It’s mystical. It’s magical. No, it’s not a super rare Pokemon — it’s Gatorship.
If you haven’t heard of it, I’m not surprised, but I am a little sad. Gatorship is one of those gems special to UF that, if you’re lucky enough, you hear about from a mentor or a friend who comes back raving about it.
So pretend you know me, because I’m about to give you the scoop. You’re welcome.
Gatorship is a weekend- or day-and-a-half-long leadership retreat held in the Spring at a beautiful camp called Weed — not kidding. The camp is beautiful, the food is amazing and, best of all, the retreat is inclusive.
Sponsored by the Division of Student Affairs and Multicultural and Diversity Affairs, this retreat is the only place on campus during which you have the chance to learn leadership skills while getting an even better understanding of who you are as a person.
Alex Mazzeo, a fourth-year UF psychology student and the parliamentarian for Savant Leadership Honorary, said he attended the retreat to become a better leader but left with even more.
“The actual retreat was very much this exploration of self and the people around you, pretty much humanizing people with the purpose of creating more inclusivity, eradicating stereotypes and just creating a better community to live in,” he said.
For future leaders at this university, this is crucial. Because, really, what is the Gator Good if it doesn’t include every Gator? In one retreat, Gatorship aims to give you all the tools necessary to meet the needs of the university’s Student Body. Their only wish is that you aren’t ashamed to share what you learn, take this knowledge back to your organizations on campus and use it to make them even better.
The irony is that because of Gatorship’s focus on diversity and multiculturalism, some people miss out because they don’t think this retreat is meant for them.
It has a lot to do with our definition of diversity. “I think people see the word 'diversity' and think that they don’t fall into that,” Mazzeo said. “I think people automatically go to race and don’t consider things like socioeconomic status or religion.”
People like to look at things labeled "diverse," especially Gatorship, and think, “Oh, I don’t fit into this.” But you don’t have to. That’s the point. And you definitely don’t have to fit into a certain identity to learn about it.
It’s all very relative. “You have identities, and those identities are relevant to the world around you, regardless of where you fall,” Mazzeo added. “And it’s imperative that you learn about those things that are associated with your identities, but also the identities of those around you.”
And by doing that, we create more inclusive and altogether better communities. When you leave college, you want to leave with connections, but what if those connections could be deeper and more real?
That’s the gift of Gatorship. You’ll leave finger wagging — go if you want to know what that is — but you’ll also take real friends with you. You’ll be able to think with a broader perspective and relate to people you never knew you could. It will show from the programs and events you create to your interviews and business presence.
Gatorship helps you think greater and do better. It makes you into a leader who is thoughtful and bold, confident in yourself and able to make a positive impact.
Everyone thinks you cry at Gatorship, and maybe you will — or maybe you just have no soul. Kidding.
Through tears of laughter or surprise at finding a buried hurt, Gatorship will force you to face topics that are at times difficult so you can address them comfortably when they unleash you back onto campus.
Applications are open now until Oct. 21, and you can find them on the Multicultural and Diversity Affairs website at multicultural.ufl.edu/programs/gatorship/application.
I can’t promise you won’t cry, but I can promise you won’t regret it.
Brooke Henderson is a UF journalism and international studies sophomore. Her column appears on Mondays.
