Issue 6 | Volume 103

NCAA changes volleyball rules

Does the allowance of double-contact diminish the setter position?

MARCH 9: INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY

Rebecca Ocampo Staff Writer

Women all over the world will be celebrating International Women’s Day on March 9. This is a holiday where women from all throughout history are celebrated and recognized for all their hard work and their social, cultural and economic achievements.

This holiday is not re-

stricted to just one country or group of women. Instead, it is a holiday that is celebrated in many different countries all around the world.

The holiday is not just for reflecting on past achievements and progress made for women; it is also a day for advocating and rallying together to keep progressing toward a world where women have equal

rights and opportunities.

“It’s important that we all support and advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment because they make up 50% of the world population,” said Lauren Ernst-Fortin, a junior psychology major.

Before there was an International Women’s Day, there was a National Women’s Day. According to Yes! magazine, the

women’s labor union was created on March 8, 1857, as a result of the women in New York City protesting against wrongful working conditions and low pay. By 1908, the women of New York were still marching for better working conditions and fighting for their cause.

See WOMEN | Page 8

I’m obsessed with Time’s Person of the Year.

Kylie Rowe Asst. A&L Editor

Every year in December, Time Magazine announces who they have declared the Person of the Year. According to Time, this title goes to the person or persons who most affected the news and our lives, for good or ill, and embodied what was important about the year. In light of this criteria, Time has had some controversial picks to say the least.

In 2023, Person of the Year was

NEWS | PG. 4

GC’S MOBILE MAMMOGRAM BUS

Taylor Swift. As I am sure no one can forget, Swift started her iconic “Eras Tour,” released two albums and broke record after record. In my mind, she embodies Person of the Year in the most positive way. She is an ultra-famous superstar followed by superfluous controversy and news outlets that are addicted to running stories about her.

Like I said, though, not all of the Person of the Year picks have been awesome, perfect blonde women who sing poetry. In fact, some of the most memorable

SPORTS | PG. 5

picks are people who I believe should not be celebrated at all.

The Person of the Year of 1938 was none other than Adolf Hitler. The following year it was Joseph Stalin, who was named again in 1942, and even Vladimir Putin was named in 2007. These people are indisputably awful; why would they be named Person of the Year? But I admit, readers have to consider the criteria from an editorial point of view rather than an emotional one.

See OPINION | Page 10

ARTS & LIFE | PG. 8

NEW SGA PRESIDENT: AXEL HAWKINS

Shadimon Smith News Editor

“Green, blue and fighting for you!” is the slogan Axel Hawkins used to win the 2024 Student Government Association, or SGA, presidential election.

SGA serves the community by looking into any student concerns and helping to garner a stronger on-campus sense of community. Students can join by enrolling in SGA, and officials, such as the president, are elected yearly.

“My campaign slogan was ‘green, blue and fighting for you,’ and that’s what I’m doing, all the time,” Hawkins said. “I want people to know I represent all 7,200 students, and if any of them have a concern or anything they want done on campus, I can’t guarantee I am always going to agree with them or always be able to get everything done. We are very reliant on working with the administration to implement things. They are not always on our side, but I will always be on the side of students and fighting for them, every hour of the day. I want them to know they can come to me at any time.”

Hawkins is a first-generation college student from McDonough, Georgia. She is majoring in history and minoring in political science.

“Neither of my parents had the opportunity to go to college,” Hawkins said. “Their family situation and personal situation did not allow them to. I was raised being told that I had to. As I got older, I realized that to pursue the career I wanted, I would have to go to college.”

Hawkins has spent her time during college working in roles such as a community organizer, where she worked to combat the housing crisis in Atlanta.

Hawkins has also spent time as a chief of staff intern for the City of Atlanta and worked to help ensure that Senator Raphael Warnock had a successful re-election through phone calls and interacting with the people of his community.

She started her journey with SGA as a student government senator, where she represented the class of 2025. She was then able to become the chair of the Student Emergency Fund.

See HAWKINS | Page 4

OPINION & MISC. | PG. 10

The bus, called the “Pink Baby,” will offer 15-minute, on-site appointments to those 40 and over.

KARLIE GUTIERREZ WINS FRESHMAN OF

GC softball catcher and infielder

Karlie Gutierrez takes home the Peach Belt Conference’s award.

INTERNSHIP SEASON

It is that time of year. Students are scrambling to find internships for the summer. But is the accompanying stress too much?

WHEN DO WE BECOME ADULTS?

We all know growing up is hard. But when does it end?

Courtesy of Axel Hawkins

Tokyo 2020 volleyball logo

Alabama court rules IVF embryos as children

Kylie Rowe Asst. A&L Editor

Alabama’s Supreme Court issued a ruling on Feb 16 that embryos created through in vitro fertilization, or IVF, should be considered children. This ruling has caused many of the state’s IVF clinics to pause their services and has raised concerns about the implications this ruling will have on continued reproductive technology.

This case was brought to court by a few couples that had undergone fertility treatment and given birth to healthy children. The embryos that were not used were stored in a fertility clinic. One day, a patient at the hospital entered the fertility clinic and reached in to pick up the frozen embryos. Because they are stored at sub-freezing temperatures, the patient then was burned and dropped the embryos, destroying them.

The couples brought multiple lawsuits against the hospital and clinic, including the Wrongful Death of a Minor Act, which is an Alabama statute. The case was originally dismissed by the trial judge, who ruled that the embryos in vitro were not people. However, the couples ap-

pealed this decision to the Alabama Supreme Court, who disagreed with the original ruling.

“Unborn children are ‘children’ ... without exception based on developmental stage, physical location, or any other ancillary characteristics,” said Justice Jay Mitchell

tend to vote Republican.

After this ruling was announced, clinics that participate in the practice of IVF became worried about the future of fertility research.

“This ruling is stating that a fertilized egg, which is a clump of cells, is now a person,” said

repercussions that both their staff and patients could face. This also means that scheduled treatments have been canceled at this time.

The main liability comes from the actual process of transferring embryos to the uterus. During the preparation

to couples or individuals seeking these services.”

With fertility clinics in Alabama shutting down indefinitely, there are many questions about not only the recipients of IVF treatment but those who administer it as well.

“Without IVF in Alabama, several jobs in

in the majority ruling.

The court is made up of all Republican justices, seven out of nine are male and all are white. To get an accurate reading on whether this court is inclusive of the people of Alabama, one may want to look at the basic demographics of the state. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Alabama’s population demographics are 64% white and 51% female.

According to the Pew Research Center, 52%

Barbara Collura, CEO of RESOLVE: The National Infertility Association, to The Associated Press.

“It really puts into question the practice of IVF.”

According to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, two of eight fertility clinics in Alabama decided to pause their IVF treatments, including one at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. The decision was made out of genuine fear of civil and possibly criminal

and transfer, there is a possibility that some embryos could be destroyed, and according to the state’s supreme court, that is now considered wrongful death.

“The Alabama Supreme Court ruling regarding IVF brings into question many healthcare practices,” said Sara Henderson, a sophomore nursing major.

“This could lead to increased scrutiny of IVF and other fertility treatments, limiting access

the healthcare field will cease to exist, causing severe displacement and frustration,” Henderson said. “This fuels the fire that is the shortage of healthcare professionals who leave the field due to burnout and frustration.”

This ruling has not only concerned IVF clinics about their continued jobs or freedoms but has also worried some women, specifically those who are left-leaning, about their fertility choices in the future and the rights

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of their bodies in general.

“I think the Alabama government is trying to assert its power against women by making unfair laws [or in this case, court rulings],” said Elyse Matheny, a junior management information systems, or MIS, major.

The Alabama Supreme Court justices used theological convictions when making this ruling, and the chief justice even referred to God when announcing it. This could make voters question whether the decision was based on law and science or strictly by the religious convictions of the court.

“Embryos are precious cells,” said Dr. Aimee Eyvazzadeh, a fertility specialist, to PBS. “They’re very precious. They have the potential to turn into a baby, the potential. But an embryo is not a child, is not a baby. They have a chance to become one. But anyone who knows even the smallest bit about IVF knows that an embryo is a chance for a baby.”

While Eyvazzadeh feels this way about the science of IVF, Alabama’s Supreme Court has set a precedent with this case that may affect fertility research in not only their state but the whole country.

Alabama Judicial Building

New school library bill is being approved by Senate

Emma Eslinger Asst. News Editor

A recent proposal will require school libraries to notify parents of every book their child checks out. This was recently advanced by Georgia senators on Tuesday, Feb. 20. There is also a proposal for school librarians to be criminally charged for distributing certain materials. The bill mainly targets sexual content that is inside certain books.

The bill has gained a lot of controversy so far, and many are wondering if the bill will work and shield students from certain materials.

“We monitor what children learn anyway, like through Common Core,” said Sofia Caldas, a sophomore nursing major. “That determines what they learn, and so this is kind of just put-

ting more guardrails on what they learn. But I think if students really want to access literature that they cannot find in their school library, they sure can look it up on their iPads at home.”

The bill would give parents a choice on whether to receive a notification for the books their child obtains from their school library.

“As a parent, you need to be in a position to trust your children and trust what they’re reading,” said Nancy Mizelle, the chair of the Department of Professional Learning and Innovation at GC.

“I mean, they can bring one thing home and be reading something else. I want to be in a position to say that I can trust my children enough to know that what they are bringing home is what they are actually reading.”

The bill also contains a proposal that can make school librarians subject to criminal charges if they distribute material to students that is considered obscene.

“I think it is important for teachers to get parent permission for class readings at the beginning of the school year so that there is documentation that parents are informed of what students are expected to read,” said Allie Wiernicki, a junior education major. “If books are within a classroom or library, and students aren’t required to read them, it is not inherently a teacher or librarian’s direct place to tell a student what they can or cannot read and therefore not something a teacher or librarian should be criminally charged for if a student picks it up to read.”

The bill will create

the Georgia Council of Library Materials Standards. Members of this council will be appointed by the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the House, House minority leader and Senate minority leader.

This council will create a grading system that will decide which books will be banned. The books have to fall under the legal definition of “harmful to minors” or “sexually explicit” in order to be banned.

This is not the first time that we have seen school libraries ban certain material that falls under these requirements.

In August 2023, Cobb County School District removed two books from their school libraries that contained inappropriate and sexual content. The two books were “Flamer” by Mike Curato and “Me

and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews.

“The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” by Sherman Alexie, “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck are other books that have been banned from most schools as well. Most of these books are what students grew up reading in their literature classes.

“I’ve read ‘To Kill

a Mockingbird’ in my freshman year of high school,” Caldas said.

“It shocks me that this book has been banned in schools because it is seen as a classic, but it does have certain aspects that could lead to it being banned from schools.”

The state Senate Education and Youth Committee voted 5-4 to advance the bill to the full Senate. It is now waiting for full approval from the Senate.

Two men charged with murder after Super Bowl parade shooting

Alexis Maddox Staff Writer

The Kansas City Chiefs held their victory parade in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, to celebrate their Super Bowl LVIII win on Feb. 14. The parade soon became the scene of a murder. Both 23-yearold Lyndell Mays and 18-year-old Dominic Miller have been charged with second-degree murder and several weapons counts over an argument that resulted in shots being fired.

Liza Lopez-Galvan was an innocent bystander in the crowd. Lopez-Galvan was hit by a bullet fired from Miller’s gun, which resulted in her death. According to The Seattle Times, 22 others were injured due to the burst of gunfire, and of the 22 people, more than half were children.

A surveillance video shows that both men were in separate friend groups enjoying the parade. In the video, Mays aggressively approached the other group along-

side his friend. Despite being around many innocent bystanders, including children, Mays fired the first shot.

According to Miller, his group ran after hearing the gunshots, which led to him getting shot in the back, but after investigators revealed that they had video of him shooting, he altered his story. The affidavit says that Miller admitted to firing four to five shots.

Mays told authorities that the first shot was fired because he felt

threatened, and Miller stated that he only shot back because someone was firing at him. Both cases can be considered self-defense due to the state’s “standyour-ground” law.

“Self-defense or not, someone still died, and many were injured,” said an anonymous source.

“This parade was a time for celebration, and for it to end in such tragedy is heartbreaking. I agree with the charges the men were charged with, and I feel for the families who are currently suffering the emotional and physical pain that their actions have caused.”

This is not the first gun violence-related incident that has occurred during celebratory events. After many incidents, this incident in particular has prompted many to believe that it is time to rethink championship celebrations, including Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas.

“I don’t think we need

to change the way we celebrate these things because that is not where the problem is coming from,” said Jackson Brennan, a sophomore mass communication major. “I think the issue stems from a problem with gun control, which remains somewhat out of our hands despite previous efforts.”

Despite the many gun violence-related incidents in the Kansas City area, the Saint Patrick’s Day parade will still be held as planned. The state is now taking this time to rethink what the stand-your-ground law really means and decide what really falls into the category of self-defense.

“I think Kansas should continue with their Saint Patrick’s Day parade, as it symbolizes unity and taking pride in cultural and religious traditions,” said Carley Perez, a junior business management major. “If Kansas cancels the parade, it promotes the idea

that big gatherings, like the parade, are the root of the problem when, in reality, it is the people who are causing that harm and violent acts.”

The Chiefs have made a $200,000 donation to United Way, a charity organization that creates an emergency fund for violence prevention organizations, first responders and victims of violent acts, just like the parade. Patrick Mahomes, the quarterback for the Chiefs, has also donated $50,000 to the fund.

A vigil was held at Skywalk Memorial Park in support of the shooting victims. The vigil was candlelit to promote unity and love for victims of the violence. Many members of the community were in attendance. Police cleaning up the event left chairs out that spelled “KC Strong,” which was a message of hope and strength for the members of the Kansas City community.

Kansas City Super Bowl Celebration

“Pink Baby” mobile mammogram bus comes to GC

Isabelle Gonzales Staff Writer

Breast cancer is one of the leading diseases that affects women, as one in every eight women are diagnosed with it at some point in their life.

As a result of the seriousness of this disease, GC is going to bring in a mammogram bus titled the “Pink Baby.”

The bus will be brought to campus on March 5, allowing for women to receive 15-minute mammogram appointments on-site. The appointments are meant for women 40 years old and

over to help in catching early signs of the cancer.

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, over 297,790 women and 2,800 men will be diagnosed with an invasive form of breast cancer annually. With these numbers, it makes the diagnosis the most common form of cancer in the world.

While breast cancer may not impact young students personally, it may have a heavy impact on their loved ones.

“I do know a family friend that was diagnosed with breast can-

cer, and it scares me a lot to think about possibly getting it,” said Bella Marino, a sophomore marketing major.

Breast cancer is a very real thing and can become very intense, very quickly. Early detection is the best way to be aware of your health and to get treatment as soon as possible. Even though this disease is so common, many young women do not know when to get their first mammogram test done.

“I believe it should be around 50 or 55, but I’m not entirely sure,” said

HAWKINS

Continued from page 1

She has also spent time in the role of SGA treasurer. This is where she learned the ins and outs of how money is allocated to clubs and how to help improve student life on campus.

Through these roles, Hawkins has shown an ability to help the students of GC in more ways than one.

Hawkins is passionate about advocating for the student body of GC and helping them get equal opportunities.

“Something really important to me is increasing opportunities for people to not only have a job on campus but also to make good pay,” Hawkins said. “I’m really passionate about raising the minimum wage at the campus level. Most other

Charlotte Martin, a freshman pre-nursing major.

The reality is that a woman should get her first mammogram at just 40 years old, which is a lot younger than many people anticipate. The Pink Baby mammogram bus that GC is bringing to campus is open to any woman of that age or higher.

Results for this test will be made visible to the patient’s main healthcare provider and to themselves directly. This test can help eliminate the fear of not knowing what comes with a

USG schools have a minimum wage for student employees ranging from about $9.50 to $15. There is maybe this idea that student workers have an extra job on the side just to pay to go out and buy drinks or shop a little bit.

And that’s not true. A lot of our student workers, including myself, pay our bills off of that.”

In May 2023, Hawkins was appointed vice

president of SGA. She has spent the last 10 months presiding over the student senate and representing the student body of GC to different committees.

Many are unaware of the different ways SGA has been working to improve student life at GC, and Hawkins wants to get more people involved with SGA.

“We [SGA] allocate

possible cancer diagnosis. Having a test to see if there are any unusual growths will give answers to anyone who is struggling with the worry of possibly being sick. Even if test results come back inconclusive or unusual, at least this test will allow for early detection and treatment.

“Even though I’m young, I would be lying if I said the possibility of breast cancer hasn’t crossed my mind more than once,” said Caroline Johnson, a senior nursing major.

Breast cancer is a

money to every single club organization,” Hawkins said. “We also allocate it to all types of things around the university. The Serenity Den they just put up was funded by SGA. We do all these little projects across the campus that just help us to improve people’s lives. The last couple of years, we have not been quite as visible. I want us to get more vis-

real diagnosis that impacts many more people than assumed. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, breast cancer takes the lives of 42,000 women and 500 men every year.

GC is providing an easy and highly accessible way for women to begin the process of their health initiative, allowing for early diagnosis and treatment.

GC cares about its community and staff and wants the best possible outcome for everyone involved on campus.

ible, and I want people to realize that we’re not only here to sit in an office. We are here to do things for them, and we have a lot we could do.”

Hawkins is determined to always put the students first in her new SGA role and improve the GC campus altogether.

Julia

Karlie Gutierrez named PBC Freshman of the Week

Emily Kirkwood Staff Writer

The Peach Belt Conference recognized GC softball player Karlie Gutierrez as the Freshman Player of the Week for the week of Feb. 19.

Gutierrez, a catcher and infielder, was named PBC Freshman of the Week after her impressive recent play on the field.

“It is an absolute honor to be recognized as PBC Freshman of the Week,” Gutierrez said. “I could not have been more excited to find out that I was nominated and chosen.”

This is Gutierrez’s first PBC Softball Freshman of the Week award. According to the PBC, after four games last week, Gutierrez had a .600 batting average and a 1.100 slugging average. She picked up a total of six hits, which included a triple and a home run. Gutierrez additionally added five RBI and scored two runs.

“Great time management and help from my friends and family allow me to continue playing at this level of college ball,” Gutierrez said. “I definitely would not be able to do it without the support I have from my teammates and coaches.”

The Bobcats played two double header games, with the first being a home series against Erskine College. Gutierrez had a 1-for-3 performance and a walk-off single in the 10th inning of the first game, helping GC win 4-3. In the second series of the week, against Southern Wesleyan University, Gutierrez had a 3-for4 performance. She got

a round-trip shot and three-base knock, with an additional three RBIs.

“She works hard on the field and encourages others to do the same,” said Sydney Lancaster, a sophomore utility player. “She also puts in work off the field, making time for extra reps and helping other teammates.”

GC Athletics stated that Gutierrez got the start behind the plate for game one against Erskine and Southern Wesleyan and also started as the designated player in the second game at SWU.

As just a freshman, Gutierrez is making a big impact on GC softball and leaves fans, her coaches and teammates excited to see what she will bring to the table in the upcoming years.

“I put in a lot of work before coming to college and over the breaks to maintain my skills and athleticism,” Gutierrez said. “Also, the atmo-

VOLLEYBALL

Continued from page 1

This rule mainly affects the setter’s position. The setters have practiced their whole career to set without double-contacting the ball, and now, it seems their work has been put to waste.

sphere of the team and the athletics program pushes me to want to work harder. My previous teammates and coaches played a huge role in making me the player I am today and would like to thank them for that.”

Gutierrez’s teammates expressed their love for her and how she plays a very important role in keeping up team spirit.

“Karlie brings a lot to the team,” Lancaster said. “She adds enthusiasm for the game as well as a dedicated work ethic. She is also a supportive teammate, always ready to cheer others on and celebrate their successes.”

Watch Gutierrez and the rest of the Bobcats at home on March 12 against Southern Wesleyan at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. for their first Tailgate Tour games of the season.

“I played all four years at GCSU as a setter, and selfishly, the double rule upsets me slightly,” said Emily Long, GC’s assistant volleyball coach. “There is such an art to setting, and I feel that taking away double-contact calls demotes the position.”

Long does not seem too worried about these changes, though.

“The rule change will not change the positions of our players,” Long said. “Even though doubles are now allowed, there is still an art to the setter position not everyone can master.”

For the upcoming season, there does not seem to be much worry for the team.

“I personally do not think either new rule will have a huge effect on our team specifically,” Johnson said. “For the double-contact rule, we have setters on our team that have been trained to have clean hands.”

There also still seems to be confidence in the upcoming seasons and with recruiting next year’s team.

“Recruiting will most likely stay the same,” Long said. “Again, there are still fundamental skills of setting that are very unique and different from any other position on the court. Setters will still have to learn footwork, angles, tempo, location and playsets, all while analyzing defenses and blockers on the opposing side.”

Although there have been several changes made in the rules of NCAA women’s volleyball, these rules are here to ultimately elevate the quality of play and improve and challenge the players.

NCAA volleyball logo

Courtesy of GC Athletics

Courtesy of GC Athletics

Parker Byrd becomes first D1 amputee baseball player

Christian Castillo Staff Writer

East Carolina University sophomore baseball player Parker Byrd made his first collegiate appearance after having his right leg amputated in 2022. Byrd had his leg amputated after a neardeath boating accident during the summer going into his freshman year of college. On Feb. 16, he made history in their season opener against Rider University by becoming the first Division 1 baseball player to play with a prosthetic leg.

The Pirates’ infielder and right-handed pitcher is originally from Laurinburg, North Carolina.

He played high school baseball at Scotland High School and graduated in 2022. During his high school career, Byrd was a four-year varsity letterman for baseball and ranked a nine out of 10 by Perfect Game, meaning he was a potential top-10 first-round draft pick and a high-level college prospect.

After Byrd’s freshman year at ECU, his life would be forever changed in 2022 in Bath, North Carolina, on July 23. Byrd was involved in a serious boating accident while he and his friends were tubing. After falling off his tube, Byrd was struck by an-

other boat’s propeller and almost died. Although he survived, he suffered the loss of his right leg. Over a span of 45 days, he went through 22 surgeries.

According to Sporting News, the accident happened the summer before Byrd attended the university but after he was already committed, which resulted in him missing his entire freshman season.

“I knew Parker before the injury,” said Alec Makarewicz, one of Byrd’s former teammates at ECU. “We met when he first came to ECU for initiation and to first join the team. I was emotional seeing him make his

comeback. He has the spirit of a champion.”

After thinking he would never play again, Byrd is now suiting up for his real first season as a potential trailblazer for amputees in sports.

Former MLB pitcher for the New York Yankees Jim Abbott, who played 10 seasons in the big leagues despite having a deformed right arm, was just one of the many professional players to congratulate Byrd after his return.

In the Pirates’ season opener against Rider, Byrd would finally make his debut for ECU. He recorded an emotional and historic at-bat

in front of a sold-out crowd, where he got on base by drawing a walk.

“It is very impressive that Byrd was able to accomplish this, especially only missing one season,” said Braeden Smith, a freshman outfielder for GC’s baseball team.

While being replaced by a pinch runner, Byrd received a standing ovation from the crowd in Greenville, North Car-

olina. Byrd’s comeback is expected to be continued, as he will make appearances regularly in the batting order.

According to AP News, ECU’s head coach, Cliff Godwin, stated that moment was one of his proudest moments as a coach. He went on to explain that this is just the start for Byrd, as he hopes to get him playing on the field in future games.

College basketball rounds out the regular season

Ty Karraker Staff Writer

The 2023-2024 college basketball season has been filled with unpredictable wins and new potential contenders, as it is every year, with top teams dropping like flies to unranked and new powerhouses surpassing the “blue bloods” of college basketball at the top of the rankings.

This year has had so many storylines and standout players that make March Madness a complete toss-up. However, one of the most interesting stories is the defending champs, the University of Connecticut Huskies, looking as strong as ever and hoping to be the first time since the ‘07 and ‘08 University of Florida Gators to repeat as champions.

Years past have proven that no matter the

seed and no matter the record, anyone can fall in the tournament. Sixteen seeds have beaten one seeds, which shows the unpredictability of the sport.

More major headlines

from losing to unranked programs throughout the year. Their success as a team is a big thanks to 7’4” center Zach Edey, who is the reigning Naismith College Player of the Year and looks to add another to his resume.

see’s Dalton Knecht and plenty of other players have been standouts that have taken over games at times and have helped push their team to numerous wins.

“We aren’t ranked

University Tigers fan.

All the true contenders for the title have a player with the same impact Davis has on UNC, but in recent years, it appears that a team filled with good players can pay bet-

this season have been Purdue University’s attempt to redeem themselves after their tournament woes last year, and they have looked incredibly strong at times, but that has not stopped them

Edey is not the only standout player that is hoping to take home the award.

University of North Carolina star guard RJ Davis, the University of Tennes-

that high because they have been lacking defensively, but our starting core is great, and they complement each other well,” said Madeline Castor, a junior biology major and Auburn

ter rewards than a oneman show every night.

If the season was to conclude today, there are obvious favorites to take the title due to the depth and strength of their team, and accord-

ing to bracketology, the top-seeded teams would be the University of Arizona, UConn, Purdue and the University of Houston. However, there are a few teams that are ranked lower that can take anyone down if they get hot enough.

“The Tide has proven we can win in any way,” said JD Caulley, a sophomore English major and University of Alabama basketball fan. “Sure, we have lost to some of the top teams, but I know they don’t want to see us down the road. We’re talented, and our current ranking just shows it. Nobody wants to play us in March.”

As the season ends, it is evident that March Madness will be as crazy as ever, and fans will get to see how these standout players perform.

NCAA basketball

ECU logo

CALE’S CINEMA CORNER: OSCAR PREDICTIONS

Cale Strickland Managing Editor

OPINION

The end of awards season is upon us, as the biggest night in Hollywood is right around the corner; the 96th Academy Awards will air at 7 p.m. on Sunday, March 10.

I know that the Oscars do not mean anything, necessarily, but I enjoy keeping up with them — to a degree. And I love trying to predict the winners. Now, the show includes 24 categories. That is a lot, to say the least, so here is who I think will take home each of the “major awards”: Best Supporting Actor, Best Supporting Actress, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Original Screenplay, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Director and Best Picture.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

Nominees: Sterling K. Brown (“American Fiction”), Robert de Niro (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Robert Downey Jr. (“Oppenheimer”), Ryan Gosling (“Barbie”), Mark Ruffalo (“Poor Things”)

Since critics got the chance to see “Oppenheimer,” this has felt like Robert Downey Jr.’s Oscar to lose, and it still does. Do not get me wrong, I loved Ryan Gosling and Mark Ruffalo’s performances in “Barbie” and “Poor Things,” but I think Downey Jr.’s is — just a little bit — better, and I think this will be the first domino to fall in the night’s “Oppenheimer” wave.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

Nominees: Emily Blunt (“Oppenheimer”), Danielle Brooks (“The Color Purple”), America Ferrera (“Barbie”), Jodie Foster (“Nyad”), Da’Vine Joy Randolph (“The Color Purple”)

I will admit, I have not seen “The Holdovers” yet, but Da’Vine Joy Randolph is the odds-on favorite here. According to GoldDerby, Emily Blunt is running in second, and the buzz around her Oscar campaign has been muted — at best. I am going to err on the side of caution and take Randolph.

BEST ORIGI-

NAL SCREENPLAY

Nominees: “Anatomy of a Fall,” “The Hold-

overs,” “Maestro,” “May December,” “Past Lives”

“Anatomy of a Fall” is another one of those movies that I never got the chance to see, but it has been winning at precursor awards shows left and right. I would love to see “May December” or “Past Lives,” two of my favorite movies of last year, win here, but I do not think either is going to happen.

BEST ADAPT-

ED SCREENPLAY

Nominees: “American Fiction,” “Barbie,” “Oppenheimer,” “Poor Things,” “The Zone of Interest”

Christopher Nolan adapted “American Prometheus,” an 800-page biography, into a threehour movie that keeps you on the edge of your seat for its entire runtime; he will win Best Adapted Screenplay.

BEST DIRECTOR

Nominees: “Anatomy of a Fall” (Justine Triet), “Killers of the Flower Moon” (Martin Scorsese), “Oppenheimer” (Christopher Nolan), “Poor Things” (Yorgos Lanthimos), “The Zone of Interest” (Jonathan Glazer)

Even with all of the big names here, it feels like everybody is on the same page: “Oppenheimer” is Christopher Nolan’s crowning achievement. If he wins here, it will be a big deal, as “Killers of the Flower Moon” might be one of the last major Scorsese movies — if not, God forbid, the last Scorsese movie — we ever get.

BEST ACTOR

Nominees: Bradley Cooper (“Maestro”), Colman Domingo (“Rustin”), Paul Giamatti (“The Holdovers”), Cillian Murphy (“Oppenheimer”), Jeffrey Wright (“American Fiction”)

At this point, this feels like a two-horse race between Cillian Murphy and Paul Giamatti. Murphy is the favorite, and as I said, I think “Op-

penheimer” is going to have a huge night, so I will take him. However, if Giamatti wins here, look out, as it might be a sign that there could — again, could — be an upset in Best Picture.

BEST ACTRESS

Nominees: Annette Bening (“Nyad”), Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”), Sandra Hüller, Carey Mulligan (“Maestro”), Emma Stone (“Poor Things”)

I do not think “Killers of the Flower Moon” will have a big night, as it has not received a lot of awards buzz, and Martin Scorsese’s previous movie, “The Irishman,” did not do all that well at the Oscars. However, I think Lily Gladstone will win Best Actress. This feels like another two-horse race, here, between Gladstone and Emma Stone. Stone’s work in “Poor Things” is my favorite performance of last year in my favorite movie of last year, but Gladstone taking this home just feels right to me. If she does, it will be well-deserved, as she is incredible in — and by far the best part of — “Killers of the Flower Moon,” in my opinion. Part of me wishes “Poor Things,” not “La La Land,” was the movie Stone won her first Oscar for, though.

BEST PICTURE

Nominees: “American Fiction,” “Anatomy of a Fall,” “Barbie,” “The Holdovers,” “Killers of the Flower Moon,” “Maestro,” “Oppenheimer,” “Past Lives,” “Poor Things,” “The Zone of Interest”

Again, it feels like it is going to be Nolan’s night, and “Oppenheimer” winning Best Picture would be the perfect way to cap that off. Do I want “Poor Things” to take this home? Yes. Will I be upset if it does not? No. I think “Oppenheimer” is — “Memento” notwithstanding — Nolan’s best movie.

Kylie Rowe | Asst. A&L Editor

Canva AI Generated Cale Strickland

WOMEN

Continued from page 1

It was not until May of 1908 that the Socialist Party officially declared the last Sunday of February as National Women’s Day, which was celebrated in the United States the following year. It was at the International Conference of Working Women in Copenhagen, Denmark, that the term International Women’s Day was first coined.

It was proposed by Clara Zetkin, a German socialist, who recommended an international holiday to commemorate all the female workers who had fought for this

movement. Of the 100 women representing 17 countries attending the conference, the vote was unanimously approved.

This is an important holiday to acknowledge and celebrate because it is a chance for women all over the world to unite in their pursuit for gender equality and create lasting change in the world.

“For so long, the world has been dominated by men, but things have changed and become more progressive,” said Ainslin Steiner, a freshman English major. “It used to be that men hated women, and women hated women, but now, we have a

Internship Season

Olivia DeRosa Staff Writer

Internship season is in full swing, with many college students vying for limited and competitive positions at some of the biggest companies.

Many students are required to have completed an internship in order to graduate, and most companies look for internship experience when hiring recent graduates. With the market getting more competitive every year, college students are becoming even more desperate to secure the perfect internship for their resumes.

Internships can be a great way to network with professionals in your field and make important connections to help further your career. They can aid in sharpening the skills you already possess. Not only do companies look for the experience when ap-

plying for postgraduate positions, but it can also help to flush out real interests within the field.

For some, internship season can be quite stressful. It can be very overwhelming, without guidance. Students are looking for the best internships, but so are their classmates. Internships are competitive and become even more so at big corporations, who usually offer only a handful of internships per season.

“When I sit in my classes, I look around me, and I think, “Oh my gosh, these people are going to steal my jobs,’ or, “These people are going for the same things I am,’” said Simran Puri, a freshman mass communication major.

As the competitiveness increases, so do the anxiety levels. Some students can apply to 10 internships or to hundreds and still only hear back from very few.

“It just frustrates me.

day to recognize all that women have to offer.”

International Women’s Day is also a holiday in which we shed light on all the women throughout history who have helped make advancements toward gender equality.

Mia Davis is a junior public health major. She

I think I have applied to like 62 or 67 internships now, and I’ve gotten maybe, like, four interviews out of all of those and no offers yet,” said Peyton Cusick, a junior computer science major.

This is a common issue among college students due to the volume of students applying and the lack of internships. Students have started to apply for as many internships as they can, even if the position does not interest them. Any internship is better than no internship in the eyes of employers and students.

“It definitely depends on what kind of internship you’re applying for,” said Siddhartha Narker, a senior math major. “In tech, it’s hard to get one because you have to have a lot of experience and a lot of technical ability. Generally, they do get pretty competitive, especially for the big companies.”

Narker’s summer in-

iPad Kids Take Over

Addison White

Contributing Writer

So-called “iPad kids” are a popular subject with this generation. An iPad Kid is a child that is seemingly glued to their iPad or tablet. Since technology is a permanent fixture and only evolving, it has raised the question, how much is too much?

Having a child can be difficult, especially when going into public. A lot of parents have decided to give an iPad to their children to distract or entertain them but now are feeling like children are relying on them.

“My 7-year-old brother is an iPad kid, which makes me sad sometimes.” said Jacob Lewis, a history and geography major. “Jackson experiences ticks whenever he’s not around his iPad, which is concerning to

me. However, many other kids experience the same thing that Jackson does. I feel strongly that children should not be dependent on their iPads.”

“With a 2017 study from Common Sense Media finding that nearly 80 percent of children have access to an iPad or other type of tablet, these days it’s stranger for a kid to be offline than extremely online,” said Eloise Hendy, a writer at VICE magazine. “Gen Alpha – meaning anyone born between 2010 and 2024 – are defined and utterly subsumed by the digital world.”

Children have access to technology at a very young, impressionable age, and since technology is evolving, the long-term effects could continue to develop.

“My daughter is 12 now, and she’s had her

said that a female figure who has inspired her was Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

“She has made so many changes to the world of gender equality and is a role model for women everywhere,” Davis said.

During the 1970s, Ginsburg oversaw the Women’s Rights Project of the American Civil

Liberties Union. Until her passing, she fought passionately against gender discrimination.

One of the events hosted by the Women’s Center at GC to honor International Women’s Day is their annual Women’s Leadership Conference on March 29. This conference, which takes place during Women’s History Month, aims to provide attendees with the chance to delve further into their leadership interests.

This year’s conference theme is “Flourish Forward.” The inspiration behind the theme aims to motivate women from all walks of life to flour-

ish in their own leadership as well as to celebrate individuals who already serve as leaders in their everyday lives.

The conference allows for the attendees to create and build a diverse network of empowering women who have experience with creating positive changes in their communities.

Coinciding with Women’s History Month, the event empowers women to support fellow female leaders. Women’s history has come a long way, and the month of March is a time for everybody to recognize and celebrate female achievements.

ternship aided him in landing a post-graduate position with the company starting in May. Internships are meant to be a positive thing that companies can use to narrow down their hiring pool while also giving young people who are entering the professional workforce a taste of what their future holds. It is meant to be mutually beneficial. However, it seems it causes added anxiety for many students.

Some have learned to play the system to ensure they get interviews

own iPhone for a little over one year, and she received a MacBook for Christmas,” said Amanda Respess, a mass communication professor

the MacBook is a huge help for school because they do so much work on Microsoft Teams.”

from their top choices.

“Most internship application softwares that they use is just, like, a literal robot scanning your resume for buzz words,” Cusick said. “It’s not even a real person looking at the resume or applications, which is also annoying because I can’t even talk to a real person to give me a chance.”

Others suggest oneon-one networking is the way to secure the dream internship.

“The internship market is super competitive right now,” said Brenna McGloin, a se-

nior business major.

“It really all depends on how you network. You have to have really good networking skills.”

Regardless of how one lands an internship, the process is still quite the roller coaster. In the end, internships should be an opportunity to widen networks, sharpen skills and learn about a specific position within a field.

“Instead of competing, think about working with your classmates,” Puri said. “That’s the one thing they look for is cooperation. Cooperation, not competition.”

and director of public affairs at GC. “The phone became a necessity in middle school because of after-school activities and being at friends’ houses, etc., and

Since COVID, a lot of schools use online platforms for their students in class. So, children ultimately need devices at young ages in order to access their schoolwork.

“I think, overall, having access to device technology is unavoidable,” Respess said. “So much of my children’s school

experience is mediated through technology. It makes total sense to use technology at home to continue that learning environment, but it’s every parent or adult family member’s responsibility to set limits, pay attention and, above all, talk to their kids about using technology and being online.”

The world of media has undergone significant changes in recent times. Parents tend to share pictures and videos of their children right from the time they are born. According to the Pew Research Center, this has made the kids more aware of their appearance and actions, as they are continually exposed to images of themselves.

“Today’s 13-yearolds are basically a different species,” Hendy said. “Their parents have shared photos and embarrassing videos of them online since day

dot. They graduated from iPads to smart phones when they were eight. They knew how to contour before you did. They probably know their way around the dark web.”

Recently, TikToks have been raving about this issue. People are concerned for the children of this generation.

Gen-Z parents are worried they will raise iPad kids, which has spawned an entire subset of videos online. These videos poke fun at iPad kids and their parents that allow it.

“I feel that parents spend too much time on their phones, while their children look at them,” Lewis said. “They see this as a way to live. With iPad kids in the world, it tends to scare me as to how an entire generation will grow up differently.”

Since “iPad kids” are growing more attached to staying stimulated with screens, this issue will likely continue.

Isabella McComis | Digital Media Editor

Julia Jensen | Art Director

Isabella McComis | Digital Media Editor

What is Academic Freedom?

And GC’s takes on the importance of it

Jack McKinney

Contributing Writer

Academic freedom is defined as the right to teach, study and pursue knowledge without unreasonable interference or restriction. It has led to many positive developments in education and research around the world. However, because education is often subjugated to politics in the United States, academic freedom in national public schools often becomes divisive and contentious.

Florida, a state that remains infamous for regular political controversy, has recently posed notable restrictions against academic freedoms in their public schools. High school courses such as AP Psychology, AP African American Studies, and Shakespearean Literature, have been banned due to the inclusion of LGBTQ+ and race-related education. Critics of these policies are often keen to point out the importance of academic freedom

when interpreting texts and systemic problems.

“If you restrict discussion on certain topics, classrooms would never be able to fully understand certain texts,” said Tommy Creekmore, a junior English major. “Even beyond LGBTQ+ inclusion, discussions of race and gender identity can be critical to developing significant evaluations of texts.”

However, complications arise when interpreting academic freedom across partisan politics. While Florida administers fundamentalist-based education in its public schools, some progressive-identifying school systems approach blurry consensus in academic freedom.

Harvard University exemplifies the struggle to find this consensus. It was recently under controversy, as several Jewish students filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against Harvard, claiming that the university has failed to protect them from rising antisemitic

rhetoric surrounding the Israel-Hamas conflict.

“Do we think about academic freedom as something that protects everyone, regardless of content and ideology and politics?” said Jeannie Suk Gersen, a professor at Harvard Law School and a leader of the Council on Academic Freedom at Harvard.

In its intrinsic state, some argue yes, that academic freedom does indeed protect everyone, even under political ideologies, that ideally, the freedom to pursue academics remains separated from the interpretation of academics.

ing, if students were to write something actively racist, for instance, that could be a problem,” Creekmore said. “But if you don’t at least discuss problems such as racism, students may encounter these issues later in life without the proper education and knowledge.”

Following this belief, students affected by limitations on their academic freedoms could

If you restrict discussion on certain topics, classrooms would never be able to fully understand certain texts

-Tommy Creekmore

important for academic freedom to be preserved. Alongside many of the world’s impending feats of disaster, such as an ever-changing global climate, it is arguable that critical thinking skills are more necessary than ever for sustaining a healthy society.

fessor at GC. “Exposing students to multiple perspectives means that they have more grist for the intellectual mill. They have more cud to chew on, more to stimulate the gray matter, more to think about and analyze.”

“Obviously, regarding inappropriate writ-

be impeded in the future and not only through understanding certain topics. Holistically, by having a narrow range of solutions for complex problems, students may be pressed to think less critically about issues.

This can make it more

CELEBRITY CASTINGS ON BROADWAY

Ellie Smith Staff Writer

When thinking of New York City, one of the first things associated with it is live theater. Acting on a stage tends to be how many famous movie and TV stars get their beginnings and grow their love for acting, but not many of them get to go on the Broadway stage to perform in their careers. It would often be a rare occurrence to see the stars go from screen to stage, but now it tends to be a tactic used more often by Broadway theater companies to secure longer runtimes for their shows.

Today, if you were to go on Broadway, there are over 41 theaters with different music, musicals, plays and Broadway stars in each one of them. Some shows only have performances for a few months, and some run for years. Phantom of the Opera, the longest show in Broadway history, had

its opening performance in 1988 and closed its curtains on April 16, 2023.

In the digital age, where fans can watch their favorite TV shows and movies online, the theater world offers the rare experience of witnessing stories in person.

Over the years, theater companies have used different tactics to promote their shows with the power of television

and movies. In 2007, “Legally Blonde: The Musical” did a TV special with MTV, drawing 12.5 million views and increasing ticket sales.

To increase ticket buyers, there have also been reality shows where they cast the next big leads on Broadway, yearly performances in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and even performances on Amer-

ica’s top news networks. One tactic that tends to be the most popular for bringing in new fans is celebrity casting. When looking for someone new to fill in a role, directors sometimes decide to cast somebody that already has a large fan base attached to them. Casting someone’s favorite TV or movie star could bring a sense of familiarity to the show and excitement

“Free, open, critical discussion of even the most controversial of social issues can only enhance students’ critical thinking skills as long as students are given the opportunity to fully engage with and interrogate, in a civil fashion, those who hold even what most of us would consider to be odious views,” said Dr. Steven Elliot-Gower, a political science pro-

to see their favorite actor perform in person. As of February 2024, there are 15 different celebrity castings on Broadway.

These castings range from reality TV star Ariana Madix, currently starring in “Chicago,” to “The Summer I Turned Pretty” actress Lola Tung in “Hadestown,” two current and well-known stars with two different types of fan bases. Madix brings in a more middle-aged crowd, while Tung attracts a younger audience.

Theater fans can have a mixed reaction to these castings, feeling unsure about stars who may need to be trained for Broadway, as acting on TV and movies translates differently on the stage.

“I am not a huge fan of it unless they’re already trained in some sort of music because otherwise, celebrity casting like that takes away opportunities from other people trying to break out into the Broadway scene,” said Rebecca Jones, a junior mathe-

The future of academic freedom is a toss-up, nonetheless, as the intertwinement of partisan politics fosters a difficult environment for critical academic engagement. What is known, however, is that the battle for academic freedom is often fought in universities across the U.S., making GC and other colleges a battleground for the heart and soul of critical education.

matics major. “When Colleen Ballinger was in ‘Waitress,’ the girl could not separate her Broadway singing voice from the Miranda Sings voice, and it kills me every time I watch the videos.”

In some cases, celebrity casting goes well. Many TV or movie stars are classically trained in musical theater, which means when it comes to trading out the “theater pro” for the celebrity, it can go really well.

“Even though Sabrina [Carpenter] was only on ‘Mean Girls’ for a few days before it got shut down due to COVID, her run was absolutely amazing, and I feel as though that comes from background training that she had,” said Eliza Rainy, a senior theater and English major.

With all of these celebrity runs on Broadway bringing in new fans, these shows’ runs can be extended and can help more people grow a love and admiration for live theater performances.

Julia Jensen | Art Director

Julia Jensen | Art Director

OPINION

OPINION

Continued from page 1

All of these men are big names in classic real-world “bad guys.”

Hitler, Stalin and Putin, should not be celebrated for anything they did to earn their place as Person of the Year, but they objectively were the biggest names in news those years. They were constantly being reported on for the things they were doing, not unlike Swift was in 2023.

I have been known to call the Time’s Person of the Year “my Roman Empire,” because it is some-

thing I think about a lot — specifically the controversial picks, like Hitler and Stalin. Time also loves to nominate former or current presidents for Person of the Year.

Richard Nixon was named twice, first in 1971 and then again in 1972 alongside Henry Kissinger. Nixon had a famously crazy run as president. In 1971 he was trying to combat increasing inflation, as Republicans do, and he ended up freezing wages and prices and ended dollar convertibility. This was called the Nixon Shock. He was also the first pres-

ident to open a dialogue with China. His bestie (national security assistant) Kissinger was also involved in his foreign policy; however, Nixon is best known for his involvement in Watergate.

OK, history lesson over. One of the more recent Presidential Person of the Year recipients was Donald Trump in 2016. Editorially, this makes so much sense. In 2016, Trump was making the transition from businessman to presidential candidate and then shockingly to president-elect. Trump is probably one of the most controversial

American politicians to ever exist; he continues to push the limits of free speech, and I believe that public opinion of him is more divided than that of any other president.

2016 was the year that I started investigating the history of Time’s Person of the Year. Starting in 1927, Time had a “Man of the Year” award, and it was not until 1998 that they made the official switch to Person of the Year. However, within those 70 years, they had multiple Women of the Year, a Machine of the Year and a Planet of the Year.

Dear students, are we adults?

Delaney Derry Opinion Editor

A part of growing up is learning when to take responsibility and become independent. It is just what it means to be an adult. However, there are many back-andforth debates on when that time is. When is it that we become adults?

Many people will say we are adults as soon as we turn 18 and graduate high school and enter into the “real world.”

Others may disagree and say that once you have a full-time job, you are an adult. Many more would disagree, saying that it is once you have settled down in a nice house with a partner and a few kids that you are truly an adult. There are so many different ideas of what adulthood looks like, so how are we supposed to know which one is right? When do we know when we have truly entered adulthood?

“These shifts have left many psychologists, most notably Jeffrey Jensen Arnett [a psychology professor at Clark University], to suggest that 18-29 years of age is more

than a staging ground for the transition to adulthood; it is a new phase of development referred to as emerging adulthood,” said Dr. Dalal Katsiaficas in Psychology Today.

Well, if we see that 18-29 is out of the question for being an adult, then I guess we college students are safe from the burden of being considered an “adult.”

This is good because I myself was thinking of stepping down from the position of adult. I just am not in the right headspace for it now, but I appreciate the opportunity! I am currently looking into other options and will, until further notice, be constantly researching how to get paid to sleep in.

In all seriousness, right now, we are in college. We often put copious amounts of pressure on ourselves to have it all together because we are considered “adults.” We are supposed to take responsibility and learn to be independent because now, we are on our own, navigating life. But then some psychologists might say that we are not even into adult-

My personal favorite Person of the Year has got to be Swift. Not only is she an amazing artist, but she is, notably, the only entertainer to be given this title. When Time listed her accom-

plishments in bullet point format, it filled two pages. Swift is so spectacular, and if you have not yet read the 2023 Time Person of the Year profile on her, I would highly encourage you to do so.

hood yet! We are just in the first phase. Is that supposed to be encouraging somehow? I do not know about you, but that is a huge bummer. I thought I was over here adulting, and it turns out I have not even reached the real thing yet.

college and no longer considered students, then we are adults. We have entered the real world. However, I feel as though even the years post-college are meant for a lot of learning and growth. If we are con-

Although it is somewhat disappointing that there is all this pressure on us 18-29-year-olds to act like adults, I think it could be a little bit encouraging to think we have not fully reached adulthood yet. It gives us time to continue to grow and figure out who we are and what we want the rest of our lives to look like.

People might say that as soon as we are out of

sidered adults as soon as we leave college, then we are only given four years to get the next 6570 years of our lives figured out. That seems unfair, especially since, in my opinion, I think we never truly stop learning.

According to Patricia Cohen with The New York Times, people up to the age of 26 are allowed to stay on their parents’ health insurance. Also, there are many women

older than 35 becoming first-time mothers, and social scientists are saying that young adulthood has undergone a profound shift.

Traditionally, people often get out on their own very young and start families pretty young. Now, people are still supported by their parents even at 26, and some do not even have kids until 35. I think there is wisdom that comes with experience, and experience comes with age, so I would say that around 30 is truly when we enter adulthood. Everything else is just the process and life experiences leading up to it. Then, once we reach adulthood, we still learn new things and are always changing and growing as people. Just because we are now adults does not mean we have everything figured out and have reached full maturity.

“These are examples of the everyday lifelong learning we engage in on a daily basis, either through socialization, trial and error, or self-initiated study,” said Ivan Andreev in his article “Lifelong Learning.”

Even into adulthood, we still learn new things.

Learning is a natural human characteristic. There is so much pressure on people to be super successful at a very young age when, in reality, we are always growing and changing. We shift in perspective, get promotions and make new discoveries every day. It is not about when we become “adults” and when we need to have our lives figured out; it is about the journey, the things we experience and the memories we make. Enjoy the process. Life is about what we make for ourselves and not about going along with where society says we are supposed to be at certain times. Everyone goes through different walks of life, and no one’s journey looks the same. Let us put less pressure on ourselves to have it all figured out because life is a never-ending adventure and will be what you make it. So, make the journey a good one and enjoy being where you are now, whatever the stage may be.

Donald