By Sayuri Vargas-Hernandez, Staff Writer
A cup of tea, a room of women, and a moment to reflect and breathe was the whole atmosphere inside of the Student Community Center (SCC) Boardrooms on March 10, where Saint Leo University hosted its annual International Women’s Day Tea, a calm, welcoming space designed to honor the stories, strength, and growth of women across campus and around the world.
“Every year gets bigger and better. I’ve been part of the planning for two years, but this year it took us two to three months to finalize everything regarding the tea,” said Nicholas Robinson, a second-year graduate student majoring in Business Analytics.
The event went from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with students stepping into a room filled with soft décor and warm lighting. Everyone was encouraged to take a moment to look around.
The event’s theme, bloom, grow, and become, set the tone for a day centered on empowerment, connection, and community.
Some students arrived alone or with friends, but the space made it easy to settle in, sip tea, and reflect on the women who have shaped their lives.
What made the event especially meaningful was its simplicity: there was no stage, no speeches, just a room where students could be without pressure.
Many students and faculty described it as a “reset,” a moment in the middle of a busy semester to breathe and reconnect with themselves.
The students shared their personal female inspirations who motivate them to pursue their goals. Some shared stories about mothers and grandmothers; others spoke about professors, mentors, and friends who helped them grow.
“The purpose is to celebrate women who have done amazing things in the past, present, or on campus, in our history, and to inspire our students to try new things, empower women, and give them a space to shine,” added Robinson.
Nicholas Robinson decided to partner with various clubs this time, including the College of Arts, Robotics and Data Science, Student Engagement and Leadership, the Center for Global Engagement, and the Daniel A. Cannon Memorial Library, to emphasize International Women’s Day.
“We decided to make a big event; we had speakers, catering from the dining hall, coffee, and tea because not everyone drinks coffee, and tea is in the name,” added Robinson.
This event encouraged students to think about how they can uplift women on campus and beyond through advocacy, kindness, and everyday acts of support.
The event served as a reminder that growth doesn’t always happen loudly; sometimes it happens in small, shared moments over a warm cup of tea.
As the afternoon came to an end, one thing was clear: the purpose of the International Women’s Day tea event was a space to honor the women we admire, the women we are, and the women we are becoming.
