Last week, Human Element and Campus Life Club professionals put on an intervention called “Point Break” for the sophomore and junior classes. The idea of Point Break was to allow students to participate in activities and have fun playing with their fellow classmates–as well as escaping their comfort zones and getting to know each other on a different level. They were also encouraged to vent to their ‘small groups’ about their lives.

Professionals that are a part of Campus Life (locally and around the world), such as Adam Capehart, Josh Heimiller, Wade Slechter, and Rebekah Cornell, first introduced themselves and what Point Break was and the idea of it as well as why they are involved in helping to lead it. In doing this, some of those professional leaders shared their stories with the students as a way to emphasize that it is a good thing to allow themselves to speak about how they hurt.  They encouraged students to use these strategies to cope with their problems instead of holding things in, which can result badly for a “damaged” person more times than not.

Throughout the day, the leaders set up games and activities that brought out higher spirits in the students and influenced them to actually engage themselves in those activities. The students played the games arranged throughout the days and took small breaks between the activities to gather in their “small groups” and actually listen to what one another wanted to speak about.

Toward the end of the day, the students played a game called “Cross the Line”. This game was probably the most difficult as they were asked questions and told to cross the line on the gym floor if their answer was a “yes” to that question. Certain questions were perhaps intense for some kids but, throughout the time they were asked, the students gained more courage to cross over the line and face their peers. Although ones that crossed may have turned and walked back with tears in their eyes, they still showed how strong and brave they were to be bold enough to cross the line to begin with. While some were teary-eyed, classmates reached out and comforted each other with hugs and encouraging words.

The professional leaders ended the day with the last session of the “small groups” after the Line-Crossing activity. The small-group leaders asked their group a set of questions about their feelings on the activity and reassuring words and thoughts were passed around the groups. Once the last small-group session was finished, the students were asked to regroup in a large circle and each person was challenged to tell, over a microphone, what their favorite part of the day was or what they will take with them after the day.

Point Break brought tears and smiles to the students who participated, for the students shared stories with classmates and listened to one another. Human Element is also planning a fundraiser to raise money to bring the professionals back out and host another Point Break session for the Senior class, as requested. Overall, it was an emotional and engaging two days of Point Break for the sophomores and juniors.