the pandemic

Lockdown and mental health at HutchCC

By Leslie Grajeda Staff Writer

The Covid-19 pandemic took the wind out of students’ sails and their mental health from shutdowns suspending direct human contact to schools rapidly moving online.

“We are social animals, as humans,” said Christopher Lau, Hutchinson Community College’s Coordinator of Advising, Career Development and Counseling.

As shutdowns began, some students started to notice negative aspects of their lives and could not pinpoint what they were.

It’s OK not to be OK, and students have valid reasons to feel negative emotions. Students fearing themselves or their family becoming sick, arguing over the virus’ politicization, and the cancelation of social interactions contributed to feelings of unease and despair.

While the desire to not further spread the virus is justifiable, the social pressure not to be “the screwup” can also become too much to bear, Lau said.

Having more leisure time at home exposed students to political turmoil, panic, police brutality, and hospital overcrowding more than they would be normally. Students who cared about these issues, but felt unable to catch up, may have become tired and weary.

Also, the increase in time alone or with family could have exacerbated the mental and familial issues students may have experienced before the outbreak.

“This pandemic is like a spotlight that can’t be turned off. It shines a light on issues that no longer can be By Jolene Moore Staff Writer

What were you doing between when you were sent home from school in the spring until today?

For many, that answer would consist of sleeping, working or even doing nothing. But for others who had hours to pass when they weren’t doing one of those activities, they were learning a new skill.

With as much time as was given over the extensive break, it makes sense to fill your time with different consuming activities. For Hutchinson freshman Katie Rumback, she found a new passion for running during the long days of sitting around.

“I wanted to spend time with my boyfriend outside, since we couldn’t go inside anywhere, and I needed a way to exercise, so we started running on the trail behind our house,” Rumback said.

She also said how her boyfriend and her decided to challenge themselves to run every day for 50 days.

“At the end of the 50 days, we were running 2.5 miles and walking another mile.”

She still plans on keeping up with her running as much as possible with the new school year starting. Hutchinson sophomore Maria Barragan decided to spend her extra time outside as well, but doing something with a little more get and go. Barragan spent her time straddling her new Harley Davidson motorcycle.

When asked why she decided to go with two wheels instead of four she said, “I wanted to learn because it ignored,” Lau said.

Specifically, the pandemic’s effect on education forced pressure and anxiety on some students.

“Changing from face-to-face learning

Lau to online learning was a kick in the face,” Scott City sophomore Karina Ryala said. “As someone who does not learn well online, I knew this was going to be a hard end to my first year of college.”

Ryala said she lost motivation for school during the transition.

While they appreciate classes starting up again, she and other students are somewhat fearful of doing so in the middle of a pandemic.

The mask mandate helped ease anxiety, but seeing many on campus without a mask made the anxiety return.

“Here’s a virus killing millions of people, and now we are all together again,” Ryala said. “As someone with health issues, I’m scared to catch the virus.”

During this time of hardship, students are encouraged to follow HutchCC’s Covid-19 guidelines, as well as city and county recommendations.

The Student Success Center in Parker Student Union offers free mental health services. In partnership with HutchCC, Prairie Star provides two free appointments at their facility for mental health, sexually-transmitted-infection treatment, or other health issues. Horizons Mental Health Center offers medication

What are students doing for fun during the pandemic?

plans and outpatient care. will be cheaper gas wise, and because I’ve ridden with my dad since middle school.”

Barragan said she has always enjoyed riding her dad’s, so her buying one for herself was no question. But a slight damper in Barragan’s road travels comes from the Department of Motor Vehicles closing down, and only open with appointments. Barragan said she wished she could ride every day, but without a full license, she is only able to ride about three days a week with her dad but she enjoys every second of it.

Hutchinson sophomore Josie Harris on the other hand learned a more hands-on skill. Harris was taken to creating a certain kind of jewelry. She works at Stratica, the underground salt museum located in southeastern Hutchinson. One perk of her job is she gets to take home different pieces of salt that fall onto the ground. By collecting these different pieces of all shapes and sizes, she has taken to designing them into unique sets of earrings.

“At Stratica, we sell wire-wrapped salt earrings,” she said. “I decided that I didn’t really want to pay for them, so why not make them.”

Harris has been designing her own earrings since mid-June and said that she plans on making a bulk amount and selling them to the mine to be sold in the gift shop.

These skills are just a few examples of what others have been doing over our long quarantine break. With summer coming to an end there are still plenty of skills to learn so just get out and get curious.

Mask

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“The students aren’t complaining or resisting and handling it in a very mature and adult-like manner,” Allsup said. “I’m so proud of them.”

Making major lifestyle adjustments is never easy, but everyone is making them together at HutchCC, and the masks, while frustrating at times, are allowing students to remain in the classroom.

Puzzles

Campus literary publication needs student editors

By Izzy Wheeler Staff Writer

“The Tulgey Wood”, Hutchinson Community College’s annual student literary magazine, needs an editor and co-editor for the 2021 edition.

Every year, “The Tulgey Wood” puts a magazine together, and the staff puts up fliers as soon as possible during the year. Since this year isn’t a regular school year, the staff’s cutoff date is April 15, 2021 for pieces to come in, and the final stage of picking the best pieces will begin.

“The Tulgey Wood” publishes student poetry, fiction and nonfiction, and artwork in blackand-white and color.

The editor will scan art and photography to size, and select digital submissions. The editor will edit, spellcheck, and check creativity to see that a poem is a poem.

According to English Professor Dan Pohl, who serves as the publication’s adviser, “We want poems that show the action taking place or the emotion that’s taking place, we don’t want poems that just tell us that the person is angry or happy.”

The editor will work with .jpeg, .rft, .doc, and .docx electronic documents. The main task involves putting together an entertaining representation of student creativity from the 2020-2021 school year.

Some requirements for this position include: students must have a 3.0-4.0 GPA, knows how to write, what to look for (entertaining value), how to edit, and knows how to put the best effort forward as far as representing HutchCC.

Recommendations from other faculty members are helpful. Pohl said he is looking for someone with a “creative spark and artistic mindset”.

If interested, contact Pohl at pohld@hutchcc. edu or call 665-3334, Monday 1:40-2:40 p.m. or Tuesday or Thursday from 9:10-11:20 p.m.

Downing

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“No. 1 goal is to become a family. Next is to have a 3% increase every day. If we take it one set, one point, one match at a time, the score will be on our side,” Downing said. “Another goal is to go undefeated at home. We should get a lot of hometown support so I think we can do it.”

Outside of volleyball, Downing loves to surround herself with family.

“I have the best family ever. Two lovely kids who are very active and athletic; they love sports,” Downing said. “I love getting to go watch Aah’lice play sixth grade volleyball as a fourth grader and also getting to watch Adrian play football. Thank God my fiance (Adrian Jackson) loves sports too.”

Just like in volleyball, Downing has made sure her family has their priorities and beliefs set.

“God is the head of our house, and my family is my biggest thing. Volleyball and family intertwine in my life,” Downing said.

In July 2015, Downing tragically had to face the death of her youngest child.

“What drives me is my son, Dash. He passed away when he was eight weeks old from SIDS. He drives me because I know I cannot let my other two babies down. I have two on earth, and one is blessing me from heaven,” Downing said.

Downing’s players know how the tragedy impacts her life; they understand how it has made her as a person.

“The team knows we can go to her for anything. Depending on the situation, we may have to ‘feel her wrath’ but she makes sure to let us know that she’s always there for us,” Thorne said.

To be who Downing is today, it is an understatement to say strength is a necessity. She takes her pain and transforms it into a drive for life. She converts her agonizing heartbreak to provide a nurturing vibe for anyone she comes into contact with.

“There was a time when I didn’t think I could go on, I didn’t think I could get back up. Strength that God gave me is what saved me and my family,” Downing said. “I cling to God, he helps me to keep my babies from harm and to take care and raise them. Yes, I still cry, but it has affected me positively for the way I coach - I am nurturing. I will always be someone who my family can come to.”