Fear not. TD-33348 of the Makaze Squad, Florida Garrison at your service to share my story in the hopes that you might become a volunteer in your community — because when we give back, everyone wins.

I joined the 501st Legion of professional Star Wars costumers in June 2020. The 501st is the largest Star Wars costume group in the world, with members in nearly every country. We have thousands of members in Florida alone.

The group’s webpage notes, “While the 501st was initially founded to unite costumers with a penchant for Star Wars villainy, one of our real-world missions is to bring good to our communities through volunteer charity work. The 501st is always looking for opportunities to brighten the lives of the less fortunate and to bring awareness to positive causes on both a local and global scale.”

Why did I join this particular group? Because Star Wars is my passion.

I’ve been a fan of the series ever since I sat on the steps of a standing-room-only movie theater to watch A New Hope in 1977. I have seen every film, studied the reviews, analyzed the characters and read dozens of books and blogs on the trilogies. I even at Â鶹ԭ´´.

To become a member of the 501st, you must first build a costume and have it approved by your local garrison. In my case I spent nearly six months ordering plastic armor from the UK and sourcing parts from all over the states to complete my sandtrooper build. A buddy remarked, “This is the largest model kit I’ve ever put together.” That’s an apt description.

Once your costume is complete, you submit photos to the garrison for approval. Once approved, you can “troop” with your local squad, participating in all kinds of events. The cool thing about being a trooper is that it combines my love of Star Wars with the importance of giving back to my community.

Our group has participated in troops at schools, science fiction conventions, weddings, parties, animal rescues, charitable organizations, and most importantly at children’s hospitals, where we are able to bring fun and joy into the lives of families facing some of life’s most difficult challenges.

My first troop was at a comic book shop for a toy collectors convention. The owner of the shop made a sizable donation to help support our local Orlando charities. I had a great time meeting parents and children, and it was heartwarming to see their reactions to some of their favorite characters from the movies.

During the past year I’ve completed nearly 30 troops, and I’ve come away from every event with a deeper sense of gratitude. I’ve learned that volunteering is as beneficial to the volunteer as it is to those in need.

The Mayo Clinic has done extensive research on this subject and shares the benefits of volunteering, from decreasing the risk of depression to developing new and meaningful relationships to even enabling people to live longer.

It’s a win-win, or as Obi-wan Kenobi might say, if you volunteer, you’ll take “your first steps into a larger world.” I never realized that putting on a “bucket” (stormtrooper helmet) would allow me to experience so many emotions and so many mental and physical benefits.

I also didn’t realize how rewarding it would be to put smiles on people’s faces and show my support for organizations like the Make A Wish Foundation and Give Kids the World Village in Kissimmee that provide so much aid to children and their families.

Students who want to learn more about volunteering at Â鶹ԭ´´ can visit the .

The world has never needed us volunteers more than it does now. I urge you to get out there, donate just a few hours of your time to a worthy cause, and then reflect on that experience.

Being empathetic to the plight of others is a great step toward a kinder and more peaceful world—and a more healthy you! These are the volunteer experiences you’re looking for.

Do or do not. There is no try.

Students who want to learn more about volunteering at Â鶹ԭ´´ can visit the Office of Student Involvement’s VÂ鶹ԭ´´ webpage:

VÂ鶹ԭ´´ Facebook page: facebook.com/volunteerucf/

May the volunteering be with you!

Peter Telep ’95 ’98MA is a senior instructor in Â鶹ԭ´´â€™s Department of English. He can be reached at Peter.Telep@ucf.edu.

The Â鶹ԭ´´ Forum is a weekly series of opinion columns from faculty, staff and students who serve on a panel for a year. A new column is posted each Wednesday on Â鶹ԭ´´ Today and then broadcast on WÂ鶹ԭ´´-FM (89.9) between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday. Columns are archived in the campus library’s  collection and as WÂ鶹ԭ´´ podcasts. Opinions expressed are those of the columnists, and are not necessarily shared by the Â鶹ԭ´´.

You’re familiar with those people in your personal and professional life whom you would call risk-takers, the ones who casually skydive on a Sunday afternoon and post their death-defying pictures on their social media feeds.

You might also know a few people who avoid taking risks in any aspect of their lives, from their financial investments to trying new foods to getting on an airplane. We call them risk averse. My wife calls them smart, since she’s one of them.

“You’re young,” my father told me after I graduated from high school. “You have time. You don’t have any family commitments. Take some risks! See the world!”

When he was my age, he joined the Navy. I was a trumpet player and rock guitarist in high school. I had no dreams to become a soldier or even see the world, but I understood what he was saying.

One of my favorite presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, wrote eloquently about taking risks. He said that if you fail, at least you fail “while daring greatly.”

While I was junior at Southampton College in New York, I landed a writing job on a television show, packed up my car, drove across the United States, and spent five years living in Los Angeles writing for the film and television industries. I had quit school and taken a risk. My dad was proud. I eventually returned to Florida, earned my degrees at Â鶹ԭ´´, and became an instructor at Â鶹ԭ´´ with industry experience. The risk paid off.

One of my favorite presidents, Theodore Roosevelt, wrote eloquently about taking risks. He said that if you fail, at least you fail “while daring greatly.” If you don’t take a risk, you’ll never know victory or defeat.

Library bookshelves buckle under the weight of risk-takers who explored the earth, dared to rise up against oppressive governments, and sought the stars (among a billion other goals that at first seemed far too risky). I’ve always attached equal measures of awe and nobility to people willing to sacrifice everything for a dream. They decided that the risk was worth it.

However, this year nearly all aspects of our lives have become much riskier. Situations that never had any risk attached now set off alarms. Do I send my kids back to face-to-face classes? Do I return to my job and wear my mask? How safe will that be? It’s a strange new world for us all. Who thought going to a wedding or a football game or a supermarket would become a high-risk situation with terrible consequences?

Our tolerance for risk is informed by the way we were raised, our personalities, and our current lives (for example, a young mother might avoid skydiving, while her grandmother happily jumps out of a perfectly good airplane).

I consider myself a fairly aggressive risk-taker. I’ve been an avid road cyclist for over 10 years, braving the treacherous roads of Central Florida. While I’ve never been struck by a car, I’ve been grazed, buzzed, spat at, cursed at, and literally run off the road. If it’s so dangerous, why do I keep riding? The adrenaline rush, the fitness, and the joy of being outdoors are worth the danger to life and limb. That’s a decision I’ve made, one with which you may not agree.

That’s okay. I think skydivers, people who eat shellfish, and those who ride motorcycles without helmets are all insane for taking those risks; however, who am I to judge? I’ve never done those things, so I’ve never experienced the rewards. Risk is a matter of personal choice and perspective. Are we looking at all the pieces that go into a decision so that we can better see the big picture?

Admittedly, risk-takers like me have become experts at dismissing consequences. Don’t spoil the fun by mentioning that I might die on my bicycle. I am fully aware of the risks I am taking. I don’t need your reminder. But what about my family? Am I being too selfish?

I’m honestly unsure if I’d be a road cyclist were my daughters younger. Now that they are both in their 20s, my choices don’t strike quite as hard, but every time I go out, the fear does cross my mind.

It’s quality of life vs. safety, and we’re wrestling with that every day now. I won’t judge you if you decide to eat at a socially distanced restaurant or work out at your local gym, so long as you and those facilities are adhering to the current precautionary guidelines. The problem occurs when your risk infringes on someone else’s rights, and that’s something we all need to carefully consider.

Make no mistake. These are risky times—all the more reason to be empathetic and kind to each other. As Knights we boldly charge on toward our futures, keenly aware that while greatness requires risk, everyone’s tolerance level is different, and that’s OK.

Peter Telep is a senior instructor in Â鶹ԭ´´â€™s Department of English. He can be reached at Peter.Telep@ucf.edu.

The Â鶹ԭ´´ Forum is a weekly series of opinion columns from faculty, staff and students who serve on a panel for a year. A new column is posted each Wednesday on Â鶹ԭ´´ Today and then broadcast on WÂ鶹ԭ´´-FM (89.9) between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday. Opinions expressed are those of the columnists, and are not necessarily shared by the Â鶹ԭ´´.

Even worse, I’ve watched news stories about critically ill patients who are denied final moments with their families. News stories pound home the doom and gloom 24 hours per day. Restaurants, gyms, salons and retail stores have been reopening and causing a whole new set of problems.

Humor can help strengthen our resolve and help us get through this crisis. Really.

It seems like there’s nothing to laugh about anymore. But maybe we should start laughing. Like immediately. Because humor can help strengthen our resolve and help us get through this crisis. Really.

I remember being about 10 and watching the old M*A*S*H TV show with my father. I asked, “Dad, all these people are dying and the doctors keep making jokes.” He looked at me and answered, “That’s how they get through it.”

Wow. That resonated with me. My father was a New York City police officer, and I’d overheard him speak with a dark sense of humor about the arrests he made. It’s how he got through them.

So while we’re waiting for a vaccine and even a cure, we need to write our own prescriptions for laughter.

Even the most casual of Google searches yields a ton of research on the physical and emotional benefits of humor. Laughing stimulates organs, relieves stress responses, and improves your immune system. (Take that, COVID-19!) Laughing soothes tension through stimulating circulation and helps in muscle relaxation. Having a good laugh can even relieve pain, increase personal satisfaction and, of course, improve your mood.

In a difficult situation, laughing helps you connect with others. This is what my father was trying to tell me.

My father also said you don’t have to be a good-looking guy to pick up women; you just have to be funny. What he wanted to say was, “Look, Peter, you’re just not that good looking, so you better work on those one-liners, otherwise you’re in for a world of rejection.”

While quarantined at home, many of us have rediscovered our crafts and hobbies and the agony of a 2,000 piece puzzle missing the final piece. But have you put laughter on your to-do list? Why not? The website wikiHow has a 12-step guide to making someone laugh (including yourself). Tell a joke, use puns, be witty or sarcastic, use one-liners and comebacks, and be self-deprecating. Do impressions, use slapstick comedy, parody something, and the list goes on. Perhaps your humble narrator has used some of these techniques in the very column you’re reading….

What’s more, in both my university teaching career and as an indoor cycling instructor, humor has been a primary tool to help my students forget about the agony of learning or the torture of exercise. In academia, especially in face-to-face classes, I use accents and hyperbole to keep students awake. In a bad British accent, I might raise my voice and ask, “For ten thousand dollars and an A in the course, who knows what the critical path is in game design?” As the hands go up, I might add, “Are you willing to state your answer in the voice of Yoda from Star Wars? Only the best impressions will receive the prizes. All others will immediately fail the course.”

In cycle class, I tell them: “Tonight we’re going to burn one billion calories.” I’ve said this so many times that the class finishes the sentence for me. During the ride I might ask, “What’s wrong, poor baby? Did your hair get messed up? Are you uncomfortable? Are you sweating? Then it’s working!”

I know. None of this is easy. Some days you don’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Go for the laugh. Every time. Laugh your head off. Laugh your way to the grocery store beneath your mask. Do some LOLing as my college-aged daughters might say. Watch stand-up comedians on your streaming service.

You’re building up your immune system. You’re learning how to get through it. That’s right! We’ll show this nasty virus who gets the last laugh.

Peter Telep is a senior instructor in Â鶹ԭ´´â€™s Department of English. He can be reached at Peter.Telep@ucf.edu.

The Â鶹ԭ´´ Forum is a weekly series of opinion columns from faculty, staff and students who serve on a panel for a year. A new column is posted each Wednesday on Â鶹ԭ´´ Today and then broadcast on WÂ鶹ԭ´´-FM (89.9) between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday. Opinions expressed are those of the columnists, and are not necessarily shared by the Â鶹ԭ´´.

As I’m an old school Star Wars fan, it was the original films that captured my imagination and symbolize my childhood. Recently, The Mandalorian on Disney+ has recaptured the magic of those original stories and has critics calling it the best Star Wars yet.

Other shows like Stranger Things and the upcoming Wonder Woman sequel are transporting us back in time, and audiences seem to be loving it. Netflix documentaries such as The Toys that Made Us share the behind-the-scenes drama of an industry we grew up with. The list of nostalgia-driven entertainment is endless.

So why are we stuck in the past? Why is retro so cool? My parents said don’t dwell on the past. Focus on the future.

As an educator, I spend most of my time preparing students for the road ahead. Even Star Wars’ esteemed First Order leader Kylo Ren said, “Let the past die. Kill it if you have to. That’s the only way to become what you were meant to be.”

A stroll down memory lane is good medicine, just like mom’s old cooking, rich and savory and always making you feel better.

Unsurprisingly, there’s a ton of research on nostalgia, and if you can imagine the good old days of actually stepping foot in a library, then go one step farther and picture rows of shelves buckling under the weight of this work. Suffice it to say that thousands of researchers (or at least four whose articles I read) agree that nostalgia can boost creativity, evoke inspiration, increase optimism, and even combat loneliness, boredom and anxiety.

Nostalgic memories shared by couples and friends bring them closer. Apparently, a stroll down memory lane is good medicine, just like mom’s old cooking, rich and savory and always making you feel better.

So this is why we cling to our old clothes, photos, record albums, jewelry, coins, baseball cards, and most importantly in my case, Star Wars action figures. These are the talismans of our youth, the magical objects that remind us we are still the kids who owned them way back when. And sure, they are valuable and we could sell them for a profit, but sometimes you can’t put a price on your past.

In an article for The New Yorker entitled “The True Meaning of Nostalgia,” Pulitzer Prize winning author Michael Chabon defines the feeling as something that “overcomes you when some minor vanished beauty of the world is momentarily restored.”

Chabon alludes to a Latin phrase sic transit gloria mundi: thus passeth the glory of the world. Consequently, every time I dust off and admire my original Star Wars figures from the 1970s, I am 12 again. My parents are still married. When I grow up, I will be Luke Skywalker.

My action figures—or your photos or films or songs—help you recall the wonders of your half-remembered, half-imagined childhood. You need them because you’re afraid to lose yourself to the future. And we’re reminded of that secret when we play with our old Legos or buy new ones for our children—but we do most of the playing.

This is all OK. We’re not slackers stuck in the past. In fact, photos or songs or other objects from tougher times are important to remind us how we overcame that adversity. In this case, nostalgia becomes a defense mechanism to reassure us that those painful moments are only temporary. The past can, indeed, coexist with the present and give us courage to face the future.

But beware the dark side. Collecting pieces of nostalgia can turn into an obsession, into hoarding, a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder.

There’s an adrenaline rush I get when I’m able to score a hard-to-find action figure and add it to my collection, but if I take it too far and start down the dark path, forever will it dominate my destiny. I don’t want to wind up half-man, half-machine wearing a breathing mask—because that’s what my wife will do to me if I blow our life savings on little pieces of plastic.

Nostalgia is a powerful force. It’s the house we grew up in, the toys we played with, and the TV shows we watched. It’s the smell of hot dogs cooking on a barbecue grill and that song your mom sang before tucking you in at night. It’s everything we were, everything we still are, if only we remember.

And so a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, I was a little boy playing with Star Wars figures. And now, all these years later, I’m still knocking on your door and asking, “You wanna come out and play?”

Peter Telep is a senior instructor in Â鶹ԭ´´â€™s Department of English. He can be reached at Peter.Telep@ucf.edu.

The Â鶹ԭ´´ Forum is a weekly series of opinion columns from faculty, staff and students who serve on a panel for a year. A new column is posted each Wednesday on Â鶹ԭ´´ Today and then broadcast on WÂ鶹ԭ´´-FM (89.9) between 7:50 and 8 a.m. Sunday. ) Opinions expressed are those of the columnists, and are not necessarily shared by the Â鶹ԭ´´.

His new debuted this fall with 60 students, all eager to boost their creative-writing abilities while immersing themselves in one of the most epic stories of all time. “Some of the students had already read the textbooks before class began,” says Telep. “There are lectures where it’s hard to get through the material because there are 15 hands up.”

Telep has already secured his tickets for the upcoming movie, The Rise of Skywalker, snagging seats for the very first showing on Dec. 19, the day before the film’s official release on the 20^th. We asked him to share his expectations for the last film in the Skywalker Saga, and what the future holds for a galaxy far, far away….

Do you have a personal Star Wars memory that you’d like to share?

When Star Wars was released on May 25, 1977, my parents took me to a standalone theatre in Nassau County, New York. When we arrived, the line was wrapped around the building. We waited in line for two hours and were finally ushered inside, only to discover that the showing had been oversold. My sister and I (ages 11 and 12 respectively) sat on the floor in the aisle, along with dozens of other kids. We didn’t care. The movie was like nothing we’d ever seen before. I remember everyone bursting to their feet and cheering at the end! It was an event. A life-altering experience. After that, I started buying everything Star Wars: books, posters, T-shirts, the original Kenner action figures, you name it. I built Star Wars Lego before there was Star Wars Lego. I had X-wings hanging from fishing line in my bedroom. When The Empire Strikes Back came out, I rode my bicycle to the local theatre every weekend for months and saw the film 13 times. I memorized every line of dialogue. I was driving a car by the time Return of the Jedi came out, and I probably saw that film at least a dozen times. When I was growing up, Star Wars was life!

The Rise of Skywalker is the ninth Star Wars film over the course of three generations. For you, how does this new trilogy stack up with the previous two trilogies? 

I’m what we call an old school OT (Original Trilogy) fan, and as an OT fan we argue fiercely that the first three films will always be the best, and that of the prequel films only Revenge of the Sith is really any good. The Force Awakens is very good but let’s be honest: it’s a reboot of the first Star Wars film and an apology for the prequels. The Last Jedi has become the most contentious film in Star Wars history because the characters and story failed to live up to the promises established in the prior film. If every good story is a promise, then Jedi breaks too many promises and divided the fan base.

In regard to the upcoming The Rise of Skywalker (ROS), writer/director J.J. Abrams has been faced with the nearly impossible task of trying to placate an already disappointed fan base while tying up over 40 years worth of storylines in a single film. There’s another unique problem facing ROS: It’s called The Mandalorian. This weekly TV show on the new Disney+ streaming service has been hailed as the Star Wars we’ve all been waiting for, and fans have flooded social media with predictions that the movie will never be as good as The Mandalorian. But all is not lost. There is a strategy that can help save The Rise of Skywalker. The storytellers can draw from the characters and situations of The Mandalorianand incorporate them into their epic conclusion to the saga. This would be a genius stroke and respect the fan base’s desire for more stories drawn from the rich lore of the Star Wars universe.

Speaking of The Mandalorian, the internet is buzzing about the super cute Baby Yoda, who first appeared in the show. Will this creature make an appearance in The Rise of Skywalker?

It’s been confirmed that Baby Yoda is 50 years old and could easily be alive during the events of ROS. There are hundreds of fan theories on social media speculating on the baby’s origin, its purpose, and whether or not it will play a pivotal role in the future of Star Wars stories. I can tell you this: I want Baby Yoda to play a role in the final Skywalker story. The Mandalorian’s storyline confirms that there are others of Yoda’s species out there. It’d be incredible for Baby Yoda to rally millions of others from its home world in order to help save our heroes from the ultimate evil. That would make for an epic final showdown.

Will we learn more about the Knights of Ren in The Rise of Skywalker? Will Rey defeat Kylo Ren?

The Knights of Ren were mentioned in The Force Awakens, and fans spent two years speculating on who they were and exactly what Kylo’s past was with them (as “Master of the Knights of Ren”). None of those questions were answered in The Last Jedi (a broken promise). Now, from what I’ve read, J.J. Abrams asserts that we will learn more about them. In regard to Rey defeating Kylo, there is already some speculation that they might need to team up to defeat an even greater evil. Personally, I would like to see Kylo sacrifice himself to save Rey, even though I think Kylo is one of the most interesting and complex villains in Star Wars.

Other than Darth Vader, who do you think is the best Star Wars villain?

While some fans initially dismissed Kylo Ren as a whiny brat (there’s even a Twitter account called “emo Kylo Ren”), I found him to be a fun and complex character. We’re not used to seeing dark side villains throw temper tantrums, kill their own fathers, and be torn between the dark side and the light. Kylo Ren is one of the centerpieces of the new trilogy, and without him, I doubt the stories would hold up. Marvel comics also recognizes how engaging Kylo Ren can be and is releasing a new series called Star Wars: The Rise of Kylo Ren. The comics will provide some great backstory on Kylo and the Knights of Ren. Here, take my money!

Why do you feel the Star Wars franchise has been so successful for so long?

For over 40 years the stars of the first three films have been asked this very question, and I remember Mark Hamill in an interview saying something like it’s a classic tale of good versus evil. Indeed, those tales have universal appeal and will always stand the test of time. In my Star Wars course, we dive deeper into this notion of taking heroes out of their ordinary worlds and thrusting them into extraordinary places where they are tested, challenged and eventually return home as wiser and more empowered individuals. Millions of fans have embraced this concept, relying upon Star Wars to help them escape from their mundane or problem-filled lives to go on an adventure and return much better for the journey. For some fans, Star Wars allows them to relive or actually never leave their childhoods. For others, Star Wars is cathartic, the medicine needed to make it though painful experiences in their lives. Above all, Star Wars is community and has led to meaningful, life-long relationships. Our shared love for Star Wars has permeated popular culture forever. When a franchise is able to harness that kind of intimacy among fans, it will always be successful.

Will this really be the final Star Wars film? Do you anticipate this film breaking box office records?

This will be the final film in the Skywalker story, but it will not be the last Star Wars movie. I do hope the film breaks box office records. However, this final chapter faces some considerable challenges: a divided fan base now rallying behind The Mandalorian; a prior film that broke promises and disappointed a lot of diehard fans; and, finally, rumors spread that early test screenings of ROS failed miserably with their audiences and that the film has been retooled many times during the last few months. J.J. Abrams did a fine job with The Force Awakens and I have all the faith in the world that this film will be good; however, The Rise of Skywalker will not make everyone happy. Let’s hope that we feel satisfied by the story, that promises are kept, and above all, that the filmmakers demonstrate a deep respect for a world whose characters have been our best friends since childhood.