Alexandra Phelps | Contributing Writer
“How were finals?” Kim Ngoc Thien Nguyen asked the room, met by a murmur. “You don’t have to answer!”
Finals week can be one of the most stressful times for university students, and Nguyen, president of Vietnamese Student Affiliation (ViSA), knows this well. She described how the idea for an art-centered event came from the need for students to relax after their tough time studying and testing.
On the night before the term’s end, Apr. 25, what better way to destress than painting on a miniature canvas or adding color to some Dong Ho paintings—a traditional Vietnamese folk art?
Well, if a student wasn’t finished with their finals, the event offered coffee too.
Ready-to-grab Vietnamese coffee foaming to the top; made fresh by ViSA club members | Alexandra Phelps, PantherNow
Having discovered that some classes were not yet over, Vice President Nguyet Chau Minh—or Vivie—Nguyen shared that the event was made to also be “a small break” between exams, and that “Vietnamese coffee is kind of strong, so if students need to stay up late to study… that would be really helpful.”
With both executives majoring in hospitality administration, ViSA knows how to run an event—this one especially a hit, having a larger outreach than the club’s recorded average this school year.
Aiming to become a safe space for international students from Vietnam and local residents wanting to keep in touch with their community alike, opportunities like these can expand ViSA’s audience to reach these future members.
Events are open to everyone as the organization loves to share Vietnamese culture with all who are interested in learning.
One student, Stephanie Ruiz, learned about the event after a friend sent its flyer to their group chat.
A painting of a starry night made by Stephanie Ruiz | Alexandra Phelps, PantherNow
‘Canvas Flow, Sip Slow’ was Ruiz’s first attendance at a ViSA event. After experiencing the “nice atmosphere” and “great energy” the club members brought to the experience, she decided she would “definitely” come back again for a similar time.
“Just hanging out with my friends, especially after finals, was a great way to destress,” Ruiz said.
After a long week of testing, Kim Nguyen left a message for students.
“Don’t be sad if the grades don’t meet your expectations,” she said. “At least you put all your hard work, all your efforts in there. It doesn’t matter if you have good grades or bad grades—your efforts were the best.”
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