate exchange of stories, memories and shared humanity.
Guided by thoughtful questions about heritage, healing and the meaning of peace, the performers opened up about the histories carried in their costumes, the emotional weight behind freedom songs and the role music plays as both mirror and hammer in communities striving for dignity. Their honesty set a tone of empathy and reflection, inviting everyone in the room to look inward as much as we listened outward.
Participants shared their own words for peace, echoed rhythms offered by the Choir and reflected on songs that helped them through difficult chapters, turning the session into a gentle, communal reminder of what binds people together across continents.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Lied Center for Performing Arts for partnering with us and to the Soweto Gospel Choir for their openness, warmth and willingness to hold space for meaningful dialogue. This was a conversation that stayed long after the music faded.
Photo collage from the event
Recap: Dish It Up – Re-Humanizing Humanity
We were delighted to host a special Dish It Up session in collaboration with the UNL Fulbright Association and the Kawasaki Reading Room.
Student Culture & Community Program Coordinator and UNL Fulbright Scholar Parviz Jamalov led an energizing and thought-provoking conversation on why being a good person is not just a soft skill, but a strategic advantage in the twenty-first century.
Through powerful stories from history and lived lessons from his own journey Jamalov explored seven core strategies for re-humanizing our relationships and redefining success:
1) Exercise Active Listening
2) Fighting Subconscious Bias
3) Thinking Strategically & Not Underestimating People
4) Investing in Relational Capital
5) Forming Strategic Partnerships
6) Practicing Humility: Fortune is Volatile
7) Never Giving Up On A Dream
UNL students and staff joined an active dialogue about what it means to lead with character in a world obsessed with achievement. We thank our partners at the UNL Fulbright Association and the Kawasaki Reading Room for helping make this meaningful session possible.
Photo collage from the event.
Recap: Lunch & Learn – Walking in the Footsteps
We were grateful to partner with the Center for Great Plains Studies for a meaningful Lunch & Learn in honor of Native American Heritage Month.
The session introduced Walking in the Footsteps, a project that reconnects the Otoe-Missouria people to their homelands through digital storytelling, narrative mapping and community partnerships.
Participants explored how the project brings forward centuries of Indigenous history, builds relationships with tribal communities and reshapes how we understand place and identity in Nebraska. Through stories, visuals and thoughtful reflection, attendees gained a deeper awareness of the land we live on and the people who have long called it home.
Thank you to the Center for Great Plains Studies for leading this powerful conversation and inspiring us to see our surroundings with greater clarity and respect.
Photo Collage from the event
Recap: Late Night Dish It Up – Cultural Beauty Standards
We were glad to partner with Delta Phi Lambda Sorority for a powerful Late Night Dish It Up exploring cultural beauty standards and how they are shaped by history, culture and social media.
Students gathered in small groups to reflect on where these standards come from, why they can be harmful, and how we can collectively promote more inclusive and realistic definitions of beauty.
The evening included guided discussion, a short video and a lively trivia before closing with a full-room conversation on redefining beauty in today’s world.
Thank you to Delta Phi Lambda for co-hosting this meaningful event and creating space for honest dialogue.
Promo banner with text: Dish It Up: A Table for Every Conversation
Partner with Us: Host a Special or Late Night Dish It Up in Spring Semester.
We invite UNL departments, offices, and Recognized Student Organizations to partner with us to co-host a Special Edition or Late-Night Dish It Up this spring.
These sessions create meaningful spaces for students to engage in open dialogue, explore new perspectives and connect with campus partners around timely, impactful topics.
Whether your unit wants to spark conversation about identity, wellness, culture, leadership, social issues or creative expression - co-hosting a Dish It Up offers an opportunity to reach students in a relaxed, interactive format that encourages honest conversation and community-building.
To learn more about how Dish It Up works and what co-hosting looks like, we encourage you to watch our short explainer video: https://mediahub.unl.edu/media/25885
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Campus & Community Opportunities You Shouldn’t Miss
We’re excited to share opportunities from our campus and community partners. Whether you’re looking for internships, career pathways, meaningful work, or ways to get involved, the announcements below highlight programs designed to support your growth and expand your horizons.
