The post Cherry Blossom appeared first on Hill Magazine.

Bentonville serves as the new Home of the U.S National Mountain Bike Team for good reason.

By Emma Dannenfelser

In December 2022, United States of America Cycling, the  national governing body for bicycle racing across the U.S, announced that Bentonville would be replacing Colorado Springs as the official “Home of the U.S National Mountain Bike  Team.”  

While this announcement may come as a shock to many, those familiar with Northwest Arkansas and the way mountain  biking has become interwoven with work, play and community  service, it is no surprise. 

The blossoming of the mountain bike scene over the last few decades is nothing new to Northwest Arkansas, said Ozark Off Road Cyclist club member HB Fink. Fink, a Fayetteville native,  began mountain biking in the ‘80s when he was living in Fort Smith and the only real accessible trails for biking were located  at Devil’s Den State Park, nearly an hour away.  

Many times, biking trails would be difficult to distinguish from hiking trails, often resulting in a “Hike-A-Bike” situation, meaning the rider must resort to carrying their bike on their shoulders, Fink said with a chuckle. 

The transformation into what the mountain biking scene looks like today can be largely credited to one man, Tim Scott, Fink  explained. 

Scott, working at Devil’s Den State Park, began the mountain-biking crusade in September 1989 when he brought, probably, the first ever  mountain biking festival and race in Arkansas  to the park. Local bike shops helped host the  event and around 100 people joined in the  action, Scott added. 

In 1997, the Ozark Off-Road Cyclist Club  (OORC) was formed, unifying like-minded  cyclists, racers and bike-shop owners. The club’s main goals include building, preserving and maintaining the majority of bike trails  throughout the state, additionally serving  as advocates for fellow off-road cycling enthusiasts, Rob Reno, the current trails  coordinator for the OORC, said. 

The club has more than 300 members  and hosts cycling events across Northwest Arkansas, such as their annual Upper Buffalo Headwaters Challenge. The event, which covered two days, was at one time the largest group mountain bike ride in the state, with 200 to 300 riders embarking on  the challenge, Fink said. This year, the race  was attended by riders from sixteen different  states, Reno added. 

However, what makes up a sizable aspect of not just the OORC, but also the Northwest Arkansas biking community as a whole, is  dedication to serving the community and  giving back. Volunteers maintain, improve and patrol trails, keeping them safe and clear for Northwest Arkansas residents and visitors  from out of town alike.  

Recently, the OORC has begun partnering with trail running, hiking and other outdoor recreation clubs to maintain the trails that  each group uses for their individual sports,  Fink said. 

“In the past, 99.9% of trail maintenance and building was done by mountain bikers,” Reno  said. “But trail runners and hikers are actually some of the trail’s biggest users. So, now we have the trail running groups coming out,  and the Northwest Arkansas branch of the Trail Sister’s, an all-female hiking club, which  is great to have more people helping with the  work.” 

The biking community also emphasizes  supporting the next generation of mountain bikers in the area. The organization Pedal It  Forward works with community members to refurbish and repair used bikes that are then  donated to children and adults in need of  transportation, or just the freedom that a bike  can offer, Executive Director, Kenny Williams,  said. According to the Pedal It Forward  website, since 2014 the organization has  donated over 6,500 bikes to those in need.  

“We just believe that a bike is kind of a simple thing but it provides a lot of freedom and affordable outdoor time to a kid and can really be a positive influence in their life,” Williams said. “We never know exactly what a bike can do for a kid, but there’s a good chance that it could be something that  significantly changes the quality of their  childhood.” 

Today, Northwest Arkansas is exemplary in the mountain biking community for  numerous reasons, but the most unique aspect is the region’s unmatched accessibility to safe, well-maintained, and innovative trails.  

“Access is the number one thing that sets Northwest Arkansas  apart. You can’t beat it here,” Reno said. “I can just open my  garage, get on my bike and be on the trails in five minutes. In Bentonville, you just have to leave the downtown area and you’ll hit the trails. With the new Fayetteville Traverse  being built, you’ll be able to bike a circle around the entire  Fayetteville area.” 

Northwest Arkansas’ innovation and passionate biking community is on full display with developments like the world’s first ever bikeable building, a community-hub called Ledger, in downtown Bentonville that will hold retail spaces, offices and bookable event space.  

According to the Walton Family Foundation, Northwest Arkansas has 484 total miles of trails, comprising 322 miles of “natural surface” trails and 162 miles of “multi-use paths.”  

While Arkansas may lack the breath-taking scenery and rugged mountains that other popular outdoor recreation destinations, such as Utah or Colorado, its proximity to numerous trail heads and its community’s dedication to maintaining those trails is what earned it the title of “mountain biking capital of the world.” 

Accessibility is also a factor in making mountain biking a more inclusive activity for all men, women and children alike. Programs like Trailblazers strive to advocate for more, and safer, Greenway systems across Northwest Arkansas in order to better serve minority and low-income families, Ciara Logan, a project manager at Trailblazers, explained. Biking can not only serve as a hobby, but also as a form of transportation to work and other necessities. 

“One of the biggest reasons we do so much advocacy for more Greenway trails is because we want every single family,  especially in low-income areas, to be able to leave their house, hop on a Greenway and ride to school, or work or the grocery  store, and not worry about having a car,” Logan said.

Trailblazers also creates inclusivity to the biking community by offering adult “First-Ride” bike riding classes. The class teaches adults who have never  been on a bike how to ride and currently has a waitlist due to its high popularity, Logan said. 

Trailblazers also creates inclusivity to the biking community by offering adult “First-Ride” bike riding classes. The class teaches adults who have never been on a bike how to ride and currently has a waitlist due to its high popularity, Logan said.

Fayetteville as a whole has a steadfast dedication to community and service, the biking community found within Northwest Arkansas is no different. Club members, park employees and community organization leasers are striving to not only create a biking scene that is competitive with the best biking trails in the world, but also a place that is constantly innovating more ways to be inclusive throughout the community.

The post Striving for Innovation, Inclusivity and Accessibility within the Mountain Biking Community appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By: Emma Dannenfelser

We’ve all seen it. The girl walking down the street in her brightly colored athleisure. Her headphones are in and probably blaring a podcast or a playlist full of high-energy songs. While this might simply appear to be a person exercising or just getting some fresh air, it’s not just an ordinary walk—this is a hot girl walk. 

The viral TikTok trend “Hot Girl Walks” has made its way to Northwest Arkansas with the help of Katarina Derrick, a U of A graduate and former Razorback gymnast.  Not only is this trend inspiring women to prioritize their health and build confidence, but it is also creating a community for women in every walk of life. 

Hot Girl Walks may be a peculiar idea to some, yet they have become a daily ritual for many women across the globe ever since a TikTok made by creator Mia Lind blew up in January 2021. In the TikTok, Lind describes the rules and conditions that turn an average walk into a Hot Girl Walk, which consist of some basics like the walk being outside and around four miles long.

However, the most vital part of a Hot Girl Walk is found within the psyche, allowing only thoughts about your goals, what you’re grateful for and how hot you are. Any form of “relationship drama” is also explicitly banned from being in your head for the duration of a Hot Girl Walk, according to Lind’s initial TikTok.

After graduating in 2022, she found herself lacking a solid community after most of her college friends moved to different states, a scenario that is common after college for many. Derrick decided that she wanted to act by creating a group where women can go to find a community and support system.

“I just wanted to get girls together. Maybe it’s girls who are just coming to college or girls who just left college like me,” Derrick said. “You know sometimes your schedule just doesn’t line up with your friends, so I was hoping have a set time that they could put on the calendar and just know that’s what they’re doing that evening.”

From this idea, Derrick created the TikTok account “hotgirlwalknwa”, where she posted her initial video advertising the group’s first-ever organized walk. The TikTok immediately went viral, garnering nearly 200,000 views, 20,000 likes and over 800 shares.

“Everyone always says ‘I didn’t expect it to blow-up’. And while I was hoping it eventually would, I was not expecting that first one go crazy like that. But I’m super glad it did because it helped to jump start things,” Derrick said.

TikTok videos like Derrick’s had been blowing up throughout the summer in cities like Dallas and Austin, so for many the trend coming to Northwest Arkansas was a long-awaited moment, said U of A graduate Sydney Combs. 

“I’m really glad that we have Hot Girl Walk group locally now, because I’d been seeing them on Tik Tok and I was really hoping someone would start it, but it just wasn’t gonna be me!” Combs said, with a laugh.

The group’s first walk was held on Aug. 10 and began in a parking lot near Dickson Street.  Nearly 60 women of all ages showed up, coming from various cities and walks of life. 

“There was such a diverse group of people that showed up, it wasn’t just college girls from Fayetteville. There was a woman from Bentonville who was married, and people even drove all the way from Fort Smith,” said Loren Davis, a recent U of A graduate and friend of Derrick’s. 

The group followed the Razorback Greenway trails south for around one mile, giving the women plenty of time to mingle with as many of their fellow “Hot Girl Walkers” as possible.

“I think of the Hot Girl Walk kind of like a dating app,” Davis said. “There are so many people in your area that you’re never going to meet, and Hot Girl Walk is kind of the catalyst for matching you with people who want the same things as you. In this case, it’s great because we’re all here collectively to get together and create a community.” 

Since the first walk in August, Derrick has planned and hosted not only two more Hot Girl Walks, but also monthly events such as workout classes at Pure Barre or Nooma Yoga and post-walk happy hours at JJ’s, as well as wine and cheese night’s at JJ’s Live, Derrick said.

Along with the organized walks and events, Derrick has also put together numerous giveaways supporting local businesses like Honeyville, Tanning with Marg and Scarlet Letter seltzers, according to the “hotgirlwalknwa” Instagram account. 

Organizing and planning events for 60 or more women from the internet is undeniably no easy feat. Derrick attributes her past as a Razorback gymnast for her success and ability to handle gaining such a large and public platform virtually overnight.

“From competing at meets and being around that many people I’ve gotten used to hyping other girls up, which I’ve been able to do on the walks and at our events,” Derrick said.

Soon, Derrick aims to plan more events throughout the year, specifically more classes and indoor activities as the region’s weather begins to turn colder. 

Something that many college graduates experience, is the sudden loss of connection. For example, people can move away, get married or go back or go back to school and these changes make finding a new social standard difficult for many recent graduates, Combs said. 

“It’s been challenging to kind of meet everyone where they’re at and even just getting groups together. At this time in our lives everyone is so different and they’re individual ideas of fun are so different or what they want to use their free time for after work,” Combs said.

Derrick and “hotgirlwalknwa” has created an environment and community that makes being active and finding new ways to connect with new friends more accessible to people who may not have had those opportunities or the confidence to try them before, Davis said. 

“Kat is such a badass,” Davis said. “There’s all this stuff that she’s made available to people who may not have normally thought to try these things.

The post “Hot Girl Walking” Through Life appeared first on Hill Magazine.

As Jennette McCurdy speaks at the Distinguished Lectures Committee, the audience is very familiar with her. Simply put, the first time the mostly college-age attendees heard of and watched her on TV was when they were in middle school. But she is no longer the character we knew her as. Not Sam Puckett, the spunky, hard-headed girl she played on iCarly nearly 10 years ago. 

After going on a six year hiatus from acting, fans of McCurdy were reintroduced to her, in a new light and with a new title to her belt: an author. 

After quitting acting, going to college, losing her mother to cancer, recovering from an eating disorder and addiction in therapy and now writing a book, she has a new voice, one that is different from her TV persona.

Interviewed by University of Arkansas professor Jen Veilleux and student Josie Zakrewski, she sits before a full audience of eager listeners at the Fayetteville Town Center on Dec. 5. McCurdy wears a black and green outfit with fabulous, mono-chromatic green loafers she bought on sale at Urban Outfitters, she tells the audience. 

This is what her fans like about her. Just like her fashion choices, McCurdy’s book and life experiences have resonated and are relatable to them. 

The former actor has been on a book tour since August to promote her memoir, “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” which is an honest (and darkly-humorous) retelling of her time as a child actress and the pressures and abuse put on by her mom throughout her career and overall life. The stories of her childhood are told in a first person, present tense narrative giving readers a deeper look inside her memories.   

The book quickly became a New York Times best seller after its release, despite the pushback she got for its title. 

“When the book was first coming out, I did a lot of press with people who hadn’t read the book… but everyone would just comment on the title assuming that I was completely hateful towards my mom,” McCurdy said, “and I’m really just so grateful to anybody who’s read it and sees that was not the intention. This was a really hard-fought, complicated and hard-earned journey that I’ve lived.”

The book, which took inspiration from McCurdy’s one-women musical she wrote and performed in the coming months before COVID-19, was a challenge to dig deeper in her allured choice of profession as a writer. At only 10 years old, she had written a screenplay, but was discouraged by her mom, who McCurdy believes pushed her into acting so she could live vicariously through her. A now 30-year-old McCurdy phrases that the time writing her book played a role in healing her inner child who was told to not pursue writing.

After McCurdy’s mom passed away from breast cancer in 2013, she began therapy which led her down the rabbit hole of her abusive past. She recounts that she was unaware of her mothers harmful habits during the time she was alive and would even sugarcoat her actions to her therapist unknowingly.

“Everything had this really long-winded disclaimer attached to it and that was just what I knew best at the time, and it was what I felt I needed at the time. And now that I see it in retrospect, I really needed my mom up on the pedestal in order to survive for so much of my life,” she said.

When it was first brought up that her mom’s actions were abusive, McCurdy admits to the audience, she quit going to therapy appointments for a whole year before returning. But it was in these sessions that she realized she had a story to tell. 

McCurdy spent six years writing and putting time into her craft, all of which she said she spent the majority of alone. As she reflects back on that time, she expresses her gratitude because it helped her tune into herself and grow as a person, separate from her mother and the public’s perception of her. 

Writing and going to therapy helped her better express her feelings, something she struggled with greatly in her adolescence. With a mom who was in and out of the hospital for 17 years, McCurdy said she and her siblings had to be emotionally sound. This resulted in years of bottled up emotions and baggage she tells listeners. 

Her mother also etched a skewed perception of femininity and womanhood into her at a very young age. Growing up Mormon, it became apparent that being female was the “more unfortunate role,” she said. In auditions and therapy, McCurdy even noticed herself leaning into masculine qualities to be taken more seriously.

“Growing up with my mom’s kind of pressure around women and the shame I felt around that,…it’s been such a healing experience to be connecting so much with so many women. It literally makes me emotional. I feel proud to be a woman, and so grateful to be connecting with women,” McCurdy said, tearing up.

During her book tour, between talk shows and press conferences, the author spoke at multiple colleges like the U of A. 

“It’s so great speaking with people this age. It feels really special,” she said.

McCurdy considered her college years one of the hardest times in her life. With it being after her TV show wrapped and around the time of her mother’s death, she said it was a moment she felt she had a lot to overcome. Like most college age students, she felt lost but also that she was defined by one thing, which was her Nickelodeon persona, Sam. 

In the lecture, she shared how she hated being compared to her iCarly character. Often, fans and friends would tell her how they wished she was more like her, a girl known for speaking her mind and being intimidating herself. McCurdy described herself as someone who deeply struggled with anxiety and was usually quiet in public settings, especially as a child. 

“I played characters that were really confident, characters that some say were cool, but then I would go in public and I was a nervous, anxious, little hunched person,” she said. 

The honesty in “I’m Glad My Mom Died” has undoubtedly given readers more insight into who McCurdy really is and has proved she has “more substance” than just her character. 

Throughout the lecture, she spoke on how her writing process not only gave her a better understanding of herself but gave her a better grasp of dealing with the world. Her life, full of ups and downs, has given her a new outlook through comedy which she implemented in her book. 

“The idea of there being a circus of life happening always at the same time as the most tragic events are happening, that’s definitely my experience. I also feel like life’s too f–king hard if you don’t have a sense of humor about it. Like if there’s not some levity, there are days and sometimes weeks and months and years that will knock you to your fucking knees. Life begs for comedy,” she said.

As times progress, life inevitably ebbs and flows. Lucky for McCurdy, she said she believes she has reached a point of positive change. While she continues to be booked with press tours, she is appreciative for being busy. After much success with her memoir, McCurdy is in the works of her second book which will be a novel, she tells the audience.

While she may not be in acting anymore, it is safe to say her career is just getting started. With her feet planted in writing, it is very likely she will be a name fans, new and old, won’t forget. 

The post “Life Begs For Comedy”: Jennette McCurdy on Her Time in Therapy, Her Mom and Her Best-Selling Book. appeared first on Hill Magazine.

Starting college can be an intimidating experience. Going from a 2,000-student high school to a 30,000-student university is enough to make anyone feel lost in a sea of thousands. While the number can seem scary, college is actually the perfect time to find your place and stand out as an individual. 

It is no secret that the social norms in high school revolved heavily around physical looks and personality. I, for one, constantly found myself in fear of judgment if I wore anything or acted in a way even slightly over-the-top. Things like stereotypes, gender-norms and bullying were much more prevalent for those acting outside of the norm.

Because of this, new college students often see more opportunity for significant change in themselves once their college years begin.

Anna Li Richards, a freshman international relations and political science double major, is working on finding her place at the UofA by joining clubs and a sorority to meet new people, she said. Having freedom away from home and schedule-wise has helped her open up more.

In high school, Richards’ identity was more grounded in her athleticism. She was extroverted and social, but identified more as an athlete than as a student, she said.

“In college, I’m not doing sports,” Richardson said. “I’ve just been focusing on adjusting to the first semester with the course load and how it’s different from high school. I meet people, join clubs and stay active.”

Right now, Richards is more focused on getting into the groove of figuring out what she’s interested in career-wise and hobby-wise, mixing in the fun with the serious, too, she said.

Acclimating to your new school environment and finding groups and clubs you feel you belong in is important to the growth of young students. It can also be helpful to get involved with organizations or people who don’t match the interests you had in high school. Opening yourself up to new possibilities is essential to self development.

Callista Scott, a freshman international relations and political science double major, has furthered in her identity with the LGBTQ community after starting college and attending the LGBTQ affinity group. She has known for several years that she is pansexual, but has recently embraced exploring her gender identity and the more masculine side of herself after pushing it away in high school, she said. 

“It’s something I’m embracing in college now,” Scott said. “I feel like I was scared to admit I was more than a girl in high school. I pushed it to the side for years. Part of me always had this thought that I can be gay but I can’t be too gay. It’s okay to like girls, but being a boy would be too much for my family and (hometown).”

It has always been known that college is more open with its rules and standards. Today, many universities encourage freedom of expression, whether it be verbally, the way you dress, personality-wise and many other ways. Entering that kind of environment after leaving an environment that may have been the opposite can be freeing.

Sometimes, things as simple as a more relaxed dress code in college can help someone express themself, which helps with the finding of their identity — at least that’s how it was for me.

After attending a religious protest on campus and seeing other students voicing their opinions confidently, Scott realized it’s okay to say what she thinks and admit to herself that she’s not just a girl, she said. 

Before starting at the UofA, Scott and Richardson both knew they’d change in some way, but didn’t expect the changes they’re currently experiencing, they said. 

“I knew I was going to change because college does that,” Scott said. “But I thought it was just going to be me becoming more mature as an adult and living that lifestyle.”

Richardson expected to be more reserved, but has ended up being more open-minded, she said.

“(My identity) has grown,” Richardson said. “I’ve become more open-minded about different people’s personalities even if we disagree on certain things or have different personalities. I’ve definitely learned to work through that and compromise more and be more okay with going with the flow.”

Looking toward the future, Richardson and Scott both believe their identities will continue to grow, they said.

Richardson said she thinks meeting more people and getting more involved will definitely help her learn from others. She feels better and likes herself more now than she did in high school, she said.

After “laying down low” in high school, seeing all the different styles and personalities of students when I was a freshman made me realize an identity can be found in more ways than I originally thought.  

Scott expects to continue to change. She hasn’t found her gender identity yet, but has found her pronouns, which are she/he, she said.

“I don’t feel the need to label myself this early because there are so many terms out there,” Scott said. “I could be any of them. I don’t know which one yet so I need to do more self-exploration to figure it out. There’s a lot of room for change. College will absolutely help me with self-exploration.”

Now, having found herself a little more than when she was in high school, Scott feels like more of her feelings have explanations. She used to have body image issues and realizes now that it may be because she didn’t want to have the body of a girl the way she did, she said.

“Let yourself think ‘Maybe I’m not this way. Maybe I’m more than I thought I was’,” Scott said. “You might be unhappy for a long time and college is a good place to navigate that and figure out who you really are.”

Although her body image issues are still there, Scott said she has a much better support system than she did in high school and has found people she can talk to without censoring anything out, like she felt she had to do in high school.

To incoming UA freshmen, Richardson and Scott both emphasize the need to be open-minded.

“Know you’re not going to agree with everyone or come from the same background as other people,” Richardson said. “Be patient and understanding with others (because) we’re all coming together from different places and experiences and things. Just learn to compromise and be really open with people.”

Scott suggests letting yourself be open to new ideas and to not put yourself in a box and restrict yourself.

“College is much more accepting and, in a way, a playground to find yourself,” Scott said. “You’re studying for your real career and trying to find your own identity, who you really want to be for the rest of your life. While, of course, that doesn’t have to all be done in college — you have the rest of your life to figure it out — but I do think it’s a really good time to work on it.”

The post Dear Freshmen: Now is the time appeared first on Hill Magazine.

It’s time we acknowledge that while we like to think the holidays are still a time for religious remembrance and getting to see family, it has become much like every other holiday: yet another time for our capitalistic economy to thrive. And with the focus centered around giving the perfect gift, it can become stressful for hearts, minds and of course, wallets. 

Now it seems unrealistic to believe that the “true meaning of the season” we hear about in holiday movies will be restored anytime soon, but there are ways to direct the view away from price tags and save money this holiday season while also helping the environment rather than huge corporations. 

Gifting second hand items is one of the most overlooked ideas around the holidays. But if we convince ourselves that the season isn’t really about the gifts we receive, then it shouldn’t matter where it was sourced from. It’s the thought that counts after all, right?

It can also be a smart alternative for college students who aren’t financially stable to splurge on expensive gifts and for last minute gift ideas that are more meaningful and thoughtful than the regular old gift card.  

If you are looking for places to shop other than a mall or online, thrift stores and vintage stores are a great place to start. For those who enjoy an adventure, estate and garage sales are also an option. If there is something specific you are looking for, you can always try Ebay, Depop or Etsy. 

Here are a list of 10 gift ideas you can source second hand this holiday season:

1. Designer brands for less than half the price: If you still want to wow your loved one with a designer brand name, resale stores have lots of options. Most stores will even have separate racks full of designer tops, sweaters, pants and dresses. It is also common that thrift stores will have gently used designer bags and accessories behind the counter or in glass that are for purchase by asking a worker. While these items might be a little bit more expensive than regular second hand items, it is still way cheaper than paying the retail price.
2. Style bundles: If you are interested in putting in a little bit more effort to curate an outfit for someone’s personal style, a style bundle is a unique gift idea and can also be the most fun and rewarding. All you have to do is shop with someone else’s style in mind. Think about what they like to wear, what colors look good on them, or what you think they would enjoy. A hack for this is to ask them for inspiration photos or look at their Pinterest. Everyone wants a personal shopper and it will show them how much you acknowledge their style and aesthetics.
3. Personalize a clothing item: If you enjoy crafting or sewing, upcycling clothes is a truly thoughtful and one-of-a-kind gift. There are so many options when it comes to this idea. A few examples are thrifting a scarf and adding an embroidered detail to it, ironing on fun patches to a shirt or jacket or using fabric paints on a plain garment. The ideas are endless.
4. Antique accessories: If you are shopping for a jewelry lover, antique shops are a great place to look for vintage jewelry statement pieces. Instead of paying an arm and a leg for a necklace or ring that many people own, go the sustainable route for an assortment of options for a reasonable price. You can also find sunglasses, scarves and hats that are all appreciated gifts.
5. Dishware and mugs: A nice idea for homeowners are nice dishes or unique mugs. You would be surprised at how many dishes and kitchen utensils get donated to second hand stores. You can find full tea and plate sets, pots and pans, and so much more in pristine condition. You can also use dishes to DIY other gifts such as jewelry holders, plant holders and so much more.
6. Picture frames: A classic gift that is always appreciated are photos, and while you can’t print photos at a thrift store, they do provide plenty of options for frames of all different styles and sizes. Nice frames from retail stores can often be on the more pricey side, so it never hurts to look at a second hand shop for one. If you want to personalize the frame, thrifting them also takes the pressure off ruining a brand new one as well.
7. Wall art: Antique and second hand shops are full of knick knacks that make good gifts in general, but one of the easiest to find are prints, photos and other wall art. If the person you are shopping for enjoys vintage decor, this is a thoughtful alternative to spice up a room.
8. Paperback and coffee table books: Thrift stores often have surprisingly big book collections in the back of the store. While it might not be the best for finding a specific book, there is a high chance you can find classics, cookbooks and other fun reads. You can also support second hand bookstores in your area for these books. Coffee table books make a nice gift and can be sourced from these stores as well. 
9. Records: Similar to books, records can regularly be found in antique and second hand shops. If you are shopping for a music lover, especially one who likes older music and has a record player, there are so many choices to choose from. You can also try second hand record shops for these for a broader selection. Supporting a small business is always a better option than buying from Amazon.
10. Holiday decorations: If you want to stick with a traditional holiday gift, second hand stores usually put out their decorations before the season just like any other store. If you want to buy a one-of-a-kind ornament, most thrift and antique stores have a variety of options. You can also find figurines, Christmas village sets, and wall decor for the best prices. 

Besides these ideas, there are so many more gifts you can find at thrift and antique shops, you just have to get creative and give second hand a chance. 

The post ‘Tis the Seasons for Sustainable Gift Giving appeared first on Hill Magazine.

Firefighters are an integral part of society, and they have been throughout much of history, as well as the average American’s life. Children’s books, movies or cartoons, you name it, we were raised on stories about a man in that heavy, puffy suit saving people from ferocious fires. Today, young minds are being inspired to help the community as more women are not only becoming firefighters, but completely thriving in the field.

In 2020 men accounted for around half of all employment nationwide, but over three-fourths of protective services employees, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  As of 2020, only 4.4% of the nation’s firefighters were women. However, that number is due to rise in the future as more women pursue a career in firefighting.

Although fighting life altering flames sounds terrifying to many, with the split-second decisions, long hours and serious scenarios, Alexandra Wade from the Fayetteville Fire Department has always had a “hankerin’ for it”.

Growing up, Wade says she was always active. In college, she played basketball at Southern Arkansas University. 

A career in firefighting matched everything that she was looking for. A job filled with comradery, brotherhood and challenging physical tasks.

“I was just like, Dadgumit, this is a dream. I’m just gonna chase it,” Wade said.

Wade began her career at North Little Rock Fire Department, where she said she was at first nervous to work in such a male-dominated field. She quickly realized that once she proved her work-ethic she was welcomed by her male peers with open-arms.

The job certainly does not come without a fair number of challenges, and for many female firefighters, the physical side of the job is an area where they have to develop more technical skills in order to match weights or repetitions with the men.

“There are standards that we have to meet, and that can be really difficult,” Alexis Flagg, with the Springdale Fire Department said. “We are expected to lift like everyone else. There are  gentlemen here who are 6’5 and have a foot on me, I need to be able to do the same things as them.”

Enthusiastic and undyingly positive success stories, like Wade’s and Flagg’s, are common here in Northwest Arkansas, where departments intentionally work to provide more inclusion for women. 

Some of these changes include things like prioritizing private bedroom and bathroom areas inside the department, however, many of the challenges that female firefighters face are found outside the firehouse and in the community, Thomas Jenkins, Rogers Fire Chief, said. 

“The obstacles they face are often more cultural in the community. Unfortunately, even in 2022 we still find people who don’t associate the job of firefighting with a female,” Jenkins said. “Luckily, I think you would find that within the department, that stigma is extinct.”

As more women join the force, the public’s acceptance has also grown, Lacie Hewlett, from Rogers Fire Department said.

While the public commonly view men as stronger, Hewlett said female firefighters can have a special presence on many calls, offering a more calming presence.

Hewlett has been working for Rogers Fire Department since 2004, offering her a front-row seat to the developing inclusivity that stations around Northwest Arkansas are deservingly proud of. 

“I think with the new kids coming in the mindset is just completely different. Everybody is just more accepting of everybody, for who they are no matter what they are,” Hewlett said.  “I think it’s becoming easier for women now, compared to back-in-the-day.”

First responders everywhere are tasked with assisting with gruesome, tragic and bone-chilling scenes every day, which sometimes means carrying home an onslaught of emotions. However, recent years have shown the mental health of firefighters being prioritized, Jenkins said.

“There is a huge focus here on taking care of the station’s firefighters. A few years ago, talking about feelings was taboo and ‘hush-hush’, we were told to just ‘push it down and deal with it’,” Flagg said. “I think a challenge is just having enough mental strength and awareness for the mental health side of the job. But it’s facilitated well here, we have resources, and everyone is open and willing to help.” 

Female Firefighters in Northwest Arkansas, but also nationwide, are on the rise. Now is the time for women to go after a career in firefighting, Flagg said. 

“I like being in the fire service in this transitional time. For instance, in public I’ve had kids go ‘oh look firefighter woman!’ and it’s really rewarding to see this change,” Flagg said. 

The post Women of Fire appeared first on Hill Magazine.

Going through the days, I’ve gotten lost in obscene thoughts and nooks and crannies of my mind.

Maybe tomorrow or yesterday, I can find the answers I’m looking for.

While life goes by I ponder a time where I realize that I am no longer the milk.

And as I wander I start to wonder and realize I have never been the milk.

Milk gets sour and can be thrown out while the carton can live another day, refilled and reused another way. 

I am the carton. 

I am a shell.

Don’t rid of me even if my insides start to smell.

I can be new and I can be whole, or so I’ve been told.

This truth I am sold. 

The post Throwing Out the Milk by Paige Babcock appeared first on Hill Magazine.

Of course it is.

It had been forecasted for a while now.

It should have been obvious,

The wisps of white that mimed Paul’s Revere,

The temperature reaching a fever pitch,

The air itself seemed to sweat so that the Earth

Must wipe it all away, leaving a gray streak in its stead.

That golden sun you were so focused on grasping with all your worth

Has disappeared behind the streak, as does your self-worth.

And the golden days are over.

All that time protecting the sun from a foe you never saw coming,

The sting of defeat tingles as the electricity mounts,

The rain pelts you like insults, striking you coldly,

And the wind howls like shouts of malice.

If the sky could kill, you’d have drowned.

If words could kill, those drops are icicles.

The sun is gone, child. Look for the silver linings, 

The edges of gloom illuminated by the gold that once was.

The sun is still there, right behind the rain.

It’s no golden beam, but you must take them.

Waiting for The Golden Beam is to wait for God;

Only possible in death, and even then, 

You’re never really sure either will be there.

Take the silver, wait out the howling storm.

Endure the strikes that are only ice if you let them be.

The gold will triumph over the silver

And you will be basked again.

The ground beneath you will be damp;

Some things may be a wreck;

But you will have withstood a storm;

No longer a child, but a force all your own.

The post Silver and Gold- Joshua Droll appeared first on Hill Magazine.

With hustle culture being so prevalent, especially in younger generations, there is a lot of pressure on working hard and pushing yourself to perform at 110%. They say if you’re not exhausted, you didn’t work hard enough. With that, there are so many people in the world who spend their days hustling. They work excessive hours, take care of their kids in their free time, do household chores, run errands and still barely make a living wage.   

People who live in the lower class are some of the most determined, hard-working people out there. Yet, for whatever reason, our society views them as lazy or less than just because of their financial status. No matter how hard they work, the world seems to place them at the bottom with no regard to the stress that comes with it.  

According to the Center on Poverty and Social Policy, the amount of people in the US living in poverty has been slowly increasing since December of 2021. As of February of 2022, 14.4% of Americans are living in poverty. And the number of homeless individuals in the US is high, higher than it should be, at 17 people per 10,000 in the population, according to the Council of Economic Advisors. Waitlists for homeless shelters have been doubling, even tripling, in recent months, details an article by the New York Times.  

When one loses their home, they are put at risk of losing their job. After this happens, it becomes incredibly difficult to acquire a new job with no permanent address or access to the internet, which adds onto the already high pressure of needing to hustle and make money.  

It is no secret that many people look down on the poor and homeless. They’re viewed as unmotivated, lazy and a waste of space. What most people don’t realize, though, is that the top cause of homelessness is poverty, which is caused by low wages and a lack of affordable housing and healthcare, according to an article by Human Rights Careers. 

Trinity Barnes grew up in a household with her single mother whose yearly salary as a teacher’s aid was only about $4200 a year, due to the Great Recession, leaving them with only $1800 to spend on things like food, housing and other necessities. They would stay in an unoccupied house owned by her grandmother, she said. 

However, growing up, Barnes said she was never completely aware of her family’s financial situation. 

On top of being hard-working, the heads of lower income households can be the most caring, too. Many adults will give their food or extra money to the children and do everything within their power to make them happy. They keep their struggles a secret so as to not cause worry to the children. 

“We always had enough food for my brother and I,” Barnes said, “but there were many times my mother couldn’t afford to eat her own portion of a meal. She hid our lack of money so well, I was convinced she had an eating disorder rather than a financial crisis.” 

Although the financial situation is usually attempted to be hidden from the children, they still can have negative mental effects from it.  

Not only did Barnes, her mother and her brother have to navigate financial worry, but they also had to navigate the harsh words and the aftermath of a separation from her father.  

In her life, Barnes’ father was the only person who ever tried to make her mother feel lazy due to her financial situation, she said. He would also try to use Barnes and her brother against her mother to force her mother to save what little money she had; money she needed to spend in order to care for herself and her children.  

“(It) was traumatizing,” Barnes said. “A grown man who knew that our mother was already having to go without food more often than not, wearing clothing with many holes, unable to afford a surgery she desperately needed and still trying to tell her that she needed to save money was obscene at best. He was just trying to break her spirit” 

Sofia Kingsbury grew up poor in California. Her parents got divorced when she was just three years old. When staying with her dad, she and her sister would live in either a hotel or a garage that belonged to a family friend, because her dad could not afford a permanent place to stay.  

Kingsbury and her sister would often be left at home alone by their father for whole days at a time while he worked full time starting a business, which people called him lazy for doing instead of working towards a more traditional job, she said. Kingsbury’s mother also worked full time, but it was a more stable environment. When staying with her, she and her sister had a live-in nanny to take care of them.  

Regardless of the unconventional lifestyle she had at a young age, Kingsbury has a more positive outlook, saying it has given her plenty of funny stories for her to talk about with friends and gave her more of an exciting childhood.  

“When everyone was watching movies with both of their parents, I was traveling to new and cheaper places and getting to explore the outdoors, beaches, and mountains of California,” Kingsbury said. 

While growing up or living in a low income household can be stressful, exhausting and certainly not ideal, the life lessons that can be learned from the experience are like no other. While it may seem like the hustle is taking you nowhere, the outcome is almost always rewarding. 

“Growing up in poverty shaped my life by giving me an alternate perspective on people’s appearances,” Kingsbury said. “When someone physically looks like they are financially struggling, I can understand where they are coming from because I’ve been there before in my childhood.” 

Although Barnes’ view of her childhood wasn’t directly affected by her financial situation, it still changed it. It taught her how to be more in touch with reality and how to save and spend wisely, she said. She doesn’t look back on her childhood with distaste because she had her family, and that was everything she needed, she said. 

Barnes also has found her passion in helping those who are struggling financially and to help those that are so incredibly low-income that saving money really isn’t an option, she said.  

“My brother and I were perfectly content with what we had, even though it wasn’t much of anything,” Barnes said. “I care greatly about helping people learn how to get themselves out of financial ‘holes,’ so to speak, hence why my major is finance.” 

Although their hustle paid off, throughout the years they pursued to get to this point, society still viewed them as less than.  

Now Barnes’ and Kingsbury’s families are both doing well financially. Kingsbury’s mother is a well-accomplished Human Resources manager and her dad’s business is doing very well, she said.  

“I can make it through college without financial worry, but I always keep money in mind because I remember how it feels to not know where you’ll be a year from now,” Kingsbury said. 

Barnes’ mother remarried and they now own a house with more than they need, she said.  

“My mother was the hardest worker I’d ever met,” Barnes said. “She juggled having two kids, a job, and the stress of (my father) all by herself. It was truly amazing how stressed she must have been and still managed to be just about a perfect parent.” 

So appreciate and respect those around you, no matter where they are in their lives mentally, physically, or financially, because you never know what someone is going through behind the curtain. While you may be conditioned to look down on those who are below you financially, it is better to have kindness and understanding of the hard work and feelings of discouragement that go with the need to hustle.  

The post The Payoff appeared first on Hill Magazine.