By Emma Bracken

All across Northwest Arkansas, the arts are thriving and creating a place for people to come together and access their community. Specifically, the theaters across the region are filled with families, friends and strangers, spending precious moments together before the stage. 

As the holiday season approaches, the theaters are as packed as ever, as people flock to the exciting shows and performances this time of year brings. From Broadway tours and celebrity appearances to local productions and orchestras, the performing arts scene is colorful and has something for everyone to enjoy. 

In December, these theaters are bursting with new shows and performances based around the holidays and in line with their regular talent. The theaters are busier than ever, as people find comfort in the familiar classics showcased by local actors and musicians each year during this season. TheatreSquared has a long-running tradition of showing “A Christmas Carol,” which brings in a wave of guests each year. Even those who are not regular theatergoers cannot seem to resist the appeal of these nostalgic shows at this time of year. 

Andrea Newby, director of marketing and communications at TheatreSquared, explained the impact this holiday tradition has on the community. As the seats in the theater fill, so do our community spaces. Even if it is just to grab dinner or drinks at TheatreSquared’s cafe and bar, the effect of these shows is apparent from the bustling crowds.

“Loved ones definitely find time to get together here for the show,” Newby said.

As well as providing a physical space for families and friends to gather during the holiday seasons, these theaters also provide an opportunity for them to connect to one another emotionally. Newby explained that through engaging with local theater, people are able to access this dynamic art form that grows empathy, stimulates dialogue about important conversations and encourages critical thinking. 

Theater shapes its patrons into more well-rounded people. Many of these shows are rooted in human experience and the complexity of relationships; just by watching them, you grow closer to the person sitting in the seat beside you. Theater is an art form that is entirely built upon a love for real human connection.

“I love that theater acts as a mirror, reflecting our own experiences and challenges and as a window, offering new perspectives,” Newby said. 

There is access to connection in the theater that is hard to find elsewhere, as audience members are invited to explore other people’s perspectives as well as their own through these powerful productions. Getting to know the characters as well as the actors opens doors for us into spaces we may not have been before. 

“I feel that theatre holds a unique value in Northwest Arkansas as it offers cultural engagement, education and inspiration,” Newby said.

The performing arts scene informs much of what has become the creative culture of our region. Jennifer Wilson, public relations director at Walton Arts Center, described theater as an epicenter for community activity in Fayetteville. Wilson explained the global scale of productions at Walton Arts Center, which brings in from around the world.

“We believe in the transformative power of the arts to not only entertain but also to inspire, connect, educate, bridge differences, increase understanding and build better communities,” Wilson said. 

In bringing the voices of the world to Northwest Arkansas, our community is enriched and brought to life. Through theater, Arkansas residents are exposed to stories both new and familiar. In deepening our understanding of each other’s stories, we not only become a stronger community but better people. 

Though these theaters bring in passionate patrons of the arts and regular enjoyers of theater, many people just come for a special occasion, especially around the holidays. Even in just seeing one show a year, there is something in the experience of a live performance that touches everyone. Wilson described the joy of seeing children come to Walton Arts Center and experience their first-ever live show, rather than just watching a story unfold on a screen. There is something special about this type of experience, one that even children feel connected to. 

“Watching that makes all of the hard days worth it,” Wilson said. 

Newby recalled her own personal history with theater, which taught her creativity and confidence. This transferred both to her on-presence and in her off-stage life as well. Whether you act in or watch these shows from afar, there is something in the vulnerable art of performance that brings us closer to each other and closer to ourselves as well. 

“In my opinion, each performance invites the community to explore complex issues, celebrate creativity and enjoy shared experiences,” Newby said. “This makes Northwest Arkansas a more inviting, informed and inspired place to live.”

Both TheatreSquared and Walton Arts Center offer something special to the community and are ready for the holiday season to bring in people from all over the area. This time of year is a moment to step back from the bustle of daily life and spend time with the people we care about. Likewise, it is a time to nourish both our relationships to one another and ourselves. The holidays can often feel stressful or isolating, and it is important to find those spaces where we bridge gaps and find comfort. In Northwest Arkansas, the theater scene opens its arms to all of this and more, creating a foundation for our community to grow stronger and more connected.

The post Fayetteville’s Dramatic Arts: A Home for the Holidays appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Anna LeRoux 

With the holiday shopping season in full swing, consumers are flocking to large national retailers, drawn by deep discounts and flashy promotions. For small, local businesses, the surge in consumer spending presents both an opportunity and a challenge. 

While many shoppers are lured by the convenience and perceived savings offered by major chains, small businesses are struggling to maintain their profit margins, brand identities and customer loyalty during the busiest shopping period of the year.

The advent of Black Friday, followed by the Christmas shopping rush, has long been a critical time for both large and small businesses. However, the contrast between the two is becoming more obvious as e-commerce giants such as Amazon and big-box retailers like Walmart dominate with enormous discounts and advertising budgets. This raises an important question for small business owners: How can they compete with the scale and prices offered by major retailers without sacrificing what makes them unique?

During Black Friday and the lead-up to Christmas, consumers are increasingly expectant of large discounts. Major retailers often discount popular items up to 70%, making it difficult for local shops to keep pace with prices. 

According to the National Retail Federation, the average American consumer was expected to spend $902 between seasonal items and holiday gifts in 2023, with a significant portion going toward big-box stores and online outlets. While large retailers can afford to sell products at a loss for a short period, small businesses, often operating with slimmer margins, are forced to make tough decisions about pricing.

For local businesses, lowering prices to compete with the big players is not always an option. Unlike major retailers, small businesses may not benefit from bulk purchasing power or supply chain efficiencies that allow large chains to reduce their overhead costs. While they can offer unique products and personalized customer service, these advantages don’t always translate to immediate sales during high-volume shopping periods.

Despite the dominance of big retailers, there is a noticeable shift in consumer behavior between generations. Gen Z — individuals born between 1997 and 2012 — is increasingly seeking out locally sourced, thrifted, handmade and personalized gifts over mass-produced items. 

Kendal Nobrega, U of A sophomore Apparel Merchandising and Product Development student, is a participant in Gen-Z’s shift to thrifted gifts. “Thrifted gifts have so much more personality and thoughtfulness behind them,” Nobrega said. “My best friend and I have recently started only gifting each other second-hand items. We both find this so much more intentional and I always love to see what made her think of me.”

According to a 2023 survey from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), 50% of Gen Z respondents said they would be more likely to purchase gifts from small, local businesses during the holiday season compared to 25% of Baby Boomers. This generational difference highlights a growing trend that could offer small businesses an opportunity to stand out amid the large retail giants.

“I love going to flea markets for gifts because it feels so much more special finding something unique that fits the person,” said Delanie O’Dell, a U of A freshman. “I don’t have to worry that they’re going to get the same gift from someone else, and finding the gift in a small town flea market gives it a fun little backstory. It’s also more sustainable, which makes it even better.”

O’Dell’s sentiment is echoed by many Gen Z consumers who prioritize sustainability, uniqueness and the desire to support local economies. In a world that often values convenience over connection, this younger demographic is proving they are willing to go the extra mile for products that reflect their values, even if it means paying a higher price.

Annalise Robins, a U of A junior who is founder and president of the UARK Sustainable Fashion Club, emphasizes how thrifting plays into this trend. “I have been thrifting since childhood because it was how my family afforded most things,” she said. “As I got older, my friends wanted to join me thrifting. They wanted to save money and have unique pieces. Many of them were inspired by influencers like Emma Chamberlain, who, despite having money, prefers thrifting and antique stores in many cases.”

For small businesses, the ability to offer something unique, whether in the form of a handmade item or a carefully curated selection of products, is one of their greatest assets. Unlike larger retailers that may stock thousands of identical items, local stores have the flexibility to feature one-of-a-kind products that resonate with consumers looking for authenticity or a personal touch. This is especially true when it comes to gift-giving during the holiday season, a time when people want to express thoughtfulness and individuality.

Additionally, as more consumers become aware of the environmental impact of their purchases, the demand for sustainable, locally sourced products has risen. Many small businesses, particularly those that specialize in artisanal goods or vintage items, have embraced eco-friendly practices as a selling point. Maggie Paige, owner of Presley Paige in Fayetteville, Arkansas, curates a collection of many items that have a sustainable size and include recycled post-consumer materials.

Whether it’s upcycled materials, hand-crafted gifts or products made locally to reduce carbon footprints, these businesses have the opportunity to tap into a more responsible practice.

“Gen Z is also the most environmentally conscious generation. However, we do not have money” Robins said. “That is why myself and many of my friends will hunt antique shops, flea markets, and art/maker markets to find something affordable and often vintage.” 

As the holiday shopping season continues to be dominated by large retailers, small businesses must get creative if they hope to stay afloat. Offering exceptional customer service, creating memorable shopping experiences and building a strong community connection are all ways local shops can differentiate themselves.

In addition, many small businesses are turning to digital tools to reach a wider audience. E-commerce platforms, social media and email marketing campaigns allow small stores to advertise their products, connect with customers and even offer exclusive discounts during key shopping periods. In some cases, local businesses are collaborating with each other to offer combined promotions, encouraging consumers to shop local in exchange for a broader variety of inclusion with goods and services.

Robins, who is studying Apparel Merchandising and Product Development with a minor in Sustainability, also explained how thrifting is especially meaningful to her as a plus-size shopper. “Finding clothes at thrift, resale and antique stores is much easier and more affordable than buying new. There are very few retailers that I can walk in and walk out with something that will fit me.”

For small businesses, the holidays can be both a blessing and a burden. The surge in consumer spending can provide a much-needed boost to local economies, but the competition from massive retailers remains a challenge. As Gen Z continues to prioritize supporting small, sustainable and unique businesses, there is hope for a resurgence of locally driven commerce. 

However, the key for small business owners lies in finding ways to maintain their brand identity, offer quality products and create personalized shopping experiences that larger stores cannot replicate.

Ultimately, the future of small businesses during the holiday shopping season may not depend on who can offer the deepest discounts, but on who can offer the most meaningful connection to their customers. And in a generation increasingly looking for authenticity, that might just be the most valuable product.

The post ‘Tis the Sustainable Season: Gen Z’s Shopping Revolution 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.

By Ashton York

In the heart of downtown Springdale, Coco Vasquez — known onstage as Pura Coco — sat on a brown couch in the back of a small recording studio built into an old shed. She crossed her arms, smiling while she talked about her passion for music.

Vasquez is an R&B artist who works with Love More Records, a locally-owned record label that started in 2022 in Northwest Arkansas. Her music is a blend of alternative R&B that leans into Latin culture and her southern upbringing, according to her Spotify page. Vasquez got started with Love More Records when her friend Raquel Thompson invited her onto the team. 

Raquel is a local DJ and wanted to create an artist-friendly, independent record label. She started Love More Records in 2022 to provide local artists with a label that would pay fairly and give back to the musicians.

Greg “G.T.” Thompson, Raquel’s father, encouraged his daughter to follow her dream of creating the local business. He said the name of the label “means exactly what it says.”

“We’ve always wanted to put a little bit of that energy out into the universe,” Greg said. “Love a little bit more, man. Just be more present with people, conscious of people.”

Greg also said Love More Records specifically partners with artists who carry a similar energy and goal, whether it be onstage or in everyday interactions with other people. He also said he believes most other record labels are outdated in terms of how much they take from their artists.

“It doesn’t cost as much nowadays to make a record as it did 20 years ago,” Greg said. “You couldn’t do it from your bedroom or your home. Now that’s changed, and some artists can make music by themselves without having a room full of musicians. Not as much money needs to be taken out of the artist’s pocket because it doesn’t require as much to make.”

 Love More Records’ main mission is to create a new standard in the music industry to uplift artists and hold record labels accountable for giving their artists the right kind of support. According to the Love More Records website, the business seeks to work collaboratively with artists to reach their career goals and avoid imposing restrictive decisions on them while also fostering a sense of community.

Jeremiah Pickett, known as BAANG, is another hip-hop artist who works with Love More Records. The acronym “BAANG” stands for Believe, Aspire, Achieve, Now Go — which perfectly reflects the energy he brings to the stage.

According to the BAANG Spotify page, he has a dynamic stage presence and an effortless ability to control the crowd. He is passionate about finding and highlighting local talent in his annual mini-festival called BAANG & The Gang.

“A lot of times, this area specifically caters toward already-established artists,” Pickett said. “I desire a world where a person who is just now starting to make music today can have a path to start and deal with this career from right here without having to move away.”

Pickett said he thinks music is about expression, creation and showing people how to feel. Much of his music is made of real stories and experiences he has seen. He also said that Love More Records provides a good foundation to connect with others who feel the same way.

“(We’ve) got a bunch of dedicated and passionate team members who are willing to work hard and figure stuff out,” Pickett said. “It’s cool being a part of an organization that you don’t have to worry if they’re being honest – if they’re going to do right by you. They’re genuine people.”

The label also cultivates growth for the entire local music community, welcoming outside musicians into the studio for jam sessions and networking opportunities. Love More Records partners with the Music Education Initiative, a Northwest Arkansas nonprofit organization that hosts artist workshops and trains people to work with stage production and technology.

Around October, Love More Records opened a new studio in Springdale, and there are several upcoming events scheduled to take place in the homey, instrument-filled space. There will be a grand opening welcome party before the end of 2024, and it will be open to the public.

“I feel like it’s another family,” Vasquez said. “Of course, it is still business, but I love having that support system, and I love being able to support them. I like where we’re at. I’m really grateful for it.”

The post Love More, Grow More: The Local Record Label Redefining the Music Industry in NWA appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Alexandra Solberg

Travel the world within 10 minutes of Fayetteville by stepping into French Metro Antiques, a local treasure trove of French history and culture. Nestled in the heart of our community, French Metro Antiques has been a beacon of elegance and history for two decades. The store’s journey began with Renée and Terry Hunt, a couple united by their shared passion for French culture and antiques. Renée, a former high school French teacher with a Master’s degree in French language and literature from the University of Arkansas, and Terry, a stockbroker with dual degrees in business management and fine arts, combined their expertise and love for France to create a unique antique shopping experience. This exceptional antique store is a testament to their shared passion for all things French. 

For over 40 years, the Hunts have traveled to France, immersing themselves in its rich history and culture. Their deep connection to the country is evident not only in their extensive collection but also in their family’s involvement. Their four sons, all fluent in French and with experiences living, studying or working in France, have grown up surrounded by French antiques. Today, sons Harrison and Cam, both University of Arkansas graduates with degrees in French, work full time at French Metro, continuing the family tradition.

French Metro Antiques offers a diverse array of pieces, spanning from the 17th century to the mid-20th century. Whether you are looking for formal buffets, rustic farm tables or mid-century modern coffee tables, the store has something to suit every taste. The collection includes furnishings, decorative objects, lighting, mirrors and oil paintings, all carefully selected by the Hunts during their trips to France.

Authenticity is paramount at French Metro. The Hunts distinguish between period pieces, created during the reign of specific French kings, and later reproductions made in the style of those periods.

“The age of a piece cannot be determined by its features alone since during the 19th century there was a resurgence in popularity of all styles” Renee said. 

Period pieces reflect the unique styles developed by individual kings and crafted by French cabinet makers of the time. Even pieces created a century later in the style of a former king are considered antiques, meaning they are at least 100 years old.

When it comes to assessing the authenticity of their items, the Hunts are meticulous. “Period pieces refer to furnishings made during the reign of a particular French king,” Renée said. “Each king developed his own personal style, and the cabinet makers in France would create furnishings in that style during the period of the king’s reign. However, not all antique pieces are period pieces; some were created in the style of those periods but made later.” It is rare to come across a piece that is specifically dated to the year it was made. 

Renée leads a team on trips to France two to three times a year to acquire fine antique French furniture, art and accessories. “Variety is key at French Metro,” Renée said. 

French Metro currently has a unique box with an original hand-forged lock and key with a hand-carved year of 1732. The Hunts explain that “when we do come across a dated piece, it usually was to commemorate a special date such as the year someone got married.” 

George Walker, a frequent visitor of French Metro Antiques, said, “Walking around the shop is like being engulfed in historical furnishings.” He explained that he and his wife love to “pop in and pretend they are roaming one of France’s many antique stores.” 

French Metro Antiques also organizes customer appreciation events. These can range from special book signings to anniversary events and even special pastry tastings. When passing by, one can only help but notice the beautiful floral garden in front of the shop. This is a tradition for the owners to “plant 2000 tulips every year in front of our shop, and we display ever-changing vignettes in our large window facing Dickson Street,” Renee explained.

Starting your own antique collection can be overwhelming when first starting out. “Antiques never really go out of style since tastes are cyclical and subjective,” Renee said. “When you buy something you are drawn to, it becomes a part of your own history, your own story to tell.”

At French Metro Antiques, every item tells a story, offering a glimpse into the past and a touch of timeless elegance for your home. “We are fortunate to be able to hear each story in France and pass that on to our clients,” Renee said. Visit French Metro Antiques to explore their exquisite collection and bring a piece of French history into your life.

The post Passport to France: In Fayetteville appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Anna LeRoux 

The landscape of education has been increasingly changed by access to digital learning over the past few years. According to the University of Arkansas, as of May 2022, more than 50% of instruction is still delivered in person, reflecting the institution’s commitment to face-to-face engagement. However, the increase in online and mixed-mode courses, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, marks a significant shift in how students learn and interact with faculty. This growth in online learning has made education more flexible, accessible and diverse, but has also brought new challenges.

For faculty members such as professor Dominique M. Valle, in-person instruction is crucial for certain subjects, particularly those requiring hands-on skills. 

“My perspective is that hands-on courses in which students should be practicing skills — such as writing, production, broadcast, etc. — are best when taught in person,” Valle said. “As an instructor, it’s important for me to be able to coach students one-on-one and in real time.” 

Valle, who teaches journalism and media courses, emphasizes that real-time feedback is essential when teaching practical skills such as writing ledes, understanding attribution or learning how to operate broadcast equipment.

For students such as Jillian Kelly, a U of A multimedia production and storytelling major, in-person classes offer a motivating structure. “I feel more motivated to work hard in a face-to-face setting because I know I have to show up and participate,” Kelly said. However, Kelly is also open to trying online courses next semester, recognizing that the flexibility of digital learning offers an opportunity to balance academic work with other life responsibilities. This blend of in-person and online experiences is becoming increasingly common, reflecting the university’s adaptation to the needs of modern students.

Alongside traditional in-person courses, U of A offers many mixed-mode courses, which combine face-to-face instruction with online learning components. These courses provide students with more flexibility than traditional in-person courses while still maintaining some degree of in-person interaction. For example, in a mixed-mode course according to the U of A, more than 25% but less than 50% of the course is delivered through distance instruction, with the remainder of the content delivered in person.

This delivery method allows instructors to engage students in face-to-face activities on certain days while using online platforms for lectures or assignments on others. According to U of A’s guidelines, mixed-mode courses often employ both synchronous and asynchronous online components, depending on the course structure. For example, a class might meet in person twice a week, with recorded lectures or online discussions happening on the other days. This model helps provide flexibility for students who may have personal commitments or are balancing a full academic load.

Valle said mixed-mode courses can work well for more conceptual classes, such as Media Law or Ethics in Journalism.

“These types of courses lend themselves well to online formats because students can digest the material at their own pace, and the course content is less dependent on face-to-face interaction,”  Valle said.

Valle’s courses use online discussion boards as a way to foster engagement and critical thinking, allowing students to exchange opinions and debate ethical issues even when they are not physically in class.

Mixed-mode courses have become increasingly important for students who need a flexible schedule due to jobs, internships or family obligations. This flexibility allows students to attend class in person for certain lessons while completing the rest of their coursework remotely at times that fit into their schedules. For many, this hybrid model has been a game-changer, offering the best of both worlds: the personal connection of in-person classes and the convenience of online learning.

The most significant shift in higher education over the past few years has been the dramatic increase in online courses. According to U of A, online courses are defined as those in which 50% or more of the instruction is delivered through distance technology. This includes a variety of formats, from fully asynchronous courses with no required class meetings to synchronous online courses where students must attend virtual classes at scheduled times.

The rise of online courses was initially driven by necessity during the COVID-19 pandemic. When campuses closed and social distancing measures were implemented, universities around the world were forced to rapidly transition to online learning. The U of A quickly adapted, offering more online options to accommodate students’ needs during uncertain times. As COVID-19 restrictions eased, many of these online offerings remained, with some students opting for entirely remote courses or a mix of in-person and online classes, even as in-person courses gradually returned.

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the growth of online courses, pushing universities to quickly adopt digital learning platforms. What was initially a temporary solution to keep students and faculty safe during the pandemic has now become a permanent fixture in higher education. For many institutions, online and mixed-mode courses are now integral to their academic offerings.

The shift to online learning was not without challenges. Faculty had to quickly adapt to new technologies, while students struggled with the isolation that often accompanies remote education. “We had to learn how to use technology effectively,” Valle said. “We were all learning together, but it was challenging to maintain the same level of engagement that you get from face-to-face teaching.”

According to the U of A Global Campus, a division of the university responsible for online education, many online courses at the university rely heavily on discussion forums to foster engagement. “The technology is well-established and ideal for asynchronous interaction,” according to Global Campus. In these courses, students are given prompts and are expected to respond to their peers’ posts, creating an online dialogue that mimics classroom discussions. This format provides students the flexibility to learn at their own pace while still engaging with the course material and their classmates.

While some students may have reservations about entirely online learning, others appreciate the flexibility it offers. “I’m excited to work at my own pace and have more time to prioritize other things,” Kelly said about her upcoming fully asynchronous course. For students juggling work or family commitments, online education offers an ideal solution, allowing them to complete coursework from anywhere at any time.

“If you are a working professional trying to do school on the side and not give up whatever work life you have right now, online schooling is very available for you,” said Saben Strode, an online student of the U of A’s Master of Science in Engineering Management.

Online courses have also made education more accessible for non-traditional students, such as working adults or those living in rural areas, who may have otherwise been unable to attend a traditional in-person class. 

Despite challenges, the transition to online learning has opened doors to new opportunities. Students no longer need to be physically present on campus to access high-quality education. With these structures, U of A is well-positioned to continue adapting to the evolving educational landscape, offering students an array of options that suit their learning styles, schedules and goals.

The post Navigating Class Structures: Online or On Campus? appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Edward McKinnon

Carrie Jenkins’ music therapy studio is a small cube hidden inside your run-of-the-mill beige suburban strip mall. In the corner, where she sits talking about her profession and what she might do with a client throughout a therapy session, she is framed by a keyboard to her left and a television monitor to her right. Across the room, there is another keyboard. Right beside it, there is a beautiful ocean-blue guitar next to a bookcase featuring music literature, her college diploma and her certificate from the Certification Board for Music Therapists.

An otherwise tight space feels much fuller and more vibrant thanks to the bright green colored walls, collection of musical instruments, and of course, Jenkins herself. In this space, she works mostly with children with various developmental disabilities such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and Down syndrome. She also travels to schools to hold group sessions as well as senior care facilities where she can work with Alzheimer’s and dementia patients. During a session, she has clients work on tasks that usually involve her or them playing songs.

Typical sessions unfold similar to other types of therapy, but Jenkins incorporates musical elements to help clients. With many clients, she has them sing greeting and departure songs to signal the beginning and end of a session. From there, she must learn to improvise and adapt to any client’s need. Sometimes, clients will develop new lyrics for familiar songs to express their feelings. She has a guitar, keyboard and ukulele handy that she can use to perform songs. If a patient already has baseline musical skills, she will incorporate their skills into the session. For example, with her long-time client Daniel LeBlanc she used all of these elements in their meetings, enabling him to play the trumpet or write lyrics depending on the situation.

“They’re learning musical aspects,” Jenkins said, “but it’s not focused solely on musical properties. It’s figuring out how to read, how to focus, how to finish a task before moving to the next one.”

Jenkins has run Music Therapy of Northwest Arkansas under the Cardinal Care Center in Farmington since 2012. During more than 10 years on the job, music therapy globally has grown significantly in popularity, especially during COVID-19. ASD diagnoses have tripled in children ages 8 or younger in the last 20 years, with the CDC reporting 1 in 54 children in the age range diagnosed in 2016. Music therapy has proven very effective in helping children with ASD, among other similar groups, and is only becoming more popular.

Jenkins has experienced this demand to the point where she has to waitlist some prospective clients or groups. While national interest in music therapy continues to grow, she remains the only practicing music therapist in Northwest Arkansas. Statewide, she is only in contact with one other music therapist, Andrew Ghrayeb, who works at Arkansas Children’s Hospital in Little Rock. Even if she is on an island of sorts, Jenkins takes solace in the fact that her work makes a noticeable difference. It is her dream job, she said. She has always loved music, lived around the medical field her whole life and has a natural inclination to help others. Music therapy is the perfect outlet.

Jenkins grew up in Farmington, attending high school down the road from her office at the Cardinal Care Center. Her dad is a retired pharmacist who loves music and initially wanted to be a music major, and her mother is a nurse. As a kid, she took piano lessons and taught herself guitar. This created an ideal development environment for an aspiring music therapist, but Jenkins did not always know she would do this kind of work. In her own words, it was all a fluke.

“I was working at an MRI clinic as a file clerk, and the guy that would come in and service our MRI machine to make sure it was working properly found out I was helping with music at my church … And he was like, ‘You know, I think you have the personality — you should look at music therapy.’”

Ironically, Jenkins nearly shrugged off the idea of music therapy as a calling with the same confusion a skeptic might direct toward her today. However, she was interested enough to research the topic, and she discovered that Drury University in Springfield, Missouri, offered a music therapy program. After visiting and talking to professors, she realized this profession was her ideal landing place.

After earning her bachelor’s degree, she partook in a six-month internship at the STAR Center in Jackson, Tennessee, and then decided to pursue her master’s degree. 

Shortly after Jenkins completed her master’s program at Drury, Cardinal Care Center opened. Sherri Gansz, the owner, wanted to offer a variety of services to address mental health, and Jenkins’ expertise fit that goal, making her a mainstay at Cardinal Care. 

“Due to the specialized therapy Carrie offers, we are known in the area for her talents,” Gansz said. “Her population is specific. None of us have the experience or training.”

Before even getting settled with Cardinal Care, Emily LeBlanc, the mother of Jenkins’ would-be-first individual client, contacted her. She found out about Jenkins online after searching out possible music therapy options in the region for her late-teenage son, Daniel, but did not realize Jenkins was still completing her degree. After Jenkins graduated and settled in Farmington, Emily reached out again. She had taken her son to other talk therapists before discovering Jenkins, but it was not as effective as music therapy.

“Singing about it was what he needed to do to fully express what he was feeling,” Emily said while sitting beside her son on a Zoom call.

Growing up with autism, Emily said her son Daniel was unhappy in public school and in search of an outlet to express his feelings constructively. “It was sad,” he said.

“It was sad,” Emily said, echoing her son’s sentiment. “(His struggle in school) was actually pretty normal for someone with autism. Having somebody else working on it was very helpful. Carrie would have him sing about different emotions. There were songs for greeting and for leaving, and in between, she would have different goals, such as keeping rhythm with her to help him link up to another person.” 

Much of what they worked on during therapy sessions emphasized mirror neurons, which are linked to brain activity in social interactions and expressing empathy. People with autism have mirror neurons and do feel empathy but cannot tell what others are feeling at a specific moment as easily.

Emily said Carrie was having him work on his mirror neurons musically by trying to match beats and play music. One task he worked on was playing Bach’s “Toccata and Fugue in D minor,” one of his favorite pieces.

After nearly 12 years of practicing professionally, Jenkins has refined her craft by learning to go with the flow during sessions. Music therapy is a versatile service that can mean a lot of different things depending on who the patient is and what the practitioner’s musical background is. For a client, such as Daniel, who is working on expressing their feelings, using music to elicit an emotional response is a point of emphasis. For other patients with disabilities whose primary struggle is staying on task, performing music is common regardless of their skill level.

“With music therapy, I’m focusing more on if they can play with one finger at a time,” Jenkins said. “Can they focus long enough to complete an entire song? Can they be able to match letters on a page to letters on the keys that I have to see if we have cognitive and visual tracking?”

She demonstrates this by showing the special keyboard she uses with clients. It is set up to play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” and features various settings that force a user’s level of involvement to increase incrementally. With the basic setting, a client can tap any key on the keyboard and it will produce the correct note for the song. Next, a client must press the correct key, which is illuminated, in order to continue performing the song, and so on.

“That’s not only working on focus and staying on task until it is done,” Jenkins said, “but it is being able to follow directions, follow the light, move from one key to the next. And then we progress to this little book, which has the letters. So, they are learning to read and track from keys up to the book. So, that’s just a basic progression of something we would do for keyboard skills.”

When working with older groups such as dementia clients, the objectives and tactics change.

 “It’s not necessarily looking for growth in what we’re doing,” Jenkins said. “It’s more about maintaining what they have and maintaining their quality of life for as long as possible. So, with my dementia client groups, I’ll see them for an hour for each group, and it’s either once a month or twice a month depending on availability and the budget of the facility.”

Carrie said with older patients, memory recall exercises are highly useful. Around Valentine’s Day, she plays older love songs with older groups, which can serve as a jumping-off point for members to talk about their loved ones and other special figures in their lives.

She also plays games such as “Name that Tune” with these groups.

 “I’ll play a song but won’t sing the words, and we’ll see if they are able to recite any of the words back to me and tell me the name of it,” Jenkins said. “And like nine times out of 10, they’re very much able to. There are some songs where they are able to tell me what the song is in three notes, which is just phenomenal considering I can come in and someone could forget my name and have to ask what my name is 18 times. But I sing the first three or four notes of ‘You Are My Sunshine’ and they’ll sing the entire song to me.”

Though Jenkins said she gained a lot of confidence in herself during her practicum, she has had to swim in uncomfortable waters to build out the toolbox necessary to succeed as a music therapist. As a student, she expected the job to be more structured, but in reality, it commands more of a read-and-react approach. As someone who can be introverted, Jenkins has had to become more of an extrovert to build out a public presence and let people know about the services she offers — especially given she is the only practicing music therapist in the area. Within the therapy sessions, she has learned to become more resourceful.

In the present, Carrie Jenkins is happy about where she is in her career. Her career progression has coincided with the increasing popularity of music therapy worldwide. But even if she has found her footing, there are many obstacles she still has to overcome to be successful in her work, such as the stigma that surrounds it.

When people hear the term “music therapy,” they may fail to grasp its legitimacy immediately. Perhaps most people did not realize that close to 100 colleges across the United States offer undergraduate music therapy programs. Jenkins said people have cynically asked her if the job simply entails turning on an iPod, making people listen to music and telling them to be happy.

There are also barriers specific to Arkansas that she said she would like to see addressed in the future. Notably, the state has no colleges and universities that offer music therapy degrees. Arkansas currently does not offer licensure for music therapy, meaning she cannot accept insurance as a form of payment, and most clients are required to pay out of pocket for her services, unlike other therapy options. Eighteen states have licensure as of 2024, with many states establishing it within the past five years. Licensure would further legitimize her practice and perhaps could lead to more practitioners operating in the state. Jenkins played a role in establishing a task force for getting licensure in the state in 2018, but the pandemic brought much of the progress to a halt.

Through her colleagues at Cardinal Care Center as well as recommendations from facilities where she has hosted group sessions, Jenkins has built out an extensive network of contacts that enables her to always have a strong client base. But because there are no other practicing music therapists in Northwest Arkansas, she is frequently stretched thin, she said. Aside from therapy, she also offers music lessons and is a worship leader at her church. She hopes to get more help in some shape or form. “I would love to be a multi-person music therapy clinic and be able to contract out to other music therapists and say, ‘Go out, do this, be awesome!’” she said.

Although she has difficulties being a one-woman music therapy operation in a time of growing demand, Jenkins never sounds upset with the state of things. If anything, she embraces the challenges. “I’ve always had a drive to help people,” Jenkins said. She recognizes the demand for her services and wants to help as many people as possible. She wants to dedicate her spare time to putting her musical skills to use while helping at church or giving music lessons.

For the LeBlanc family, Jenkins’ positive demeanor has rubbed off in a multitude of ways. Beyond expressing feelings, Daniel and Emily reflect on the strong sense of joy the sessions have provided over the years. Daniel saw Jenkins for music therapy for a decade before relocating to Jamestown, New York, with his family. When they discuss their relationship with her, almost every answer is present tense, as Jenkins has remained in touch with the family. Daniel regularly sends her some of his best illustrations of dragons through the mail. With plans to take animation classes at the local community college in a work preparation program and dreams of one day running a film and animation studio, he said he is in part inspired by the time he spent with Jenkins and the skills he developed.

“She’s awesome!” Daniel said, excitedly. “She plays guitar just like I play trumpet.”

Emily interjected to ask her son a question. “Does she encourage you?”

“Yes.”

Emily described Jenkins as cheerful and happy in her sessions. Daniel, offering clarification, said he has fond memories of Jenkins because she understands him.

Jenkins is a helper. Music is her tool. When asked what helps her, she said she finds herself returning to acoustic covers of pop songs to chill out and lo-fi covers when she has to focus and get stuff done.

“It is so very therapeutic,” Jenkins said. “In a personal setting, I am listening to music all the time, 24/7. It gets me up in the morning, it gets me to and from in the car. If I’m having a bad day, I know what kind of music I’m listening to in order to get me out of a funk. If I need to stay in that funk and live in it, I know what music I want to listen to.”

She goes as far as to characterize therapy sessions as helpful for herself.

“There are times where I’ll be headed to an assisted living facility, and I’ll be like, ‘Man, I’m so tired. I don’t feel it today. I don’t want to do this, but I know I have to do this.’ Then, by the end of the session, I’m in a better mood than some of the clients are because being able to engage them and be part of that moment with them is just so rewarding and so wholesome, and it just helps me as much as it does them.”

Jenkins’ trajectory with respect to music therapy is not that different to clients such as Daniel. Though she comes in expecting to help each person she works with, music therapy and working with individuals have helped her just as much.

Although Jenkins did not specifically mention how she keeps a positive disposition when confronted with various obstacles outside her control in a session, it helps when the work doubles as her own therapy.

The post Got Problems? Let’s Sing About Them appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Stella Hufhines

The moment Ethan Coombs realized he was struggling with a mental illness, he was immersed in the pages of his old writing journal. “I am undoubtedly depressed,” read the title line of one entry, dated Sept. 27, 2022. Coombs practices writing down his moods and feelings each day for future moments of reflection. As he returned to his journals two years later, Coombs recalled the stark differences between his entries. In September’s entries, Coombs wrote of his dark moods, fatigue or lack of focus, while in May, his entries were full of gratefulness, positivity and happiness.

At the time of the September entries, Coombs was unable to wrap his mind around these mysterious feelings. But as he stumbled upon this entry in January 2024, his perpetual sadness made total sense to him. Now, Coombs knows exactly what was infecting his mind two years ago. He was diagnosed with Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) in 2023, a malady that has affected nearly every aspect of his life. Coombs has linked the plummet of his grades, lack of energy and tendency to self-isolate to the disorder.

SAD is a subtype of depression that is linked to the change in seasons. Although SAD can appear at any time of the year, it is extremely common in the winter due to the decreased amount of sunlight. How it differs from its associated diagnosis, depression, is that someone with SAD is only affected for three to four months out of the year, while depression is more long-term. 

Typical symptoms of SAD include a disinterest in activities that were once enjoyed, change in appetite, decline in physical activity, sporadic sleep as well as difficulty staying focused and making decisions. These symptoms can evolve into serious mental and physical handicaps for those who are affected. SAD affects a large percentage of the population — up to 5% of all U.S. adults and an estimated 1 million children in North America.

January has been one of the leading months in suicide rates, claiming the lives of over 8,300 individuals in the last two years. Although not all of these suicides are attributed to SAD, there is evidence to show that SAD is extremely common in those who are already diagnosed with a pre-existing mental illness, specifically depression or bipolar disorder.

Despite its pervasive nature in the U.S. population, SAD is often downplayed as a trivial mental illness because it is confused with the winter blues, which most perceive as innocuous. However, the symptoms of SAD are anything but superficial. This preconception that SAD is harmless, along with the global stigma against mental health issues, makes those who endure the disorder often feel unseen and trapped in the shadows of silent suffering.

Ryan Freeman-Burchfield, founder of the Freeman-Burchfield Institute for Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and the only Beck Institute Certified Clinician in Arkansas, explained the mental health stigma “exists inside of us and our society.” Freeman-Burchfield said she believes this stigma creates shame associated with mental illness and can be detrimental to those who suffer.

“The consequence of minimizing SAD (or any mental health symptom) is that people will not seek the support they need and it is possible that their symptoms could worsen leading to suicidal thoughts and feelings,” Freeman-Burchfield said.

Coombs, a 23-year-old native of Northwest Arkansas, has grappled with this seasonal struggle for the past four years, but his symptoms appeared to be much worse than the average person. Unable to get any sleep at night, loss of motivation to see friends and the overall miserable veil smothering his mind, make the winter months insufferable for Coombs. When victims of SAD make it out of the trenches of winter, they are usually met with a newfound optimism in the spring, as their days become filled with sunlight and warmer weather. As February ushers in the promise of a sunlit salvation, Coombs said he feels a surge of hope. “In the spring when (my depression) starts to go away, I feel like I’m invincible,” Coombs said. “But It never goes according to plan.”

Spring and summer become his sanctuary, a time for passion projects, academic engagement and the erasure of the previous winter months. The euphoria, however, is short-lived, crashing down as autumn signals the return of his SAD.

The winter of 2021 was an especially troubling season for Coombs, but he did not attribute a specific factor to the intensity of his SAD. Instead, Coombs believes it was just a particularly bad episode “in combination with a lot of responsibilities I couldn’t delegate,” he said. Despite that specifically harsh winter, Coombs claimed when spring arrived, he quickly bounced back. “(The change) was so dramatic that I didn’t even feel like fall was that big of a deal because of how good I felt in the spring — until the next fall came,” Coombs said.

When Coombs’ symptoms began to creep back in autumn, all of his projects and excursions he had planned during the sunshine-filled summer came to a halt. As a psychology and music major at the University of Arkansas, deeply passionate about his studies, Coombs grapples with the impact of his mental health on academic pursuits. He said one glance comparing his fall and spring transcripts could provide a depressive diagnosis on its own. In the spring, Coombs consistently remains a straight-A student, but in the fall, no matter how many hours he is taking, his grades seem to plummet. During the fall semester, Coombs finds himself dropping classes he once eagerly anticipated, paralyzed by the lack of motivation and energy that his disorder brings.

According to his mother, Tina Matsubara, Coombs “was a quiet contemplator, who overthought everything” as a child. Growing up in Northwest Arkansas, Coombs’ life seemed pretty standard. Not showing any previous signs of mental distress, his parents were surprised as to why he started having relentless panic attacks around the age of 7. Coombs, who experienced these intense fight-or-flight responses, now questions the origins of these sporadic panic episodes. Although he said there is no definitive origin, Coombs wonders if the attacks coincided with frequently being left to his own devices as a child. 

With a father who frequently worked late hours and a mother who also worked as a teacher and ran errands often, there was a consistency of being left alone with his brother for long periods. 

Other than the summer months when his mother was not working, he recalled unusual moments when she was home for extended lengths of time. Although Coombs assumed she was sick, having taken off work, he now believes these moments were likely due to depressive spells.

Even though Coombs said he has always enjoyed being alone, these absences seemed to deeply distress him.

Growing up, Coombs’ older brother was diagnosed with depression at the early age of 8. Meanwhile, Coombs seemed to embody normalcy.

That’s why, when Coombs told his father of his diagnosis of depression at 20 years old, his dad was taken aback, almost as much as Coombs, himself, was. Coombs said he suspected both reactions were because he had gone so long without showing any symptoms. 

 “It seemed that, like with my brother, if (depression) was going to emerge, it would have probably happened earlier,” Coombs said. 

Freeman-Burchfield views SAD as a prevalent mental disorder, especially when it already runs in the family. She said genetics play a large role in determining mental illness and emphasized how common it is for children to inherit such disorders from parents who grapple with identical challenges. Additionally, Freeman-Burchfield suggests that there might be a natural, instinctive element to SAD that contributes to its widespread appearance. “I think in the winter we are supposed to slow down generally,” Freeman-Burchfield said. “We’re humans, we are a type of animal in a way.” Although 5% of the U.S. adult population experiences SAD, Freeman-Burchfield believes that, in reality, far more are likely to experience it.

Calvin Ryerse, a 22-year-old living in New York City, has been struggling with symptoms of SAD for eight years, which is another testament to familial mental illness, as both his mother and grandmother share the disorder. This family history, along with his symptoms, suggests the presence of SAD, although Ryerse is undiagnosed. For Ryerse, his seasonal depression mostly manifests through a lack of energy and motivation. “It feels like moving through molasses,” Ryerse said, “which is a challenging way to spend five months out of the year.” Trudging through the thick mental fog of winter, Ryerse finds himself operating at a snail’s pace in his day-to-day life. For Ryerse, the winter of 2023 held a notoriously bad winter for him, as he was fired from his job in November, graduated in December and ended a relationship in February, all while dealing with his usual seasonal struggle.

Ryerse, who is a filmmaker, found that his most bearable winter was when he was working on his senior thesis film. Having a long-term creative project helped Ryerse get through the insufferable winter months.

“The best way to deal with it is to give myself a project to work on,” Ryerse said. “Having something to look forward to kind of cuts through that intense, cold heaviness.”

Another way in which Ryerse fights the symptoms of SAD is by being outside as often as possible — going on long walks and bike rides despite the cold.

Ryerse said he has not considered getting an official diagnosis because he was “feeling unsure about the process,” and is content with being undiagnosed. “There’s something easier living in the uncertainty of it — confronting the truth or the non-truth,” Ryerse said.

Freeman-Burchfield, who has been helping those with SAD since 2007, has many suggestions for treatment options; however, one of her top prescriptions for those with the disorder is time outdoors.

“I believe in nature,” she said.

Freeman-Burchfield has had her own mental struggles throughout her life and occasionally battles mild SAD. After recently undergoing wrist surgery, which left her feeling limited and partially immobilized, she fell back on one of her most suggested forms of healing: going on a hike. Despite the dead trees that look like skeletal sentinels, Freeman-Burchfield listened to the sound of flowing water from a nearby stream and the chirps of birds — a symphony of delicate flutes. 

She strongly believes that getting outside, regardless of the nasty weather, can do wonders for those struggling with SAD. There are many forms of treatment for SAD, ranging from Ryerse’s focus on creative projects to Freeman-Burchfield’s suggestion to get outside, or different kinds of medication. Other common treatments include light therapy, exercise and different methods of talk therapy, however, no single form of treatment works for everyone. 

Summer Rainn, who has been diagnosed with SAD since 2020, has been consistently disappointed in her attempts at finding solace through different treatments.

Rainn’s SAD symptoms greatly hinder her day-to-day life, she said. Shutting herself away from the outside world and friends, her self-isolation becomes a tortuous experience. It is difficult to maintain consistent habits with SAD, so Rainn’s routine tends to fluctuate. Being that her symptoms are so severe, Rainn has sought out many forms of treatment. Medication was her first venture, but it proved to make her condition even worse. “The times I was on medication, it turned me into a zombie, barely functioning as a human,” Rainn said. After her hopeless excursions in the world of pharmaceuticals, Rainn became interested in a more recent and debated form of medicine.

Things began to look up for Rainn when she received her medical marijuana card, which made her symptoms far less intrusive to her daily life. Many recent studies address the correlation between mental illness and marijuana, especially concerning depression. While there are mixed opinions on whether it improves or worsens the condition, there are many personal testimonies that claim the drug is integral to getting those with depression through the day. Outside of marijuana, listening to music seems to be the only other efficient way Rainn can cope with her symptoms.

Similar to Rainn, Coombs has tried almost every treatment option available in the hopes of easing his despair. Before resorting to medication, Coombs attempted to eliminate any environmental factors that could have been feeding his disorder. He endured months of dieting, blood tests, hormone evaluations, light therapy, exercise and a regimented sleep schedule, all to find that nothing truly stabilized his suffering. Medication is the only treatment that seems to lighten the effects of SAD for Coombs — much to his dismay. Coombs has never considered medication a long-term solution and instead views it as a risky last resort due to its possible impacts on the brain. Despite his hesitation toward pharmaceuticals, Coombs has high hopes for the future of healthcare and continues to abide by his same routine of medication, exercise and time outside.

It is common for people with forms of depression to have a hard time envisioning their future. However, Freeman-Burchfield suggests that those who have been diagnosed with SAD and have experienced their depressive cycle find it easier to look to the future.  For someone experiencing symptoms of SAD for the first time, the unexplained nature of their emotions can be perplexing. Deciphering and discovering new feelings can be extremely difficult, especially in a world where mental health is frequently stigmatized.

Freeman-Burchfield said the reverse can also be true for those with SAD, where one feels a sense of dread as winter approaches. Although those who are diagnosed are aware that their struggle is seasonal, it can create a sense of apprehension when it comes to facing the colder months. They know that darker times are ahead, but there is nothing they can do to stop their symptoms from reappearing.

During a surprisingly warm February this year, Coombs said he was springing out of his seasonal slump and seemed unexpectedly optimistic when considering the future state of his disorder. As an undergrad psychology major, Coombs recognizes that, with graduate school ahead, he is going to stay busy for the following years. When he envisions his later career, Coombs does not see SAD in the picture and is fairly optimistic that his current treatments will continue to carry him through the winters. Trying to focus more on the present, Coombs has adopted the idea that “everything will work out eventually.”

“I’m probably not the typical depressed person thinking about their future because I’m very optimistic about this kind of stuff,” Coombs said. 

But this is not always good, he said. Coombs attributed his overly optimistic mindset to his newfound enjoyment of day-to-day life, now that his depressive season was coming to an end.   

Freeman-Burchfield said she believes mental health’s severity is often minimized and that there has been a historical stigma surrounding the topic. She mentioned that a transformative moment in reshaping conversations around mental health emerged with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Being locked indoors and estranged from the outside world, COVID-19 brought a 25% increase in the global appearance of anxiety and depression according to the World Health Organization. While acknowledging the grim toll the pandemic took on mental well-being, Freeman-Burchfield highlighted a silver lining in the crisis — “it normalized mental health for a lot of people.” 

Even in the wake of increased awareness and discourse surrounding mental health, Freeman-Burchfield highlights a persistent challenge in the way individuals approach their own well-being. “We maximize other people’s problems, but we often minimize our own,” she said. She encourages individuals to become active participants in understanding their emotional landscape, urging them to contemplate pursuing potential diagnoses, particularly in the case of SAD. “You are the expert on you,” Freeman-Burchfield said. “What you go through, what you experience — you are the expert.” 

The societal norm to minimize personal feelings played a significant role in Coombs’ early diagnosis of depression. Even though Coombs had been struggling with symptoms of SAD for years before it was confirmed, he had programmed himself to blame times of emotional turmoil and sadness on factors other than his mental health. By blaming his feelings on these justifications, Coombs had never considered the possibility that he could be dealing with something more serious, which is why his diagnosis of depression hit him particularly hard. 

Although the overwhelmingly large number of individuals suffering from SAD could be considered a crisis in itself, Freeman-Burchfield said she believes the bigger issue lies in the stigma against mental health. “People don’t know where to start, how to talk about it, or where to go,” she said. At heart, she thinks that by sharing mental struggles with others, people can connect with and inspire those who are suffering to recognize their own mental hardships. If this pattern repeats, the global mental health stigma might slowly begin to dissolve, Freeman-Burchfield said. 

By confronting the bigger issue, individuals may begin to find peace in a more accepting atmosphere. Although Coombs can envision a bright future ahead, others may navigate the darkness by focusing on the day-to-day. 

In the uncertain landscape of her future, Rainn said she finds herself navigating the present with a mix of determination and curiosity. All that she can currently do is keep using the treatments that get her through each day. 

Concerning Ryerse’s future, instead of trying to fight his SAD, he has learned to accept and embrace the disorder. Ryerse said to avoid dreading the next November when his symptoms usually kick in, he finds ways to utilize his SAD. Ryerse views the winter as an opportunity to slow down, a season for intentional rest and introspection. Although the colder months can be tough for Ryerse’s mental health, he finds solace in the knowledge that spring will inevitably come, ushering in a wave of renewal and dispelling the shadows of his depressive mood. 

Although no two victims of SAD will walk the same path, many may find comfort in an open conversation. By sharing personal stories and connecting with others affected, the individual experience becomes that of the group. In this transparent environment, those with SAD are learning to manage the seasonal cycle instead of trying to break it. 

The post A Change in Season: Navigating and Managing SAD appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Lindsey Packer 

Daylight savings continue to challenge motivation each year, the colder weather rolls in, and students scramble to wrap up exams, papers and projects. As the days grow shorter and deadlines loom closer, senior Ella Miller from Leawood, Kansas finds that spending time outdoors while it’s still light and connecting with friends is a great way to cope with homesickness during the holiday season.

“Seasonal depression is a real thing, especially being far away from home,” Miller said, “but I really try to put a lot of time and effort “into” my friends and doing things that make me happy. The holidays are a very important time to me, and I try to make Fayetteville a home away from home.”

Difficult days are inevitable during this time of year which is why Miller stresses the importance of reaching out to family and friends back home if you are feeling homesick. Acknowledging that it is a tough time of year and missing family is completely normal, Miller encourages leaning on the friends nearby, reassuring that you will get through it.

Creating new traditions with friends, decorating her cozy home away from home, joining in Christmas movie marathons and cherishing the small moments that make the season special are ways Miller is embracing the joy of the holiday season.

Being away from home during the holiday season can bring added feelings of anxiety and sadness for students. Livia Sellin, a junior from Gothenburg, Sweden, who is studying business economics this semester at the U of A, misses her close friends, family and traditional Swedish foods and candy, but she is nonetheless excited to share her culture with some of her new friends in Arkansas.

“I’d love to share St. Lucia’s Day with my friends here in Fayetteville,” Sellin said.  “Although it might be a bit challenging since it’s based in Sweden, we could still bake lussekatter or other Swedish treats together.” St. Lucia’s Day, celebrated Dec. 13 in Nordic countries, is a festival of lights. Sellin described how her family sings songs in honor of St. Lucia and enjoys saffron buns called lussekatter. 

Sellin and Daisy Natt, a junior international student from Winchester, England, are excited to are excited to share their culture with their new friends and experience the holidays in America. They both mentioned how the elaborate decorations here have been a bit of a culture shock for them.

“America really goes big with decorations and lights, while in Sweden we take a more subtle approach, focusing on an aesthetic feel rather than an [over the top] Christmas vibe,” Sellin said. 

A major Christmas tradition in Natt’s family is gathering together to watch soccer. She explained that many families in England, including hers, have grown up watching soccer on Christmas Day every year, which is very similar to families in America watching football on major holidays such as Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s. 

As the season progresses and students await snow and colder weather, ice skating and sledding with friends are just a few activities that can help lift your spirits during the shorter days. These are some activities back in Sweden that Sellin enjoys with her friends. 

“Where I live, we have a Christmas market and ice skating rink outside the cathedral, which I have been going to since I was a child. I miss going there after school or work,” Natt said. 

Natt explained that mulled wine and cider are popular traditional drinks in England during the holiday season, but she has not seen either around Fayetteville. She also is not used to the warm weather but has enjoyed the extra daylight hours, especially since back home the sun sets at 4 p.m.

Exploring festive holiday lights, spending time outdoors at holiday markets and trivia nights, and enjoying movies and decorating with friends are just a few ways U of A students are spreading holiday cheer. Sharing cultural traditions and teaching each other about family holiday customs is a wonderful way to feel connected, even when you are far from home. Decorating your college space will help make it feel cozy and festive, making the month of studying and papers a little more enjoyable.

The Lights of the Ozarks is a cherished tradition that has been decorating the historic square for 31 years, featuring around 500,000 lights. Bundle up in your coats, and do not forget the hot chocolate because it is a unique experience close to campus you will not want to miss. 

“I’m really excited to see the Lights of the Ozarks”, said Sellin.

Holiday markets are held throughout Fayetteville and one of the experiences Natt is looking forward to before returning to her hometown of Winchester. The Fayetteville Historic Downtown Square will host local vendors, live music and food trucks every Wednesday in December leading up to Christmas. 

Gather your friends and form a team to join Puritan Coffee and Beer for a Christmas Vacation Trivia Night on Dec. 20. Meanwhile, the Fayetteville Public Library will be screening “It’s a Wonderful Life” to celebrate the holiday season with loved ones. Enjoy free popcorn and hot chocolate, courtesy of NWA Equality on Dec. 19. 

Here are a few other things Fayetteville offers students and locals to embrace this holiday season:   

“A Christmas Carol” by TheatreSquared, Martina McBride, “The Joy of Christmas Tour” is on Dec.18 at Walton Art Center. Home Alone Christmas Pop-Up Bar at Lambeth Lounge all season long.  

While many consider Christmas the most wonderful time of the year, it can also bring feelings of loneliness or sadness for some. Reaching out to friends, family and your community can help make this time of year feel more like home and keep your final month of the college semester festive and bright. 

It is normal to feel seasonal depression or heightened anxiety as the semester comes to a close. Reaching out to friends and family and maintaining open communication can help ease the shift from warmer to colder weather. If you or someone you know is struggling, CAPS (Counseling and Psychological Services) is an excellent on-campus resource for professional support and mental health care. 

The post Students Balance Homesickness and Holiday Cheer During the Season appeared first on Hill Magazine.

By Emma Bracken 

Northwest Arkansas is home to a vibrant scene of creative minds, from musicians and poets to comedians and painters. The colorful blend of art and storytelling that is born from this area is fueled by creative opportunities presented by the University of Arkansas. The university’s Master of Fine Arts program comes together each year to showcase the talent of its graduate students studying one of three concentrations: poetry, fiction and translation. Students from each discipline are able to show off their talent and seek inspiration from their peers and fellow community at the highly anticipated Writers by the Light event. 

This year’s Writers by the Light was hosted Nov. 18, giving students and other enjoyers of creative writing a chance to gather before the holiday season kicks off in full force. At a time when life feels busy, crowded and uncertain, spaces like this are incredibly valuable. Creative spaces can bring brevity and fun but also are a moment for people to be vulnerable and express themselves without judgment. 

Claire Scott, a third-year poet in the MFA program, views the event as an opportunity to see the hard work of her peers as well as share her own with the larger community. As both a lover of poetry and stand-up comedy, Scott has been to numerous open mic events and public readings.

“There are very few chances to kind of perform and share (your work) in this way that can reach people,” Scott said. 

Hosts of the event, Lizzie Fox and Kate Stolfuz, aimed to create a fun space that allows students to connect to those outside of their genre. Students are able to grow as writers but also feel supported by their creative community.

“I’m really glad that we do this,” Stolfuz said. “Usually, all of the students are quite siloed in their own genres and classes and don’t get to come together.”

For Scott and many others, finding these events, either through the university or around Fayetteville, is an opportunity to let their art speak to people. Scott highlighted Fayetteville’s Club 509 as being a space where comedians and poets alike are invited regularly to showcase their work to an eager crowd in an open mic format.

“One of the goals of writing poems, at least for me, is connecting to people,” Scott said. “I started writing because reading other stuff helped me feel understood. So the goal is — through some of my writing — to share that and for other people to feel a similar understanding.”

Connor Weirich, another MFA student, described a similar relationship to connecting to people through art. 

“Art is not just meant to be shared, art is sharing,” Weinrich said. “It’s crucial, especially in this age, to carve out the time and space to gather with others for the explicit purpose of sharing our art.”

The feeling created between people who are able to connect at the level of vulnerability required for any type of art is one of comfort and community. For someone to go up on stage and openly express themselves, they need to be truly passionate about what they are sharing. The local performance environment is perfect to foster this creative energy and turn it into something more profound. According to Scott, these places are safe and healing, made for both the sharing and experiencing of art.

As well as providing a place where artists and creatives can feel safe and supported by each other, open mics provide a place to showcase all of the talent we have in our community in the Ozarks. Whether writers and speakers are coming from the university or from the next town over, these events attract the hidden talent of Northwest Arkansas. Supporting our local artists in this way assures the voices of our community are being uplifted. As the region grows, it is important that the voices here are not muffled. 

“Celebrating community artists in whatever form is really important,” Scott said. “Having grown up in Fayetteville, I have seen the way the region has grown. A lot of that is really awesome. But also, it’s important to focus on the people who are local here, too, and supporting local art: both what comes in and what is already here.”

Through highlighting local voices, a tighter-knit community is born. Whether through the emotional understanding created between a performer and an audience member who relates to their feelings or perhaps just a friendliness between attendees, there is connection brimming from these events. In times when people are not sure where to turn to, there is a place in the artistic sphere waiting for them. 

Stolfuz explained that there is an opportunity in events like this for artists to remember that they are not alone. Writers by the Light reminds these students that they have all decided to be here, in Arkansas, to create art and improve upon their artistry. Though this event is culminated by U of A graduate students, there is a need beyond these more narrow circles for open, creative spaces in the community. 

“The world is scary, life is scary, and it’s so easy to feel powerless and small,” Weirich said. “Coming together and sharing, in some fashion or another — our pain, exhaustion, delight, frustration, hope, fear, all of it — that has the power to remind us that not only are we not alone, we are many, and we are okay.”

Open mics and other local performance events are crucial in providing artists with community, inspiration and sanctuary. Without these events, there is no stepping stool for local creators to take their ideas from their own minds out into the world. They are the backbone of creativity, from giving stage to emerging comedians or shining a light on emerging poets. Writers by the Light is one way community members can have a taste of the literary achievements being made in the Northwest Arkansas area. Even for those unfamiliar with one or all of the performed disciplines, hearing fellow community members be vulnerable in a joyous space can make us feel closer together. In times when life feels isolating or unpredictable, these pockets of peace and support are crucial. 

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