diff --git a/src/Client/src/main/java/greenify/client/controller/DashBoardController.java b/src/Client/src/main/java/greenify/client/controller/DashBoardController.java
index e9d2466..55271ff 100644
--- a/src/Client/src/main/java/greenify/client/controller/DashBoardController.java
+++ b/src/Client/src/main/java/greenify/client/controller/DashBoardController.java
@@ -30,6 +30,9 @@ public class DashBoardController {
     @Autowired
     UserService userService;
 
+    private FadeTransition fadeTrans;       //transition for switching between the different panels
+    private int net;
+
     @FXML
     private AnchorPane dashboardPane;
     @FXML
@@ -41,7 +44,7 @@ public class DashBoardController {
     @FXML
     private Label totalVeganMealCounter;
     @FXML
-    private Label welcomeBackText;
+    private Label welcomebacktext;
     @FXML
     private Button dashboardButton;
     @FXML
@@ -54,7 +57,6 @@ public class DashBoardController {
     private Line pathLine;
     @FXML
     private AnchorPane menuBar;
-
     @FXML
     private Button addNewActivityButton;
     @FXML
@@ -65,7 +67,7 @@ public class DashBoardController {
      */
     public void initialize() {
         //sets the text of the 'welcome back' text to include the username
-        welcomeBackText.setText("Welcome back, " + userService.currentUser.getName() + "!");
+        welcomebacktext.setText("Welcome back, " + userService.currentUser.getName() + "!");
         //adds the slide transition to the menu bar
         addSlideTransition(menuBar, pathLine);
         //adds animations to the navigation buttons
@@ -85,17 +87,15 @@ public class DashBoardController {
      * Adds a fade transition for switching between the different panes.
      * @param node the node on which the transition needs to act
      */
-    private void addFadeTransition(Node node) {
+    public void addFadeTransition(Node node) {
 
-        // FadeTransition is now a local variable
-        // net is now a local variable
-        //transition for switching between the different panels
-        FadeTransition fadeTrans = new FadeTransition(Duration.millis(400), node);
+        fadeTrans = new FadeTransition(Duration.millis(400), node);
         fadeTrans.setFromValue(0);
         fadeTrans.setToValue(1.0);
         fadeTrans.play();
     }
 
+
     /**
      * Displays the dashboard pane.
      * @param event the event (clicking the button)
@@ -107,6 +107,7 @@ public class DashBoardController {
         userPane.setVisible(false);
         activitiesPane.setVisible(false);
         friendsPane.setVisible(false);
+
     }
 
     /**
@@ -115,7 +116,6 @@ public class DashBoardController {
      */
     public void displayActivities(ActionEvent event) {
         addFadeTransition(activitiesPane);
-        int net = 0;
         totalVeganMealCounter.setText("" + net);
         System.out.println("display activities");
         dashboardPane.setVisible(false);
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ public class DashBoardController {
         userPane.setVisible(true);
         activitiesPane.setVisible(false);
         friendsPane.setVisible(false);
+
     }
 
     /**
@@ -148,10 +149,11 @@ public class DashBoardController {
         userPane.setVisible(false);
         activitiesPane.setVisible(false);
         friendsPane.setVisible(true);
+
     }
 
     //sets the slide in transition for startup
-    private void addSlideTransition(Node node, Line path1) {
+    public void addSlideTransition(Node node, Line path1) {
         PathTransition pathTrans = new PathTransition(Duration.millis(1100), path1, node);
         pathTrans.play();
     }
@@ -176,7 +178,7 @@ public class DashBoardController {
          * and scales down when you stop hovering over it.
          * @param button the button to add the animation to
          */
-        MyButtonSkin(Button button) {
+        public MyButtonSkin(Button button) {
             //inherit the button properties
             super(button);
             //transition to scale up on hover
diff --git a/src/Client/src/main/resources/fxml/dashboard.fxml b/src/Client/src/main/resources/fxml/dashboard.fxml
index 761d900..a06f56e 100644
--- a/src/Client/src/main/resources/fxml/dashboard.fxml
+++ b/src/Client/src/main/resources/fxml/dashboard.fxml
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@
       <AnchorPane fx:id="dashboardPane" layoutX="215.0" prefHeight="703.0" prefWidth="820.0" AnchorPane.bottomAnchor="0.0" AnchorPane.leftAnchor="214.0" AnchorPane.rightAnchor="0.0" AnchorPane.topAnchor="0.0">
          <children>
             <HBox layoutX="97.0" layoutY="124.0" prefHeight="100.0" prefWidth="200.0" />
-            <Label fx:id="welcomeBacktext" layoutX="69.0" layoutY="53.0" text="Welcome back user!" AnchorPane.leftAnchor="60.0" AnchorPane.topAnchor="40.0">
+            <Label fx:id="welcomebacktext" layoutX="69.0" layoutY="53.0" text="Welcome back user!" AnchorPane.leftAnchor="60.0" AnchorPane.topAnchor="40.0">
                <font>
                   <Font size="30.0" />
                </font>