Zag Dining Memories
By: Courtney Mueller
It’s that time of the year again! The semester has finally come to an end, and with it, the madness that is finals, graduation festivities, and rain! As I observe all of this, it is hard to believe that almost a year has passed since I was shaking hands with Thayne and tossing my cap at Commencement. And even though I am now a full-fledged member of the real world (Hi, Mom!), I can’t help but reminisce on my college years. It probably has something to do with the fact that I work at my alma mater (GU, if you didn’t already pick up on that), but who knows.
My position with Zag Dining has given me a greater understanding of their brand, who they are, and how they operate. It has also prompted me to tune in, even more so than before, to the student experience. As someone who has been in their shoes, I can naturally relate. The difference is that I now have the ability to communicate their praises, critiques, and questions to my superiors.
Put simply, I have a very unique perspective when it comes to Zag Dining. As I’ve transitioned from student to graduate, something I have come to realize is that I can tie some of my fondest memories at GU to Zag Dining. Dining experiences are meant to be homey, in my opinion, and that’s exactly what my experience with Zag Dining became when I was a student. The dining facilities on campus offered me a place to relax and enjoy time with my surrogate Zag family, all the while providing me with a bevy of delicious food. I truly feel that Zag Dining delivers on everything a dining experience should be — comfortable, satisfying, and memorable.
What I would like to convey is this: the college dining experience is not something to take for granted or turn your nose up to. I have some great memories that involve the COG! Sure, it’s a place where I sat down many a time to stuff my jowls, but it was also a place where I felt the true community spirit of this University. The COG is one of the places where I made new friends, and connected with old; it became something of a sacred place that I shared with my GU family. Your student will look back on these precious moments fondly, especially after they graduate… unless of course their experience has involved tripping over themselves as a tower of dishes comes crashing down and everyone stares and claps (seen it happen too many times!). The great thing is that Zags are the type of people will be there to help pick up the mess and laugh it off with them.
Beyond interacting with classmates, employees at the entry register also have the power to make a world of difference. A simple smile or “how ya doin’?” has had the power to turn my day around and help me keep on keepin’ on. People like Peachy Kay are a prime example of that, and a legendary staple of the Zag Dining experience for good reason. It’s also fun if a student employee is swiping people in, because odds are, your student will know them, even if it’s just facial recognition from a class. That’s what happens at a small school, for better or worse, I suppose!
But not all of my COG experiences involved friends, or anybody, to be perfectly honest. Some of the other moments I treasured were the quiet mornings before class when I had time to gather my thoughts and enjoy breakfast in peace (I’m not a morning person, so any chance to avoid interaction with another human before 9am was splendid).
As we approach summer and transition into another school year, I hope that you will share this article with your student(s). The dining hall truly is something to behold, because it provides so much more than a meal. But when it does — it is oh-so-delicious {COG cookies, am I right?!}. Whether it’s your student and their roomie, quiet time before a killer morning class, or dinner with friends – the dining experience should be embraced for what it is, because when your student looks back on their college years I GUARANTEE they will have some great memories to associate with it. Cheers, and have a happy, safe, and SUNNY summer!