By Ella Karoline Hendricks

Julianna Breazeale has always dreamt of finding love. She grew up dreaming of romantic, classic love. She wasn’t the type to dream of her wedding day, instead, she dreamt of the life it would bring. White picket fences, shiny diamond rings, a beautiful family of her own. Topped off with a handsome, supportive, loving partner to be with her every step of the way. Julianna Breazeale knew she would find it – and fight for it. 

“I always knew I would get married young,” Breazeale said. “I have always been mature from a young age. I never cared to go into the crazy dating scene and I wasn’t willing to date anyone I wouldn’t marry.” 

And true to her word, Breazeale got married on Aug. 11, 2024, to her husband, Matthew, while they were both in school at the University of Arkansas. Between juggling school work, wedding planning and their social lives, the couple faced the possibility of judgment and the question of the realities of a wedding, like scheduling and financial constraints. 

“Because we are so young, the challenges were not between us, but more like us against the world,” Breazeale said.

But those uncertainties and fears pale in the light of love. 

Breazeale experienced the joy of finding love at a young age. The couple were 15 and 16 when they met in Spanish class their sophomore and junior year of high school in September of 2020 and have been together for five years now. Breazeale describes her relationship as natural and healthy. As a match of two personalities and souls who want the same thing, she said. 

In the South, marriage is almost seen as the next step in a young woman’s life. Traditionalists cite it as a key developmental phase, an item to be ticked off a checklist. Adolescence, prom, high school, marriage, kids. And in the state of Arkansas, many hold these ideas close, often in the name of Christian values. These beliefs extend far, even to the state’s flagship university. 

College and marriage are not as mutually exclusive as they once appeared. The converging ideas of the progressive nature of university combined with the traditional viewpoints on love, marriage and family has led to an interesting phenomenon: the concept of a “Ring by Spring” campus. 

Most well known at religious schools such as Brigham Young University and Baylor University, a “Ring by Spring” campus is a college campus that has a large number of students getting engaged while still in school or shortly thereafter. At these schools, the campus culture lends itself to marriage, or at least the societal acceptance of young marriage and engagements. 

Yet, according to the US Census, Arkansas has one of the highest divorce rates in the country, averaging at 11.09 when the national average is 7.1 per 1,000 women aged 15 and older in 2022. 

And on the whole, marriage rates are declining. According to Pew Research Center, “ among adults between the ages of 18 and 29, just 16% are married, compared with a majority (57%) of adults over the age of 30.” 

Everyday U of A students defy the odds for the chance at love, despite the fact that marriage as a whole is on the decline and many people believe young marriage is more likely to end in divorce. Instead, the “Ring by Spring” phenomenon takes hold. 

This idea is not foreign in other parts of the country and has been a part of American culture ever since women have stepped on college campuses —  girls going to college to get their “MRS degree.” This idea is a more traditional view that is not as common in modern day, but in some majors – namely “pink collar” majors such as education, nursing, and liberal arts – the stereotype persists. It is a joke that undermines the intellectual value of the degree and degrades the woman from a person seeking intellectual betterment to simply searching for a romantic partner. 

In a “Ring by Spring” campus, this is not contained to specific majors, instead young marriage is seen throughout the campus. Even so, this idea of a “Ring by Spring” campus is more common in the South than in different parts of the nation. It begs the question: What pushes these couples to get engaged at such a young age? 

Breazeale has never once doubted her decision to get married before her or her husband’s college graduation. Instead, they have embraced married college life together. 

“Being in the Bible Belt,” Breazeale said, “there’s a lot of individuals who have values on marriage and just getting married young, versus in the North, where that’s not as a big a push. So I do think this is more of a place you’d see it than if you went anywhere North.”

Laying out in Old Main, over cups of coffee or even overheard in sorority dining rooms — talks of marriage and engagement are abuzz on the U of A campus. Girls discussing potential bridesmaids and creating Pinterest boards full of dresses and rings. Some take it as a far off exercise, a bridge to be crossed in many years, while others look to the near future.

Recently engaged and in the depths of wedding planning is Megan Papagoriou, a junior at the U of A who is planning on getting her masters and becoming a child-centered play therapist. Papagoriou has been with her partner for almost two years and is looking forward to their upcoming summer wedding set at a beautiful local church. 

“We met through our parents at church,” Papagoriou said. “His grandparents were leading a small group that my parents joined, and they wanted me to meet him because he’s two years older, and he was already at the U of A, so they just wanted me to have a familiar face.”

They hit it off instantly and the pair were inseparable after their first date, texting nonstop and seeing one another almost daily. They started dating and got engaged exactly one year later. 

“I do think that marriage is more common in the South, but I know personally, I would want to be engaged to him wherever we lived,” Papagoriou said. “If we lived in New York and happened to me, or were raised there, I just know that this would have happened no matter where.” 

Outside opinions and values can be influential in relationships, especially if the couple is close to their family. Both Papagoriou and Breazeale said their families were very supportive of their engagements, and both women said their families did not pressure them in any way. 

Papagoriou and her fiance both come from Christian families and hold their faith very strongly in everyday life. However, it is not the driving factor in her engagement. Instead, the love they have for one another, guided by their faith, led them to get engaged at a young age.

“It wasn’t like we’re getting married young because in our religious group everyone gets married young,” Papagoriou said. “It was that we felt lucky enough to find our person for life, and then why hold off on that?”

There is a link between religion and marriage. According to Pew Research Center, Evangelical Protestants are the most concerned about the effects of the decline of marriage rates in the United States, with 55% saying that fewer people getting married will have a negative impact on the future. 

God acts as the guiding force in Breazeale’s relationship, she said. Both Breazeale and her husband have been deeply involved in the Christian church since childhood and have put God at the forefront of their thoughts. 

“I was 16 years old, and we were praying over our relationship and asking for the Lord’s blessing, valuing the way He says to do relationships,” Breazeale said. “And I think we’re just evidence that it works because we did our best to do the things that He told us to do, and He’s really blessed us for it.” 

Religion is a major factor in many people’s identities, and it plays heavily into relationships when a person’s morals and ethics are built by their religion. Church is a place many people find community in and often form friendships and relationships with like-minded people. Many share this dream of getting married and settling down early, with ideas being repeated and normalized in these circles. On the opposite side of societal acceptance is social ostracization, as often occurs in the case of purity culture. 

Purity culture often shames the members who participating in sexual acts before marriage and idealizes those who stay “pure,” as in sexually inactive before marriage. 

In Christian culture, it is emphasized that both parties remain sexually inactive with each other until marriage, as it is viewed as a Holy sacrament. This, colloquially known as purity culture, has traditionally fallen more so on women as opposed to men. Some view it as backward while others hold it very personally. 

Breazeale and her husband chose to wait for marriage, but Breazeale said she believes there is some harm in what the Church has put out in terms of purity culture. 

“(The church) has hurt women in the process of trying to invent purity,” Breazeale began. “It really upset me as I realized the culture around the concept. When I was younger, I read a book and had a good conversation with my mom about purity. It’s not about a girl being a perfect virgin and instead on a relationship with Jesus. There are benefits to waiting till marriage, it’s not easy and doesn’t look the same for every couple. There are really good physical, emotional and spiritual benefits for waiting for marriage, and there should be no shame around making mistakes and learning as you go.”

Purity culture has a foothold in Arkansas society, yet it also contrasts pretty heavily to mainstream college bar and hookup culture. Saving yourself for marriage is a personal choice, but it can also be difficult to be around others who do not share your beliefs. 

“I would say it’s pretty unique to campus culture — lots of people would question me on it,” Breazeale said. “It blew their minds. People assume that we had no physical connections, but we were still intimate and knew each other well.”

Breazeale hasn’t had quite the typical college experience and said with being in a serious relationship, college life has looked a little different —  maybe a bit more contained, while still enjoying her youth.

“Those typical college experiences — sorority, functions, parties — are not mutually exclusive to being single,” she said. “I guess just as a Christian in general, I have a different balance of fun and what people consider fun. I’m not attracted to super high, fast life but insead having fun in moderation. Just more contained and respectful. We still like to do things but stick with people that know us.” 

When prompted about if campus culture influenced them in any way, Breazeale said, “(Engagement in college) is very rare. I don’t think there’s many. I think we’re a smaller population, a more group. I think since we go to a big SEC school, the culture is more like young party life. So being married in college is kind of shocking to most people I tell, but everyone who I know on campus is extremely accepting.”

It’s important to note that for Breazeale, being married hasn’t made her lose any independence in her morals or beliefs. 

“My beliefs and my morals are who I am to my core,” Breazeale said. “They would still be there if I wasn’t married. I would still act and behave in the same ways. Instead, I think marriage has elevated and made my experience even better — whether that’s having a study partner or walking me out the door before an exam. I haven’t changed for it, but instead, it has made me better.”

But for some on campus, marriage is not in the immediate post-grad cards. Isabella Galloway has been with her high school sweetheart for almost five years now.

“We actually met around COVID,” Galloway said. “So he literally just slid into my DM and texted me: ‘I think you’re really pretty.’ And we just kept talking. It was March or April of 2020, and whenever we could finally go back outside, we met up.” 

Galloway, a college sophomore majoring in chemical engineering, and her partner have been long distance through their college years. Long distance can be very difficult for couples, especially at a young age. Galloway’s boyfriend attends Louisiana Tech, but she chose to attend the U of A as she earned several scholarships for her degree. 

Long distance can be difficult with communication, as it can be hard to convey feelings and meaning clearly. Yet, the distance has not lessened their relationship, merely presented some challenges.

“I would say (the relationship is) very supportive,” Galloway said. “And I would say it’s really easy to be honest.”

Galloway and her partner have communicated expectations of one another and have practiced the art of long distance. They aren’t the type of couple to get upset at smaller things, or hiccups in communication, instead maintaining a strong relationship built on trust and healthy expectations.  

Galloway has no immediate plans for engagement or marriage, instead is enjoying her relationship with her boyfriend in its current label. Galloway treasures the ease in which her relationship holds — for the pair, they are happily content with being there for one another. They are not in any rush to tie the knot, instead trusting their relationship will pass over into that next phase of life. 

Modern ideas of marriage are changing. No longer is the expectation of young women to be married directly after college. Many young women enjoy the season of singleness in their lives, using this time for self-development and growth. Every year, it becomes more and more acceptable for women to delay partnerships, engagements, and marriage. For some, marriage is not a necessary part of a fulfilled, successful life. 

That is the beauty of this day and age, each person chooses what is best for them at that moment. Whether that be marriage, motherhood, partnership, or existing as an individual, everyone is entitled to their own ideal of happiness. 

Galloway is looking forward to this unknown chapter of her life, full of wonderful, exciting possibilities. Papagoriou is currently busy planning her wedding for this upcoming summer, sending pretty personalized invitations out to her friends and family, with white dress shopping and bridesmaid proposals. And Breazeale is enjoying her life as a newlywed in her last years of college, taking in all of the changes that come with this new distinction. Living with her husband and building the life they have always dreamed of, Breazeale experiencing the joy of her life-long plans finally coming to fruition. 

“I always knew I was gonna be a wife,” Breazeale said. “But it wasn’t my biggest dream. I wanted to be Matt’s wife. That connection that I always dreamt of — finding the one, right person — I knew he was out there and I found him.” 

Regardless if the University of Arkansas campus is a “Ring by Spring” school or not, at the core of these relationships, seems to be true love and happiness. Young, full, inviting adoration that deserves to be celebrated. It is not every day we find the love of our lives and who can blame them for catching it and holding on tight?

The post Degrees and Diamon Rings appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Ella Miller

From game-day buttons to custom hats to painted 21st birthday signs, entrepreneurship among college students has immensely grown in recent years. At the University of Arkansas, many students have turned their talents into full-blown businesses, all while still pursuing a degree, illuminating the fact that business ownership as a college student is completely possible. 

For many entrepreneurs, businesses start as a hobby, passion or side project before turning into a full-fledged endeavor. U of A sophomore Aubrey Holloway discovered her love of floral design while working at a flower shop in high school. When Holloway couldn’t fit time in her schedule to continue working there, she decided to launch Designs By Aub, specializing in custom floral arrangements and bouquets. 

What started as designing prom bouquets for friends quickly expanded into a business with a strong customer base in Northwest Arkansas. 

“My favorite part about owning my own business is working with clients,” Holloway said. “I’m a big people person and a big left-brainer since I was a kid. Flower arrangements allow me to combine my love of creativity with my passion for making connections with people.”

Holloway said she feels pride in being able to transform emotions into tangible gifts, especially because flowers are typically given for special occasions.

This past Valentine’s Day, Holloway created 23 arrangements and delivered about half of them. She said it felt like an ‘I’m making it’ moment.

Senior Tori Sloan Stevens found her passion for crocheting that started as a creative outlet in 2023. 

“I picked up crocheting on a whim, and once I started making clothes, I fell in love with the process,” Stevens said. “What really clicked for me was when I wore one of my pieces to Row, and people kept asking where they could buy it. That’s when I knew I had something special, and instead of just making things for myself, I started offering custom orders. From there, it took off, and I kept pushing my designs further,” Stevens said. 

Now, Sewn by Sloan, has grown from small personal projects to custom designs for major photographers and stylists across the country.

“Seeing my work go from a personal hobby to being recognized in professional creative spaces has been surreal.” Stevens said. 

Stevens expressed her goal is to redefine the fashion industry by showing that handcrafted pieces are just as high-fashion as mass-produced pieces. 

Junior Cortlyn Beavert started her business, ButtonsByCort, in 2022 after seeing an opportunity for custom buttons at football games. 

“I thought the concept was so great, but the designs were not as creative and cute as I thought they could be, so I watched a YouTube video and figured out I could make them very easily,” Beavert said. 

Beavert received a button machine and the first round of supplies for Christmas her freshman year, and since then ButtonsByCort has expanded, offering custom designed buttons for graduations, gamedays, birthdays, teams and more. ButtonsByCort now sells buttons in boutiques in five Southeastern Conference towns. 

“My favorite part of owning ButtonsByCort is definitely getting to walk around to sporting events on campus and getting to see customers wearing my buttons,” Beavert said. “I love getting to make connections with people all across the nation.”

Beavert said staying creative and aligned with trends can be unexpected yet rewarding, and a way to push herself.

Behind the passion of each unique business, balancing this ownership while earning a college degree can come with challenges.

On top of owning Designs By Aub, Holloway balances being an architecture student and coaches gymnastics several times a week.

“My schedule can get really full, so trying to figure out my time management can be more stressful than some realize,” Holloway said.

Holloway said she manages school deadlines by planning, even though work for Designs By Aub can feel like free time expressing her creative side. 

“Running my business comes with busy and dead days,” Holloway said. “Busy days consist of picking up and ordering flowers and designing and even delivering. Dead days I focus more on school and try to keep everything balanced.”

Beavert said there is always something to get done, whether it’s emails, posting, designing or getting supplies. Besides Beavert working on her business, two U of A marketing students help assist in the process.  

“I definitely have to keep up with a lot of different tasks at once,” Beavert said. “However, I have learned that color coded excel sheets are your best friend while owning a small business in college.”

As a STEM major, Stevens said she has to be intentional about time management, especially as each crochet piece can take up to 40 hours to create. Stevens said every day is a mix of school, brainstorming and sketching, finishing orders or coordinating with photographers. Sometimes she will listen to lecture recordings while crocheting.

To combat the balance of school and work, Stevens said Sewn by Sloan is shifting toward a website-based drop model, where Stevens releases limited pieces on her own schedule to give more creative freedom.

Despite the challenges that come with juggling school assignments and owning a business, these students said they’ve learned transferable, lifelong skills, and their businesses have even affected their long-term career goals. 

“In school we’re graded by letters, but in owning a business, I know that my work is worth paying for, which makes me feel successful and determined to uphold a good reputable business that others want to recommend,” Holloway said. “I feel like owning my own business allows me to make connections in ways I don’t through my classes.”

Holloway said Designs By Aub has allowed her to think more creatively overall, and she can see herself merging her flower business with her childhood dream job in the future.

“I’ve been set on being an architect since I was young, but to me, flower arranging speaks the same language as architectural design,” Holloway said. “I would love to always be creating and designing for whatever community I am a part of post grad.”

In addition to redefining success and shedding light onto future plans, Holloway said her business has taught her about connections.

“Through this, I feel like I have learned to read people in ways that I can’t explain with words,” Holloway said. “It’s an unspoken connection between me and my customers.”

In the future, Beavert said she wants to continue owning her own business but on a larger scale. Her experience also influenced her major switch from nursing to marketing. 

“Owning ButtonsByCort definitely opened my eyes to a new world,” Beavert said.

Additionally, Beavert said ButtonsByCort has improved her social skills and customer service skills. 

“I have learned that the customer is always right, but if it comes to an opportunity or idea and someone tells you no, there is always someone else who will tell you yes,” Beavert said.

Stevens said the biggest thing she’s learned through running Sewn by Sloan is that connections and networking are immensely important. 

“School teaches you that success is about how well you perform academically, but in reality, the most successful people are the ones who build strong relationships and put themselves in the right rooms,” Stevens said. “I’ve seen firsthand how knowing the right people can open doors that no degree alone ever could. I’ve gotten opportunities to work with well-known photographers, stylists, and influencers, not because of a resume, but because I put myself out there and made those connections.”

Besides networking, Stevens said that running a business teaches real-world problem-solving skills including marketing yourself, directing finances, and overall dealing with challenges.

When Stevens started college, she said she expected to follow the traditional path of pursuing a degree and after graduation working a job in the medical field.

“Discovering this hidden talent completely changed the way I see my future,” Stevens said. “Running my own business has given me the confidence to pursue a more creative, nontraditional career path that actually excites me.”

After graduation, Stevens plans to move to Miami and expand her business. In May, Stevens‘ pieces are set to be featured in Miami Swim Week, and she is working to have her pieces showcased in future major fashion shows. 

Stevens, Beavert and Holloway’s successes highlight an even broader trend: Becoming a successful entrepreneur isn’t limited to people with certain degrees or profitable backgrounds.  Aspiring entrepreneurs can start with a passion or potential opportunity and not only achieve their goals but learn real-world skills, which could change the path of their life. In today’s world, college-age students are able to manage and succeed in these endeavors. 

The post Passion to Profit: The Rise of Student Entrepreneurs appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Ella Miller

It’s no secret that college students are busy. Even though students juggle classes, studying and social lives, some choose to add another task to the mix: owning a dog. For many, the idea of returning home after a day of classes to a wagging tail is enough to outweigh the added responsibilities. But what is it really like to own a dog while balancing the chaos of college life?

University of Arkansas senior Ashlyn Massey always knew she wanted to own a dog in college. Now, Massey’s 1-year-old goldendoodle, Oaklee, is a source of comfort, routine and companionship. Massey said that owning a dog has changed her college experience but in the best way. 

“Getting my dog was probably the best decision I ever made,” Massey said. “Even if I didn’t know it at the time, it was something I really needed in my life. I honestly don’t know what I’d do without her now.” 

Owning a dog in college isn’t just about companionship; it changes students’ lifestyles. Massey said that Oaklee has helped her create and maintain a steady schedule.

“It helps me get outside more, helps to keep a fairly consistent routine, and it’s nice to have a dog to come home to,” Massey said.

However, Massey said this comes along with being mindful of how long she’s away from home or leaving events early to take care of Oaklee. Massey said this can be a good thing, as it holds her accountable. 

U of A senior Ty Neidlein adopted his Pitbull mixed breed dog, Obi, from the foster-based dog rescue Big Paws of the Ozarks.

“Fitting Obi in is harder than one might think,” Neidlein said. “I need to get up early enough to walk, feed and hang out with him before my classes start. Whenever I have time between my classes, I usually head home to take him outside again or just hang with him.”

Regardless of the added tasks that come with owning a dog, both Massey and Neidlein have had many special standout moments with their pets. Massey said her favorite memory with Oaklee was during a spring day when her and her friends took the dog to Mamaka Bowls. 

“The people at Mamaka gave her a little dog treat, and we all sat at the tables with swings and had our smoothie bowls and enjoyed the nice weather,” Massey said. “But honestly any day that I get to go home and see how excited she gets to see me is a great experience.”

Neidlein said his favorite memory with Obi was when his roommate returned from a semester of studying abroad. 

“Obi acted like he’d known him forever, and he was just another roommate he’d met thousands of times,” Neidlein said.

Besides lifestyle shifts and happy memories that come along with owning a dog, both students highlighted the financial aspects that come with owning a dog. Neidlein said monthly costs are something to plan for, but there will always be surprises. Added expenses such as food, treats, vet bills and haircuts can add up.

“The hardest part is definitely the money,” Neidlein said. “Dogs are so expensive. Especially when they have health issues.”

Dr. Denise Beike, a social and cognitive psychologist and U of A psychology professor said “there is a clear negative effect of owning a pet for young adults that is not psychological: Pets are expensive.”

Other than added expenses, Big Paws’s Director of Operations and Marketing Maisie Carothers said some obligations students may not take into account when looking to adopt a dog are training, cleaning, regular exercise and socialization and how schedules or living situations may change. 

Housing can also be a barrier for students when looking to adopt a dog. Some college apartments have strict pet rules or additional fees for owning pets. 

“People may treat you differently because of (owning a dog), both in good and bad ways, and it’s not as easy to live in the apartments on campus with a dog as I had thought it would be,” Massey said.

Despite the difficulties of owning a dog in an apartment, Massey said having Oaklee has helped her while living alone. 

Massey and Neidlein both said owning a dog in college has had a positive impact on their college experience. Besides the companionship, Oaklee has helped Massey mentally and physically. Massey also had Oaklee certified as an emotional support animal, so she is able to take Oaklee places with her if she needs to.

“Any time I was having a hard day or wasn’t motivated, I had her to either make me feel better or motivated,” Massey said. “It was also very helpful to take her on walks and was something that at the time I didn’t realize I needed, but became very beneficial when I was stressed or just needed to get out of the apartment.”

Carothers said owning a dog can reduce stress levels, loneliness, and encourages you to care for someone.

“About 40% of college students today have moderate to high levels of depression,” Dr. Beike said. “I always find compelling research showing that people who are depressed often report that their pet was what saved them and kept them alive. What better psychological benefit is there than saving your life?”

Dr. Beike said having healthy and secure attachments benefit overall well-being, health, and performance at school and work. College students have a secure attachment to their pets, around a similar level to a secure attachment to a sibling. 

“I’ve found in my own research that students who are more strongly attached to their pets are also more strongly attached to friends and family, suggesting that pets are part of our healthy social network of close relationships,” Dr. Beike said. 

The psychological concept of self-disclosure also comes into play with owning pets. Self-disclosure is a way people are able to open up to others about themselves and their struggles, helping to form relationships and creating psychological benefits. College students may struggle with self-disclosure, as living away from home could contribute to difficulty in trusting new people. 

“Research shows that people self-disclose to their dogs more than they do to their family and friends, and to the same extent that they disclose to their spouse or partner,” Dr. Beike said. “This makes sense, because pets are great listeners, and they never judge or share your secrets with anyone.”

In addition to the psychological benefits of owning a dog, Carothers said owning a pet teaches responsibility and provides lifelong friendship.

“I have adopted dogs to several students that all know each other- siblings, friends, etc. over the last few months and they have shared their experiences and learned from each other,” Carothers said.

“Owning a pet in college was the best decision I’ve made here,” Neidlein said. “(Obi’s) brought so much joy to myself and my roommates every single day.”

Both students agree that while owning a dog in college is something more students should consider, it isn’t something to take lightly.

“It’s not as easy as a lot of people think,” Massey said. “I worked really hard trying to train her, and even though she’s a great dog, I have to do a lot of extra things now that I didn’t have to before I had her.”

Neidlein’s advice? “Save up!”

Massey’s advice? “If you think you’re ready for it, then do it.”

“Whenever a student tells me they’re adopting a dog, I think of it as something to celebrate,” Dr. Beike said. “I think of all the joy and unconditional love they are about to bring into their lives. But I would counsel any student to think carefully about what it means to adopt a pet.”

Owning a pet, especially a dog, in college might not be for everyone. For those who are debating adopting a dog, it could be one of the most rewarding college experiences they have. Dogs can provide the home-away-from-home feeling in college and teach students valuable skills. Both Neidlein and Massey prove that with planning, dedication, and love for their dogs, balancing the hectic college life and owning a dog is completely possible and rewarding.

The post Four-Legged Roommates appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Karyk King

They strum along. “They” being talented musicians with a dream. From University of Arkansas graduates to current students, music is vibrant on the U of A campus. The entrepreneurial spirit of rising musical talent echoes across campus with pockets of unique sound around each corner. Fayetteville has a vibrant local music scene, with these few bands at the heart of it. 

Squash Garden is a musical combination of many flavors composed of talented musicians: Michael Kaufman, Prezley Strait, Luke Riley, Presley Janes, Landen DeWolf and Julian Cohenour. Originating mostly from the South, the U of A brought these students together. First assembled in December 2022, playing for a friend’s birthday in a garage, they got their first taste of what the future had in store for them. 

They kept jamming together, and eventually, three members— Kaufman, Strait and Riley —got a band house in August 2023. The band then rose to local prominence in November 2023, when it won the University Programs’ “Battle of the Bands,” against another local band, Ozark Riviera. 

Squash Garden now performs live with an eclectic set, featuring several members switching between roles such as drums, bass, guitar, keyboard and vocals. With many moving pieces, a diverse range is directly reflected by the band’s makeup.

 “Everything we get to hear today, we are influenced by and is a part of us and a part of our music,” Kaufman said. “That’s kind of why it’s all over the place is because that’s how it feels.”

With inspiration from genres such as country, jazz, rock, reggae and blues, each member connects with different elements across the musical spectrum. 

Squash Garden plays original hits along with covers of well-known songs. Regardless of what it is playing, there always seems to be an attendance of screaming fans and heart-struck girls. The band has one song recorded and on popular streaming services, with plans to get back in the studio and record many more. 

“I feel like music is just everything you see and feel…you put that in the feeling, and that comes through in all the songs we play,” Kaufman said, attesting to what makes their sound unique and how every member has their own element they bring to the table.

One band that rocks across campus with a sound dubbed as indescribable is Mongolian Firefight. The group says it like to use the known term, “indie rock” to describe its sound. 

 “Some say we are the frontier of music as a whole,” said Shep Dollahon, the bassist.

Cole Clark, lead guitarist and vocalist, started writing music with Dollahon around six years ago when they were still in highschool. They did not start playing live until their freshman year at the U of A when they started playing at tailgates. 

The two then met their drummer, Peter Kohring, and they said it was love at first sight for them when they clicked together.

 “It was like an instant connection, instantly we started talking, and from that the phoenix that is Mongolian Firefight rose from the ashes,” Dollahon said.

Clark got his start playing guitar in high school and fell for chords and songwriting saying, “I feel like I’ve always loved music, but I kind of found out I loved doing it in high school.”

Dollahon got his start in bass following guidance from his uncle and his passion to “just keep playing,” he said. 

“Playing covers is fun,” Dollahon said. “Jamming is fun. Improvising is fun.” And that’s exactly what music is to them — fun. 

Drawing influence from different genres, the band has combined its sounds into the sweet spot of rock it has now. Dollahon got influence from blues, metal and punk and popular bassists such as Thundercat, Geezer Butler, John Paul Jones and Charles Mingus. Clark gets his taste from the ‘70s rock scene along with more soft rock such as the sounds of Mac DeMarco, The Beatles, and Jimi Hendrix. From many different walks of life, they have combined their sound together into the ultimate phoenix that is Mongolian Firefight. 

Thoughts on Bowling is of the youngest local music groups but definitely holds its own in comparison to other providential bands. Starting just a year ago, Thoughts on Bowling is composed of two U of A freshmen and a high school junior. Bassist Taten Juan, guitarist Berkeley Wasson and drummer/vocalist Arden Warr all met in Bentonville High School before Wasson and Juan moved to Fayetteville this past year to start college. 

Thoughts on Bowling is a Midwest emo/fifth wave emo band that garners around 65,000 monthly listeners on Spotify. The group started playing live shows around six months ago and has played around 10 shows to date. The band currently plays shows throughout the South and Midwest. The Midwest emo genre resonated with the members as they wanted to tap into the unexpressed feelings of their generation, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Wanting to express relation to melancholic feelings with an upbeat sound, this genre helps them accomplish that. In addition to the emotions behind their ambition and what they want their music to symbolize, they really just love the sound. 

“Instrumental-wise it really just itches my brain the right way,” Wasson said. 

With great sound comes great energy, described Juan, adding, “My favorite thing is probably just playing the shows. I love matching the energy of the crowd and just having a good time.” 

Thoughts on Bowling’s inspiration across the board vary with consistent hints of an emo/punk flavor.

“I’ve had some really weird (music) phases,” Warr said, accounting for his taste. They attribute popular bands such as Mom Jeans, Title Fight, Basement, TRSH and Pierce the Veil in concocting the band’s sound.

“Just kind of the genre we play, that’s who I’m kinda inspired by,” Wasson said.

These bands, whose members walk among us, all find emotion in the music they get to create and perform. With Squash Garden’s vibrant flow across genres, the energetic blaze Mongolian Firefight fosters and the raw angst of the emo rock subgenre Thoughts on Bowling taps into, these local bands all express passion with their sound as they continue to pursue their dreams within music. 

The post What’s that Sound? Bands on Campus!  appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Angie Ramirez

UAConnect is a student information system that University of Arkansas students, faculty and parents use when navigating their college experience. This spring will be the last time students use UAConnect. Students will still be able to register for summer classes through the system, but starting fall 2025, the new student information system will be Workday. In February, students started to receive emails from Workday about the new change and were provided instructions on how they can start the onboarding and financial aid processes. However, instructions to register for classes have yet to be sent to students. 

Laura Tilley-Stagni, the Workday Student Change Management Lead, explained how the university is one of the 15 schools who are part of the University of Arkansas System Office and the system established a group called Project One and that their mission is to have the System act more like a system where the schools work together. 

“One of the ways all 15 schools can work together is by having the same student information system,” Tilley-Stagni said. “Having everyone on one system means that students will have an easier time moving between schools and that all of our schools are using up-to-date technology and information. Another goal of moving registration to Workday is that this will let students see their campus employment and registration all in one place.” 

Students have used UAConnect since they first began in the university. The system has made it easier for students to find all information about their academic records, and about financial aid or payments. It is also a great way for students to be aware of the classes they are required to take and stay on top of that each semester. For many years, students have also used UAConnect to register for classes. They would add the classes they want to take in the “shopping cart” and wait until their given time to enroll. But with the change for the upcoming school year, it may affect the habits students might have developed over the years while using UAConnect. 

“I’m not too conflicted about it,” said Macey Hunter, a U of A freshman. “I have been previously introduced to (Workday) during my high school career, but since I am a freshman this year and was introduced to something else, I know the switch can be different.” 

Workday is a system that employees working a job correlated with the university use. It is a financial management tool that includes payroll, accounting, position management and budgeting. All of the on-campus jobs use Workday to receive their pay. 

“I have experience with Workday because I use it to fill in my hours, so I am a bit used to it that way,” said Shamiah Sheppard, a sophomore at the U of A. “I feel like it’s going to be something new for many students because not everybody (has) a work study that uses Workday for work, so it’s inconvenient for a lot of people.” 

Freshman Cameron Guerra also has a job on campus and said she thinks that registering for classes on Workday will be stressful. 

“As a student worker, I think it is inconvenient because I feel like it’s going to be overwhelming to split (work and school responsibilities) up,” Guerra said. “I don’t think registration is going to be as easy as UAConnect, but I feel like making advising appointments will be easier and more direct.” 

As the enrollment time nears, students continue to make appointments with their advisors to discuss the upcoming semester and the best choices for their classes. It is in their best interest to ask about the transition to have a smooth path in enrolling. 

“I feel like if you’re a person that doesn’t pay attention to emails, it may be easy to miss this kind of change,” said  Ashley Rico, a U of A freshman. “I have no issues with this transition, but I could see how some may run into some.” 

Some students run into the issue of not checking their email as often as they should, and missing important emails from school. With this transition, students are advised to be on the lookout for upcoming emails since they can contain valuable information about enrollment. 

“Don’t hesitate to ask for help,” Tilley-Stagni said. “Students can use the training website, submit a Help Ticket, visit a Workday help table during registration, or email wstudent@uark.edu.” 

Students should be aware of the current tasks on Workday. There are downloadable guides for completing the onboarding and accepting financial aid tasks, and can be found on the Student Information System website. Though not much information has been released, students should keep a close eye on their emails and logging into Workday for any new student activities. 

“The only thing that I would personally add is for students to go ahead and start exploring Workday Student before registration,” Shane Barker, assistant dean for academics said. “Click around, learn how it works, and ask for help.” 

The post The New System: Students’ Adjustment to Workday appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Ella Karoline Hendricks

The Community Creative Center has been a staple of Fayetteville culture since its opening over 15 years ago. In the heart of downtown Fayetteville is a hub of creation, art and friendship, where like-minded artists and art enthusiasts come together. 

Housing over 40 classes and workshops, the Community Creative Center focuses on nurturing artists in the community and providing a space dedicated to creation. Located off of Spring Street, with a dedicated open studio with pottery and printmaking, the center has a space for everyone.  

Bryce Brisco, the executive director, has been with the center for six years, working his way up from the Ceramics Studio to programs manager, to being the executive director for the past three years. Brisco, an Arkansas alumnus, has got his bachelor’s degree in painting and a master’s in ceramics from Ohio University. 

“That’s what I’ve done for the better part of my career, is making pottery,” Brisco said. “I make functional pottery. I really like the material, I like the process, and I really engage with the history of ceramics and the history of clay. It’s a way to access history.” 

Opened in 2008, the center has provided a functional and affordable space for artists in all stages of their careers. According to its website, “In 2019, we served more than 4,600 students, families and community members (a four-fold increase over 2013) with direct, hands-on classes, workshops and arts experiences and an additional 10,000 with community outreach events, art exhibitions and art sales.”

The center has an open studio application in which adults can apply for a membership for $125 a month or $1,375 a year to have access to the kilns, a designated storage space, discounts on classes, access to wheels, tools, reserved premier glazes and more. 

It hosts adult classes seven days a week, has free classes for seniors, several after-school programs courteous of the center’s outreach, and several free events scattered throughout the year, such as The Arkansas Pottery Festival in May, the Day of the Dead Event, and a Holiday Market in December. They offer six-weeks classes for adults, family, kids in clay, printmaking, drawing and painting and theater.

“We also have the Wheel Mobile,” Brisco said,  “which is a 33-foot-long Winnebago that is a traveling pottery studio. It has nine pottery wheels on it, so we can take that to rural locations. So, we take that to lots of different schools and public events to give people a pottery experience.”

The center is also an art gallery, called the McCoy Gallery, displaying ten solo exhibitions a year. There is a sales gallery that is a collection of handmade art and functional craft, which is available year round, creating a special opportunity for local artists to sell their work. 

“We’re the only community-based printmaking studio in the state,” Brisco said. “We have two etching presses, and we’re also set up for screen printing.”

Arts education is important to the staff at the center, with programs such as ART 2 GO, which brings supplies directly to schools, Afterschool ART, serving kindergarten through fifth grade, the Wheel Mobile, and Arts Integration, which offers workshops for online students, co-ops, alternative learning groups and youth-based organizations. 

Natalie Crane, a freshman at the University of Arkansas, is a part-time teaching artist at the center. Crane started hosting workshops in November 2024. 

“I was looking for a pottery class,” Crane said. “I did not end up taking the class, but I saw they had a job opening. I just gave them a call.”

Crane, the owner of @nc_creationss on Instagram, hosts classes once or twice a month. She has hosted classes on watercolor, calligraphy and painting. 

“It’s a great place to connect and be in a calm and fun environment,” Crane said. “It’s always a positive experience when I go.” 

Crane said she looks forward to seeing new and recurring faces of all ages every class. Crane is teaching on Collage and Calligraphy on March 15 and then Watercolor Florals on March 16. She also sells custom canvases, birthday banners and is open for commissions. 

Some other upcoming classes include Beginning Watercolor, a kids summer camp: Clay All Day, Date Night: Pottery Wheel, Intro to Machine Sewing, Papermaking, and Glass Fusing. 

Sasha Mirozoyan, a live painter, will be hosting a portrait drawing class March 22 at 3 p.m. In addition to being a live painter for events such as weddings, Mirzoyan has written several articles on the creative process.

“I’m drawn to people so I draw them,” Mirozoyan stated in his essay on “Booze and Creative Boost: How to invoke your Muse without substance use” where Mirozoyan explores the relationship between alcohol and the creative process. 

“I’m very passionate about making the arts accessible to the public,” Brisco said, “and we try to have the lowest possible barrier to entry. So, we offer our classes at very affordable rates, and we have tons of free classes. We offer scholarships. All our events are free and open to the public. We want to be able to serve the community and provide arts to the Northwest Arkansas region and make it as accessible as possible.”

Stop by the Community Creative Center for a class, workshop or even just to shop for some new room decor! Support local artists and businesses today!

The post Let’s Get Creative: Fayetteville Community Creative Center appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Angie Ramirez

On Feb. 18, Northwest Arkansas experienced its first major snowstorm of the year. Snow began to fall in the morning and continued nonstop for the rest of the day. The University of Arkansas sent out an alert to students that the campus was shifting to inclement weather operations the night before, which went into effect the rest of the week. Instructors had the option to conduct classes remotely, but many chose not to. With the brutal cold temperatures and classes canceled, students were free to do what they wanted. 

Most places on campus were closed due to the weather so residents wrapped themselves in warm clothing and went around campus to find a perfect spot for sledding. The total of 5 inches of snow that fell throughout the day was enough to cover the streets on campus with snow, and with the many hills on campus, residents took advantage of their circumstances by sledding with their friends. 

The first day school was canceled, freshman Loren Howrey decided to go around campus to find a spot to sled. 

“My friends and I went sledding with an inflatable chair,” Howrey said. “We went by the Greek Theatre, and I fell a few times, but I still had so much fun.” 

With the extra time she had, Howrey wanted to be around her friends first and then continue to catch up on her schoolwork after. 

“I like having a snow day now that I am in college because I get to hang out with my friends instead of being stuck at home with not much to do,” Howrey said. 

Most places such as the Greek Theatre and Old Main were filled with residents enjoying and spending their time off with one another. Others preferred to stay inside and spend time with their roommates. 

“It’s nice to see how people come together during snow days and celebrate something pretty, but I like being able to stay inside, especially with the way the weather is,” said Rachel Duvall, a U of A freshman. “My roommate and I have time to sort out our room and then have some friends come over.” 

Duvall’s roommate, Kailey Chandler, also prefers to stay inside but loves how campus looks on snow days and enjoys seeing others have fun as well. 

“I walked around campus with my roommate after lunch for an hour and saw how everyone was doing something different with their friends,” Chandler said. “We then came back to our dorm and watched movies, which is fun and relaxing to do.” 

With the continuous snowfall, the roads quickly became covered. With no time to clear them, it was easy to guess classes were getting canceled the following day. As the days continued, staff was working on removing the snow and ice around campus, but with the amount of snow Northwest Arkansas received, the university canceled classes for the rest of the week. Many students were excited with the news and were happy to have the week off from the stress of their classes and upcoming assignments. The time off pushed back exams and students had little to no assignments to do over their snow days. 

“It gave me so much time to relax and enjoy campus, which is something I really needed this spring semester,” freshman Itzela Garcia said. “It ended up pushing back a lot of exams and allowed me to have more time to study for them and be more prepared.” 

Garcia explained she did not like how campus had limited food options during the snow days, especially since it was more than one day. 

Many places on campus were closed and several food halls such as the Union Food Court and 1021 closed at 5 p.m. Pomfret and Fulbright Dining Halls were the few that were opened late.

Garcia said she had not seen Pomfret as busy ever since A-week, but she felt like it made the students closer because everyone was going through the same things. 

Her main concern was how the push-back in her classes was going to affect her once she returned. With the amount of days that were canceled, professors will need to catch up their students on the lectures to get back on track.

“Although it was great, it did make it a little more stressful because the upcoming week will be extra busy and extra tiring,” Garcia said. 

As temperatures shot back into the 60s and 70s this week, the snow week felt like a final goodbye to the winter weather before the spring temperatures come back in full force. Similarly, it was a nice break in classes before midterms have students sweating.

The post In the Glow of Snow appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Lindsey Packer

From the moment she stepped onto the University of Arkansas campus as a freshman, Tess Jones carried with her a vision: post-graduation, she would leave her small hometown behind, chase success, and carve out a new life in Chicago, with a career as a lawyer. However, as she adjusted to life on her own for the first time, Jones began to recognize just how crucial her family had been to her sense of stability and support. Though her ambitions have largely remained unchanged since that first year, her understanding of how to reach them has evolved.

For some, the start of college comes with a crystal-clear plan for the future, but for many, the road ahead is less certain. The act of simply planning for the next day can feel overwhelming. And as we immerse ourselves in new experiences, who can say what surprises we’ll uncover about ourselves along the way?

Now a senior, Jones finds herself rethinking her path after graduation—her dreams no longer set in stone, but shifting, adapting to the person she’s becoming.

“I think [during] my Freshman year, I [wanted] to escape my hometown and be the person who leaves. I still want to go and do different things outside my hometown, but I am definitely more [focused on] how’s this going to affect my parents. I’m going to see my family as much as I need to, that is a lot more important,” says Tess Jones. 

So what are our dreams? It’s a question that can never be answered the same way twice. They’re a blend of wonder, mystery, and fantasy — imagined worlds we create in our minds, where we craft our own versions of a “happily ever after.” These worlds are fluid, shifting unpredictably, sometimes transforming completely over the course of our lives. The deeper question is: do your dreams shape who you become over time?

During these four years, you change as a person. Similarly, your dreams can evolve — sometimes subconsciously, sometimes in an instant. And the scary thing is, it’s not just your aspirations that change; your values, priorities, and even your sense of self can shift in unexpected ways. The people you surround yourself with during your freshman year may not be the same ones you spend your time with during your senior year.

Change can feel intimidating, but if we take a moment to look back at our younger selves, we will see the beauty in the process. Change can be both a remedy and a reflection of your next stepping stone in your journey. Wherever it might take you, it doesn’t have to be big for it to be transformative.

Senior Tess Jones shares how although her dreams have remained in the same general direction since freshman year, her perspective on them has evolved.

“I found a different path [within] the same field I want to work in but I think my values have stayed the same on who I am and what I want in people I want to surround myself with during and after college,” Jones explains that the past four years have made her more intentional in her approach now.

At the beginning of college, some of us have a clear vision of what we want to do for the rest of [our lives, but what about those who don’t? For some, planning for the next day can feel uneasy when starting. As we expose ourselves to new experiences, are we surprised by what we might discover? 

Initially, we might view our family as the ones who once supported us through everything, but now we’re out on our own. However, throughout college, Tess Jones has come to realize she relies on her family more than ever and has shifted her mentality that living near them might not be such a bad thing after all. 

On the other hand, unexpected changes can come from anywhere. They’re often the ones that hurt the most, yet we rarely put up a guard until it’s too late. It’s part of growing up, learning to “roll with the punches,” as they say. Even when it feels like everything around us is falling apart, it could be the universe’s way of signaling that there’s nothing left for us on that path, and we need to take a new direction.

After things shifted for Tess Jones within her circle of friends and Greek life, she gained a new perspective on friendship during these uncertain times. She reflects, “It put things into perspective about the friends I had freshman year, thinking they’d be my friends all the way to senior year.” While she lost touch with some of those relationships, she discovered “deeper connections” with others. 

As she watched the Chiefs vs. Bengals AFC Championship game her sophomore year, it hit her- she had surrounded herself with people she barely knew. Despite spending every weekend together, going out, and sharing countless memories, she realized the connections were shallow. Since then, she’s cultivated a new circle of friends, ones with whom she shares a deeper bond. Now, she knows their families, understands each other more fully, and has built a support system that pushes them all toward greatness.

Losing a friend or ending a relationship can help you realize what you truly want in life. It can shift your perspective on what matters most and even lead you down a different path. Do these experiences with friends and past relationships shape who we become later on? They can push us to raise our standards and be more selective about the people we let into our lives. 

“I feel like freshman year I was just trying to find as many friends [as] possible, trying to have as much fun all the time as possible, but now I try finding friends who have the same goals or drive or motivation as me,” explains junior Ryann Richards. She says that the past couple of years have helped her realize the importance of finding a balance in her friendships between having fun and motivating each other academically.

Experiencing independence for the first time and navigating the shift toward “adulting” is a pivotal transitional period for many young adults. Deciding where to go to college is both a nerve-wracking and thrilling experience for many. Freshman year brings countless lessons and a fresh sense of identity. The newfound freedom of that year gives us the space to reflect on what we truly want in life.

Freshman Graham Fumueller claims he wants to live in Spain or Germany while working remotely somewhere in the US. Fummeuller says, “I have a few friends that are going to school abroad, and traveling is always something that I’ve wanted to do so a little bit of both.” After traveling to Germany with his family a couple of years ago, when he knew he had to live abroad at some point in his life.  

On the other hand, Freshman Lauren Brockman says she has always dreamed of being a doctor. “As long as I can remember, I have been fascinated with medicine.” She plans to go to medical school after college in hopes of pursuing a career as a pediatric orthopedic surgeon. 

These two goals may seem entirely different, yet they both represent the plans of students just beginning their journey. Newly independent, both students expressed feeling nervous about starting college. The choices they make in the coming years will shape, challenge, and perhaps even transform their visions for the future.

The unknown can be intimidating for many — it’s not a clear roadmap with instructions to follow. Instead, it’s a space you get to shape however you choose. Leaving college marks stepping into the unknown, a world full of places and experiences we’ve never encountered. As overwhelming as it may seem, it’s a time that’s uniquely yours to navigate.

Ryann Richards explains, “Just like our priorities will change over time. I think going into post-grad there is just a lot of fear in that [itself] but also excitement.” 

Taking a leap of faith might seem daunting, but it could be the fresh start we’ve all been looking for. So, where do we start? How many LinkedIn profiles do we need to scroll through before coming up empty? These are all valid questions from college students who are just trying to find something to grasp, something to strive for. We are creatures of habit, but if you let your mind wander, even for just a moment, you might be amazed at what you can come up with.

“When I first came to college [I was] gonna go be a lawyer, I [wanted to] practice [the] law, … go to law school and [do] all that,” says Tess Jones. After her junior year, she realized that wasn’t the future she wanted. Instead, she decided she wanted to advocate for laws and government a little differently. Instead of working with laws after they’re made, she wants to be on the other side, as a policy analyst, helping to write the laws. Jones is ditching the idea of desk work and paperwork in favor of being directly involved in the action. 

It’s never too late to turn the page and start fresh. Try different things, and try again and again. As you grow through college, your plans will inevitably change. You’ll meet people who will make you wonder how you ever lived without them. It’s a tale as old as time—missing out on the position you hoped for, or realizing the friends you thought you’d connect with just weren’t the right fit, can feel like a setback. But it’s not a seatback; it’s growth. 

“I think college has made me more motivated to do more school like go to graduate school,” says Junior Ryann Richards reflecting on how her dreams have shifted, now considering the possibility of pursuing graduate school after completing her undergraduate degree. “Before starting Freshman Year, I would not have thought of that for myself. Now I have just realized there is just so much out there and as long as I can keep learning I’d like to before I get a job.” 

No matter how much you long for the past, you can only keep moving forward. Use this time to appreciate how unique it is. Our dreams now are there to guide us–don’t be afraid if they shift or upset your mental timeline. It’s all part of the journey. 

Since freshman year, Ryann Richards says, “I think my goals have kind of shifted just as I have seen new opportunities and seen people do different things. I have just realized there are so many different paths, so I think my career goals have changed just as I have gotten new inspiration and new ideas.” 

Throughout college exposing yourself to new ideas and diversifying your life will bring many opportunities that you might not even see fit now. Your friends and family have a bigger impact on who you are and who you are becoming than you might expect. Having a change in perspective might shine through what truly was meant for you after all. 

Dreams, experiences, and perspectives are all relative to where you are in life. It’s the unexpected moments that build your strength and teach you the most. We don’t plan to fail, but those “what if” worries can sometimes hold you back from dreaming. 

After a sudden shift in her routine, leaving Greek life became a tough decision for Tess Jones. She admitted that it “was no longer the center” of her life. With friendships and relationships she thought would last forever slipping away, she felt lost.  Jones’s freshman self would be stunned to learn that something she valued deeply during her first days of college ultimately didn’t pan out. Her initial college mindset was centered around Greek life, with hopes of someday holding a leadership position in her sorority. During this unexpected shift in her life, Tess embraced new interests and created the Democracy Fellows on campus. She realized that if she continued with Greek life, she might be content with her life, but wouldn’t be satisfied, as she has become the person she has always hoped to be – her true self. 

The phrase “everything happens for a reason” can be frustrating at times. Some things may never have a clear reason, and in those moments, we have to find peace. By looking for happiness in life’s small, unexpected places, we might just stumble upon something extraordinary. So, never judge something by its surface.

“Be yourself from the start, because otherwise, you won’t make genuine friendships,” says Tess Jones. While it may sound cliché, it’s true. Pretending to be someone else may be fun as a child, but gets exhausting quickly as an adult. Embracing your flaws and misfortunes will allow you to form real connections with people who understand the real you. 

Everyone is on their own unique journey through life, so don’t rush through the good moments out of fear of looking foolish. Dreaming isn’t silly—it’s part of being human to hope and believe that something greater lies ahead. Even if you don’t have a clear vision of your dream, sometimes it’s the small things that really matter.

Ryann Richards states, “… As I have seen new opportunities and seen people do different things I have just realized there are so many different paths, so I think my goals for my career [have] changed just as I have gotten new inspiration and new ideas.” Experiences and challenges can shape your dreams in ways you might not have expected. It’s often how you respond to the changes in your life that influences both your dreams and the person you’re becoming.

There’s no right or wrong way to dream. If anything, dream bigger. It’s not just about what comes next, but about the journey itself. The students at the University of Arkansas have shown us the value of letting your dreams flow freely. They’ve explored new experiences, made lasting friendships, and discovered new passions. Dreaming is a gradual process that can leave a lasting impact on what you truly want from life.

The students in our community have gained valuable life lessons by embracing the challenges that come with change. As they step into the future, they may face fear, but they carry with them more courage and strength than they had at the start of freshman year. Learning life’s lessons isn’t just about where you’re headed; it’s about the experiences you’ve had along the way that shape who you are. Sometimes, you have to let go of certain things to discover where you’re meant to go next. 

Do the things that scare you—the things you never imagined you’d say “yes” to. Dreams aren’t just for fairy tales; they can deeply shape who you are. If you never fully chase one, it might leave a lingering sense of curiosity that you can’t shake. Not all dreams come true—some don’t work out for the best, and some you work tirelessly for, only to fall short. But the heart of dreaming is hope. Keep that hope alive, and one day, it will pay off. 

Tess Jones says, “One of the main reasons I chose Arkansas was I wanted to be the SEC Southern sorority girl., I wanted to be president of my sorority, and be really active in Greek life which I think is great, like I have friends who are still doing that and they love it.” She explains how through this pain of realizing what you wanted before is not what you want now, Jones found meaningful friendships, new passions, and experiences she never saw coming. 

Dreaming might seem like it’s all wonder and happiness, and while there’s some of that, it’s also about loss. We often dream to fill a void or to escape the sadness around us. Dreaming isn’t always sunshine and rainbows—that’s why it takes strength. In a world that’s constantly changing, not allowing yourself even a small spark of hope or curiosity could leave you seeing things with a “half-empty” mindset. 

During college, your plans may evolve, and your future might not turn out the way you imagined. Dreams give you the space to grow and become a better version of yourself. Give yourself permission to dream—and just as important, give yourself grace when those dreams shift. It’s all part of life. The little journeys you experience throughout your lifetime will help you learn more about who you are. College is just one of many adventures, a time of transformation and change. 

These students in our community are proving that dreams start with curiosity and are a natural part of being human—constantly evolving. The future can be intimidating, and planning for it can feel even more overwhelming, but it’s our dreams that make us unique. Embracing our differences and exploring new possibilities helps us truly understand our dreams and discover what’s meant for us. Dreams leave a lasting impact on us. You can probably recall some of your earliest dreams, like wanting to be a famous singer, a basketball player, or a firefighter. These small moments shape the great adventures that unfold over time.

Dreams aren’t just for kids playing dress-up or tossing a football at recess. They’re for people of all ages, at every stage of life. Dare to dream, dream big, embrace the impossible, and see what you can turn into reality. Dreams come from that inner child within you who believes you can be and do anything. Hold onto that inner voice urging you to keep going, reminding you that change can lead to something better. Never forget where dreams come from and where they’re guiding you.

The post Dreams Transform, Grow, and Reinvent Themselves Throughout Life  appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Angie Ramirez

Freshmen face various struggles and issues throughout their first year in college, especially when they realize how different college is from high school. The first semester is usually more challenging than the rest as their new reality is settling in. With the new semester, freshmen students have a chance to reflect on what they did in their first semester to change what is needed to achieve the goals they set for themselves. University of Arkansas freshman Tanner Quiett remembers how difficult it was during her first semester.

“I was still in my high school mindset when I started the first semester, so I wasn’t ready to start college,” Quiett said. “I had to use Apple Maps to get to my classes.”

Getting lost searching for a classroom building is not uncommon for newcomers to college campuses. After a semester, many freshmen students know their way around campus. Quiett said she feels more comfortable knowing that she has her friends by her side and has an everyday routine she didn’t have over the break.  

Quiett explained how she wants to focus on making time to work out now that she has settled in for the new semester. 

On the other hand, freshman Izela Garcia believes adjusting to the new semester is harder than the first because of the long break beforehand. 

“Mostly after being home for a month, I think it’s harder for me to come back here and accept the challenges I’m given as a freshman,” Garcia said. “I got back here and remembered all the little annoying quirks of living in a dorm like having to walk up the hill or ride the bus for anything from Adohi, the campus food, the thin walls, and you realize you are back to reality.” 

Garcia lives in the Adohi Hall on the lower side of campus. The location makes it undesirable for students to go back and forth to the main part of campus.

“It’s always going to be an inconvenience being at the bottom of the hill, but I’m way more comfortable taking the bus,” Garcia said. “I learned their schedule, so I roughly know how I should time my days.” 

Freshman Anahi Trejo also faced a big adjustment in her living situation at the beginning of this semester with her roommate’s decision to move out of the dorm. 

“It’s a bit weird now since I don’t have a roommate anymore,” Trejo said. “I feel like it’s nice to have my own space, but also sad because I don’t have anyone to speak to, and I sometimes wish there was somebody there who I could speak to.” 

Trejo said that this experience encouraged her to join clubs this semester so she could be involved in campus organizations. 

 Despite Garcia and Trejo’s on-campus experiences, they both look to continue to keep a good balance with their schoolwork and after-school activities. 

“I became very extroverted when I thought I was the opposite,” Garcia said. “Everything feels as if my life had lined up perfectly for me to end up here. I don’t want to repeat the same things I did every day, and I want to expand the bubble I have now. I’m ready to be more involved and pursue the things I held back on in my first semester.” 

Garcia joined the National Association of Hispanic Journalists chapter on campus during her first semester where she regularly attends meetings and helps organize upcoming events. She recently joined the Razorback Yearbook as a photographer, but she also continues to stay on track with her classes. 

Trejo feels more experienced when it comes to the new semester. She knows what to expect and is comfortable with her classes as well as her campus job where she gets the chance to be involved and plan several events.

Like Trejo, many students rely on financial aid for their education and college expenses. To continue to receive it, students need to maintain a certain GPA along with other requirements, which makes it essential for them to have a routine to complete their assignments on time. Trejo struggled with turning in assignments on time at the beginning of the fall semester because she was not familiar with the learning system. 

“I definitely learned to keep track of my assignments and keep them on a planner because beforehand it was difficult to know when things were due,” Trejo said. “So I decided to have a color-coded planner to keep track of the assignments since I would forget to do things and do them last second.”

Even though everyone in the university has similar goals, every student has a different college experience. It can be harder for freshmen since it’s their first year and they don’t know what to expect, but everyone should be mindful of the students they encounter on campus.

“I learned some important but hard life lessons that have helped me go into the second semester with less anxiety and fear of the unknown,” Quiett said.

Though it is only their first semester, freshmen keep what they experienced to continue to grow for the following ones. It is a way for them to figure out what works best for them and be successful with their goals. 

“I learned that I’m here for a reason,” Garcia said. “Not only am I capable of being in harder classes and passing them, but I’m also here to have fun and I should allow myself to experience that.”

The post A Freshmen Reflection: Navigating Through The Struggles appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Ella Karoline Hendricks

Are workout classes the new fad of the health-minded community? Soul cycle can be soul-sucking, yet workout classes seem to be the latest health fad. Many young people are using workout classes as a way to connect with the community and create healthy habits that can last a lifetime. 

Working out is not only great for the body, but for the mind as well. It can be a great strategy for stress relief and working off extra anxious energy. 

But with an overwhelming amount of local options, choosing which studio and class can be a tough decision. There are options all over Fayetteville, from Spoonmoon to Hot Worx, Orange Theory, Nooma, on-campus options and more, varying in price range, difficulty and accessibility. 

Abigail Barker is a junior at the University of Arkansas and is a recent convert to the world of workout classes. She often goes to Nooma Fayetteville, a local workout studio with a focus on mental and physical well-being.

“I started attending Nooma pretty recently with my roommates, they started going and raving about how fun and motivating the classes are,” Barker said. “And so, I decided to go with them one day and haven’t looked back.”

For Barker, it is as much a social commitment as a workout. It is a way to connect with others who share the same love for being active. One thing that separates Nooma from other workout classes in the area is that it offers “hot workouts,” or workouts with temperatures ranging from 90 to 102 degrees. 

Nooma offers a wide range of intensity within their classes, from relaxed to high energy to intense. Barker’s favorite class is HOTMIX, a heated, high-energy, low-impact class focusing on muscle control and light weights. 

“I like the sauna aspect of Nooma, and for me, it’s a fun way to exercise that doesn’t involve heavy weight lifting or running,” Barker said. “It’s more guided than other studios I’ve tried. I tend to be less motivated by myself, and so the communal support system there is great. The instructors really get to know you.”

Orange Theory is another option many college students are leaning toward. Orange Theory is a high-intensity interval training class, or HIIT workout, that allows for rotating stations instead of a group-focused class such as Nooma. It is more individually focused, with stations ranging from strength training, rowing, treadmill and more, varying on location.

Haylee Mangum is a junior psychology major who regularly attends Orange Theory classes at the Fayetteville location.

“I like going to Orange Theory because the workouts are different every day,” Mangum said. “You don’t know what it’s going to be until you get there.”

Despite the advantages of these studios and others like it, they often employ egregious pricing policies with purposely ambiguous pricing on their websites and in-person classes. For example, the Nooma website does not have clear pricing on their website, even when booking a class. They often offer monthly passes, where members pay a certain amount for a certain number of classes. These studio classes vary in price; they can be expensive and are not always the most affordable choice for university students. Instead, consider trying one of the University offered classes at the UREC. 

The UREC fitness center is free to all U of A students. The classes offered change each semester, offering classes ranging from cycle and cycle strength classes to yoga, pilates, zumba, body sculpt and barre. The classes are offered at different times on different days of the week from 6:30 a.m. all the way to 7:30 p.m., allowing for all kinds of schedules. 

Nora Cowen is a sophomore who has taken a wide range of UREC classes and encourages everyone to try one out. 

“I’ve taken yoga, pilates and zumba classes,” Cowen said. “Zumba was a fun and free way to get involved on campus.”

She attends the classes with her friends and cites it as a good way to get together each week. Cowen also appreciates how each instructor truly makes the class their own. Each class slightly varies based on instructor and their personal preferences, creating a new and unique experience each time. 

The UREC also offers more personalized classes with personal training. You can download the UREC app to register for workout classes and build a schedule of classes that fit in with your schedule. 

With finals approaching, workout classes can be a great resource for stress relief. In tandem with creating a community of like-minded people, this health fad can be a great way of creating positive habits in your everyday life.

The post New Wave Health Culture: Workout Classes and Community appeared first on Hill Magazine.