On Sept. 17, St. Joe’s hosted Family Day. Activities included the Hawk Hill Picnic which featured BBQ lunch, performances from student music groups, Stuff-a-Hawk and caricaturists; tours of the Barnes Arboretum, Quizzo, Big Money Bingo and $3k Bingo. Over 2,300 people registered for the Hawk Hill Picnic in advance and walk-ups were welcome. 

Family Day is an important staple to kicking off the semester and getting to show our loved ones the place we call home for 10 months out of the year. With all of the fun activities mentioned above, the day offers an immersive experience for Hawks and Hawk family members of all ages. The start of the school year can be stressful for everyone but having a day with family on Hawk Hill is the perfect way to take it all in. 

Throughout the year, it’s easy to forget the importance of family – whether that’s blood relatives or your chosen family – through all the hustle and bustle of everyday life. Family plays a crucial role in our lives though, allowing us to have a support system that loves us and pushes us to be the best version of ourselves. It could be your parents, siblings, group of friends or coworkers, but having people to count on is invaluable, especially as a student. We’ve all had our moments of stressing over exams, dealing with friend drama or trying to find an answer to the dreaded question “what are your plans for after graduation?” In these times especially, we are extremely grateful to have these people to call upon.

While St. Joe’s only hosts Family Day once a year, we suggest organizing your own family days every once in a while to bring the people you love together and let them know how much they mean to you!