Students find creative ways to have fun while social distancing
Photo by Sydney Pressley.
As social distancing guidelines remain in place across the United States, Lee students are finding ways to keep busy while isolated.
Spending time in nature
As spring begins and sunny days become more frequent, some students are prioritizing their time spent in nature as a coping mechanism for stress.
“Escaping to nature has calmed my soul in a time when the rest of my world is chaotic and not restful,” said junior public relations and business marketing major Savannah Jones. “Going out into nature during this unusual time of isolation has made me feel less alone and more connected to the world around me. In a time that I cannot be socially connected to people, I’m so thankful to live in a physical and natural world that continues to support me.”
Escaping into alternate reality through video games
With the recent releases of popular video games such as Nintendo’s “Animal Crossing: New Horizons” for the Switch console, students are turning to video games for instant entertainment and indulging themselves through extra screen time.
“They’re a really good escape technique when life feels like too much,” said sophomore studio art major Reed Bolton.
Students can also take a break from technology and instead spend their time with a tabletop role-playing game like Dungeons & Dragons, a traditional card game or a classic board game.
Investing in a new hobby
Other students have gotten crafty and started to pick up new skills with their free time. Junior early childhood and elementary education major Cassidy Philley found solace in the depths of YouTube, talking to her boyfriend Weston and knitting a blanket during social distancing.
“[I’ve enjoyed] getting to create something that I can see physical progress on, especially when so much of my life is online at the moment,” said Philley.
Supporting local businesses through online shopping
Sophomore anthropology major Jenna Veasman turned her hobby into a small business. Veasman has made use of her free time by diving into art and creating earrings from polymer clay.
“When I can throw myself into a project like sculpting my earrings, my mind is at peace for a few hours,” said Veasman. “I’m finding more time to spend with myself and my art rather than going out just because I’m bored.”
Veasman’s hand-crafted earrings can be found on her Etsy page.
