No Study Zone is a Mount Holyoke College tradition that began in 2011, and is beloved by most, if not all, students who go here. It is a way for people to unwind and have fun before the darkness engulfs you in the special circle of hell that is finals. No Study Zone changes from year to year. Last year, there was a face painting station along with massage table, create a cookie, bouncy castles and more. This year, when we walked into Chapin Auditorium, we were greeted by a lovely dog. Inside was where the fun began. There were various activities from drumming and dancing, to trail mix stations, massage tables, and coloring. There were stress relieving outlets catering to every type of person that attended.
If you didn’t go to the No Study Zone in Chapin, you may have attended the quieter No Study Zone in the basement of Wilder that was hosted by AccessAbility Services! AccessAbility Services’ activities included decorating cookies, watching cartoons, having snacks, playing board games, sitting in massage chairs, and, maybe best of all, cuddling with and petting one of the comfort dogs, Lucy!
Both were great ways to destress and unwind during the stressful time before finals. The Her Campus Mt Holyoke team had lots of fun as we sprinted through obstacle courses, danced to drums, jumped in bouncy castles, decorated cookies, made trail mixes, and took photos in a photo booth! It’s a great way to bond and spend time with friends. As for myself, I did all these events, and then went to get a massage upstairs in the self-scheduled massage slot times. The massage sessions were 10 minutes each, and were done by professional masseuses. There were two chairs and two tables. All you needed to do was sign up for a session and tell them where you wanted your muscles relieved and voila; stress relived!
One of the many perks of the No Study Zone, is that it is from 6-8 pm, so for those who hit the hay early (like me), you’re still able to enjoy the events that Mount Holyoke has to offer. Though No Study Zone was open to all Mohos, there were not nearly as many students there as I anticipated. Then again, people were able to come and go throughout the night as they pleased. For those who didn’t go this year, and have a chance to go next year, do it! It may be one of the best events put on by Mount Holyoke because it’s exciting for anyone from foodies to athletes, plus you get time to spend with friends! Also, why pass up the chance to pet a dog?