On Sept. 23, excited students flooded into the Brother James Gaffney Student Center in hopes of getting to make and take home delightfully scented candles. The lounge was crowded with folding tables, chairs, and students more than 10 minutes before the event officially began. By the time it started, the line for the candle making station was so lengthy that it wrapped around several nearby tables.
At the tables, everyone received all of the materials necessary to craft their candles. Students who came early were given small black cylindrical candle holders and matching storage boxes, while those who came later were presented with large clear glass jars, which some found to be more ideal. The pastel-colored stickers supplied as decorations were eagerly shared among tables where students were seated.
Upon gathering and decorating containers, students then could pick from a variety of colorful dried flowers to add scent to their candles. The flower variants were all separately secured in small plastic bags, scattered across a long table. Students sprinkled flecks of red, purple and other appealing colors to create distinct appearances and aromas for their respective candles. “I chose lavender,” stated Obi Chukwurah, freshman nursing major. “And fig,” fellow freshman nursing major Deborah Armah added. To this, Chukwurah responded that she also chose fig, as well as chrysanthemum.
After curating the aesthetics and smells of their candles, everyone had their candle holders filled halfway with hot wax by a supervising staff member. Students heartily conversed as they waited for the first half of their wax filling to dry. “I’m here for the vibe,” Armah noted, taking in the ambient atmosphere of the event. Once roughly 20 minutes had passed, students could finally receive the second half of their serving of wax, bringing the candle-making process to a satisfying close.
Many received notice of the event through the various posters spread throughout campus, as well as the “This Week at Lewis” email sent out to students at the beginning of the week.
Ultimately, the steady promotion of the event ensured the large scope of its success. The event was incredibly popular, so much so that the organizers found themselves bled dry of wax toward its end. While not everyone was able to receive their second filling of wax as a result of the shortage, students still found themselves content with the unique experience of candle making, deeming this event as a highlight of the evening.
