Making a Splash, IXLA Beach Day
Highly anticipated and carefully planned out, IntersectLA (IXLA) was finally able to come together at Santa Monica Beach on May 26, 2021. At long last, IXLA members got the opportunity to meet up and connect with one another, bringing the team closer together! It not only strengthened the team’s bond but also revitalized the team’s spirit, letting us come back stronger than before. There was plenty of fun to be had in the sun that continued even after the night set in.
Part of the excitement for this event came from “finally being able to meet in person ’cause COVID took away everyone’s chance to interact and really get to know one another,” recent graduate Christian explained. Beach Day helped solidify our bond beyond the Zoom screen. While we work hard and constantly improve our skills, we are also creating long-lasting connections among people with different backgrounds and stories to tell. Team members were encouraged to participate in activities pushing past their normal day-to-day, which was a welcome change, especially after a year of quarantine.
With a team as comfortable and encouraging as ours, trying out new things and making new memories was a blast. Denise, who organized the event, mentioned, “I didn’t think I’d like volleyball that much, but Magdy is a fun guy to hang around with.” Most of the team was inexperienced in volleyball, but even those who had experience went with the flow. It wasn’t about being good at the game, even if the team did improve later on. Having a safe space to mess up and share each other’s company was more than enough. Like our office, volleyball was a way to create an environment that encouraged people to grow by working together and discovering new skills.
Even if you’re not a part of IXLA, we want to make sure that you feel welcome! One of our recent members, Juan, who learned about IXLA through a friend, felt more motivated to become part of the IXLA team because of Beach Day. While he was unsure of how to approach the event at first, Juan was pleasantly surprised by how easy it was for him and his wife to get along with the team. Reflecting on his day, Juan said, “I thought it was really cool to connect with people beyond design, like videographers and writers. It made me excited to see what IXLA is about and hopeful to create long-lasting connections that go beyond college.”
We’re grateful to have had an opportunity to meet up like this, and we’re hoping for more chances to get together in the future. Overall, Beach Day rejuvenated our gang — now we’re ready to take on the summer and beyond!
