May 26 marks the beginning of summer classes, meaning many students are back to the grind of schoolwork after less than a month of a summer reprieve. Though taking summer classes can add work to an otherwise relaxing summer, many Aggies say that summer coursework can be beneficial in the long run with the right amount of effort. Students enroll in summer courses for a variety of reasons, ranging from early graduation aspirations, avoiding crowded core curriculum courses, to retaking failed classes. University studies senior Matthew Cline said he is taking summer classes in order to take fewer hours in the fall and spring. “I feel that summer classes are a good way to get extra classes out of the way and you get to reap the reward of having a very limited amount of people on campus during the summer,” Cline said. “The benefit is that you are able to spend less time taking the class but still earn the credit for the class and this allows you to take more advanced classes in the regular semesters.” Since the summer feels more lax, particularly with all classes being online, university studies sophomore Emily Burns said the key to success and staying motivated is to be organized. “Falling behind is going to cause a lot of unnecessary stress and because they’re all online this summer it makes it harder to focus with a lack of visible structure,” Burns said. “I also find maintaining a schedule Monday through Friday helps to emulate the school year feeling and makes the classwork routine and a part of everyday activities.” According to technology management senior Alfredo Alvarez, being ahead of schedule and working hard can help ensure productivity over the summer. “The best tip for taking summer classes is to do your best to complete assignments ahead of time,” Alvarez said. “Try your best to obtain good grades in your classes because if you’re taking classes from your institution, it can be a GPA booster.” However, with a semester of coursework packed into five weeks, as well as instruction being online due to the coronavirus, Burns said students should prepare for increased difficulties. “They can be challenging and require a lot of work especially if you’re taking a writing based course like English 210,” Burns said. “All summer classes are online and we are not getting the same cushion we got in the spring semester where we were able to change our grade type. These are courses designed specifically to fit a semester’s worth of material in a few weeks and they must be taken seriously.” While Burns said the prospect of fast-paced summer classes may seem daunting, students can still utilize online resources such as the study and learning handouts offered by the Academic Success Center throughout the summer to help them succeed in every course. Students can still register for Summer II courses through June 29. “Since the class gets condensed then it goes by a lot faster but the professors do a good job at making the course load manageable and not overwhelming,” Burns said. “Don’t be scared of taking summer classes. They sound scary and overwhelming but any Texas A&M student is capable of taking one and getting a good grade with hard work. They’re definitely worth it.”

A typical Memorial Day might be filled with sunny lake trips and bonfire parties. This year, it looks like plans have changed. Memorial Day marks both the beginning of summer as well as a time of mourning and remembrance of those who have lost their lives in acts of military service. This year, Aggies are having to find alternative ways to celebrate this holiday due to COVID-19 restrictions. In an attempt to continue staying isolated from public spaces, biology sophomore Makayla Bane said she plans on spending the day on her family’s ranch near Crockett. “I love any chance we have to get to go out there,” Bane said. “Since I can’t go to any Memorial Day parties or anything with my friends, this is the second best thing. I’m not mad about it.” From four wheeler riding to catching bass in the family pond, Bane said she has no doubt her Memorial Day plans will still be just as fun as those in the past. “It sucks I can’t be with all of my friends to start off the summer but we’ll have plenty of time to catch up when all of this is over,” Bane said. “I’m just thankful I still have my ranch to go to and that I get to do all of the things I love.” For animal science sophomore Hailey Rios, a day packed full of fishing and fireworks is on her family’s Memorial Day agenda. “For Memorial Day, my family and I plan to barbecue in our backyard for lunch and spend the rest of the day fishing in Port Aransas,” Rios said. “When we come home, we grill the fish we caught and have it for dinner and go to a place called Ocean Drive to watch the fireworks the city has planned.” No matter the circumstance, Rios said this is a tradition her family has practiced since she was a kid. It’s one she doesn’t think COVID-19 could potentially affect. “Memorial Day is going to be super different this year for everyone with social distancing, but I’m excited to go out on the boat in Port Aransas with my family,” Rios said. “We’ve had this tradition for as long as I can remember and we’ve done it every year since.” Although it might seem hard to celebrate the meaning of Memorial Day while stuck at home, journalism junior Ryan Faulkner said being with his family and enjoying a simple day at his house is just as significant when it comes to enjoying the holiday. “I’m still trying to social distance as much as possible, so we aren’t traveling or going anywhere, but we still want to observe the holiday and be respectful toward what it represents,” Faulkner said. “We might hang out by the pool if the weather is good or something like that but our plan is to just enjoy being together.”

National Wine Day may look a little different this May 25, but in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, one local company is using wine as a way to give back to the medical professionals who are working hard to ensure the nation’s safety. For the next month, Messina Hof Wineries’ ‘Bottle of Thanks’ program is helping individuals send bottles of wine to healthcare workers with a note of gratitude. Messina Hof co-owner Karen Bonarrigo said the winery is following its core value of blessing others and creating an opportunity for others to give medical workers “a hard-earned gift” and “a moment for them to unwind and relax.” “‘Bottle of Thanks’ started as a way for us to voice our appreciation for the medical workers sacrificing time with their families and possibly their health to make sure our community is well,” Karen Bonarrigo said. “Right now, small gestures can mean a lot and we saw this as an opportunity for individuals to show their gratitude to someone in the medical community, those that clearly can benefit from some reprieve and, perhaps, some wine.” Donors can either fill out a form online on the Messina Hof website or call any of the three Messina Hof wineries to place an order. Co-owner Paul Bonarrigo said gifted bottles with no designated recipient will be sent to a local hospital, where they will be distributed to their employees. “Once the bottle of wine is selected to be sent, our team covers the cost of delivery or shipping, and includes a thank you note expressing gratitude that also includes the sender’s name,” Paul Bonarrigo said. “If you don’t have a particular recipient in mind, we have partnered with local hospitals in our Messina Hof communities to ensure it gets into the hands of a medical staffer.” With National Wine Day falling on May 25, Karen Bonarrigo said this is a good time to think about life's blessings and pay those blessings forward to those who are continuing to make our world safer. “National Wine Day is a fun excuse to pour yourself a glass and say cheers to exploring Texas wines,” Karen Bonarrigo said. “While this year is still a time to do that, it’s also an opportunity to be grateful for the little luxuries in life – like a bottle of wine. We think there is no better way for people to celebrate than by recognizing and being grateful for what we have and saying thank you to medical workers who have sacrificed so much.” In addition to thanking medical staff, this program helps support the family owned winery in Bryan as local industries continue to recover from the financial impact caused by the coronavirus. “It goes without saying that the ripple effect of COVID-19 has been far reaching and its implications on the food and beverage industry are worse than we could imagine,” Paul Bonarrigo said. “Now more than ever, it’s imperative for the community to support local businesses in whatever capacity they can. This program is a win-win because we can show thanks to those on the front lines and also support our Messina Hof family as we return to work.”

Reading for entertainment has been a bright spot for many during self-isolation and COVID-19 shutdowns. But in 2019, 24 percent of adults said they had not read a book in the past year, according to an article on CNBC. A recent study by Science Magazine showed that reading improves both mental and physical health. A popular way to find books and interact with people — even online — is through book clubs, and Reese Witherspoon’s club has become a popular pick. Niesha Radovanic, a sophomore at Florida Gulf Coast University, said she has been reading books more during quarantine than ever before. “Reading has been a form of therapy for me,” Radovonic said. “With the uncertainties we are in right now, it is nice to have a little distraction to take our mind off things.” Lately, Radovonic said she has been loving Reese Witherspoon’s book club picks. Witherspoon created “Reese’s Book Club” with her company Hello Sunshine and the club has grown to have more than 1.6 million followers on Instagram. “Every month, Reese picks one book she loves with a woman at the center of the story and shares it with her book club,” according to Hello Sunshine. Colleges have responded to reports of higher stress levels among students having to move to online classes due to the pandemic. A 2009 study of stress levels of students in demanding health science programs found that 30 minutes of reading a day lowered blood pressure, heart rate and feelings of psychological distress, as reported on Healthline.com. Other reading benefits cited were improved brain connectivity and increased vocabulary and comprehension, according to Healthline. For those looking for a place to dive into reading, book recommendations from every genre are available at hello-sunshine.com/book-club and bookshop.org, an online stort that supports locally owned bookstores.

Texas A&M’s LGBTQ+ Pride Center will host the Lavender Graduation Ceremony for the sixth year to affirm and celebrate the accomplishments of graduating LGBTQ+ undergraduate and graduate students and their allies. On May 8 at 7 p.m., the LGBTQ+ Pride Center will post the Lavender Graduation Ceremony to their social media channels. This event is normally held in person, but due to the coronavirus outbreak it has since been moved online. The ceremony will include several speeches, including keynote speaker Annise Parker, President & CEO of LGBTQ Victory Institute & Fund and former mayor of Houston, and a presentation celebrating the accomplishments of this year’s Lavender graduates. According to A&M Director of Gender and Sexual Diversity in the Offices of the Dean of Student Life Heather Wheeler, the online ceremony is different, but still offers a sense of community and celebration. “Lavender Graduation is a cultural celebration for our LGBTQ+ students and allies,” Wheeler said. “It’s recognized that some of our LGBTQ+ students face that heterosexual and binary students do not face so we wanted to celebrate the contributions and accomplishments that our LGBTQ students and their allies give to a campus environment.” Traditionally, special graduation stoles are given to Lavender graduates by the LGBTQ+ Pride Center. While this ceremony is not in person this year, stoles will still be available. “When the staff is all back on campus we will mail out the stoles to graduates who have requested them for free,” Wheeler said. “Graduates do not have to participate in Lavender Graduation to get a stole. If they would like a stole they can email the LGBTQ+ Pride Center and we will work with them to get one.” LGBTQ+ Pride Center student worker and communication junior Espyn Burks said although having the ceremony online makes it hard to feel a sense of community, the LGBTQ+ Pride Center has worked hard to make it a celebratory event despite the challenges. “Lavender Graduation is a more personalized graduation ceremony because it more specifically recognizes the individual,” Burks said. “It can be challenging because this celebration is about community and, while there are virtual communities, it can be difficult to maintain that, but we are trying to make sure everyone still feels individualized and recognized.” Although online, Lavender Graduation is still going to be an exciting day that offers members of the LGBTQ+ community a chance to celebrate who they are and what they’ve accomplished, said Vivian Escalon, biomedical sciences senior and Lavender Graduation participant. “I wanted to find a place where I could feel included and not worry about hiding myself,” Escalon said. “When I heard about the ceremony, I felt like it was another way to be a part of the community at A&M and to be proud of myself and my accomplishments. Being able to share my accomplishments and everyone else’s accomplishments together is a really amazing opportunity.” To watch Lavender Graduation, visit studentlife.tamu.edu/lgbtq/programs/lavgrad or watch on the LGBTQ+ Pride Center’s social media. The Pride Center can be found on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook at @tamulgbtq.

Screen time is increasing as students are left home with extra free time, much of which is dedicated to social media. Friends use social media to connect and to boost their own property with new followers, likes and comments. People also use the community aspect of social media to stay engaged with a network of people they can no longer see face-to-face. Nuclear engineering sophomore James Passmore said he has been using social media to keep up with friends and watch people’s reactions to the pandemic. He prefers Twitter to engage with his 11,200 followers. “Typically Instagram isn’t as interactive and not as engaging, and TikTok is mostly for entertainment,” Passmore said. “Twitter allows people to communicate in an environment where people share their thoughts and welcomes open discussion.” Last year, Passmore held an Aggie Twitter meetup at Gumby’s to meet some of the other users because he believes physical interaction is necessary to build true friendships. “With social media, you never present yourself how you truly are but rather as a snapshot of who you think people should see you as, and without the physical interaction between people, you are not going to show your true self,” Passmore said. He started getting noticed on Aggie Twitter, a common community many students join with #TAMU follow trains where Aggies follow each other despite never having met before. “It wasn’t long before I started engaging more with my audience, posting viral content and following everyone with a TAMU in their bio just so I could see what the general public at TAMU thinks and how to best curate content for my audience,” Passmore said. During social isolation, petroleum engineering junior Cade Blackmon has found himself becoming internet famous on the popular video app TikTok. “I’ve met a lot of new people and made new friends through TikTok during this quarantine,” Blackmon said. “I just started TikTok in January and plan on continuing building quickly. It's given me another fun hobby to take on during the isolation.” Blackmon is a member of a group on TikTok called TAMU Hype House that mimics the TikTok Hype House, which consists of famous YouTubers. He plans to meet up with the other members in the fall, as well as new friends. “Hopefully, I’ll get to meet some people on campus next semester that have seen me on TikTok,” Blackmon said. “I think of it like a part time job. It’s pretty awesome building a fan base and growing both platforms. It’s also a potential business move depending on how much you grow.” By frequently posting and using TikTok live streams to interact with people, Blackmon has grown his account to nearly 100,000 on TikTok and almost 15,000 on Instagram. He hopes to get sponsored by a brand. “I see it more as building a fan base to spread a positive message,” Blackmon said. “TikTok followers accumulate a lot faster than Instagram. Usually, you get one Instagram follower for every 10 TikTok followers.” Business marketing senior Haley Seiba uses social media to keep busy and fight boredom. “My favorite social media platform right now is Instagram,” Seiba said. “I think it’s the most fun. I like to use it as a way to be creative, artistic and to show my interests and personality through my photos.” Even though she feels that social media cannot replace human connections, she said she has found a community online she enjoys. “I’ve recently become a community member of the College Fashionista page on Instagram, so that’s been really nice to be a part of,” Seiba said. “I’ve met a lot of people through it already.” Many people use FaceTime and Snapchat as a way to communicate creatively, but it isn't enough for some extroverts like Seiba who are missing in-person interactions during social distancing. “Although it’s nice to be able to send quick photos and chat with friends throughout the day, it doesn’t replace the joy of being able to spend time with my friends face-to-face,” Seiba said.

Many organizations’ fundraising plans were dashed by the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. Fundraising events organizations had planned months in advance, such as profit shares and 5Ks, had to be canceled or significantly altered when Texas A&M moved classes online and the shelter-in-place order took effect in Brazos County in March. While there has been a large impact on fundraising efforts, some organizations have responded by using virtual platforms to raise money. Some organizations fundraise to acquire money they need to keep operating, while others donate the money to professional organizations or charities. Computer science junior Eric Weiss, the fundraising executive for MSC OPAS, said the money raised by the committee is given right back to the professional side of the organization to bring performances to Rudder. “[The money is used] to bring professional shows around,” Weiss said. “Or to have performances that we can invite schools of grades eight and under to come see performances for free, just to introduce them to the arts.” However, Weiss said every in-person fundraising event MSC OPAS had planned was canceled due to stay-at-home orders. “We had a bunch of other [ideas] we wanted to try,” Weiss said. “Given everything that happened, we not only had to cancel everything we had planned, [but] we couldn’t even try all the things we were going to plan.” Kappa Alpha Theta also felt the effects of COVID-19 when they had to significantly alter their biggest fundraising event of the year, Rock the CASA 5K. Child professional services junior Leah Felton, Theta chief external affairs officer, said the 5K was held in a virtual format, with participants running remotely to accomodate for social distancing guidelines. “We changed the event to be a virtual 5K,” Felton said. “It was still a $20 registration [fee], but you just ran on your time, wherever you were on Saturday, April 18. That registration money still went straight to CASA.” Rock the CASA 5K raises money and awareness for CASA, which stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Felton said the organization assigns advocates to a child taken out of their home by a judge, and the advocate stays by the child’s side through the whole process of foster care. Felton said 700 people registered to run at the event last year, but there were much fewer this year. “We had just over 200 [people register] this year, which we expected,” Felton said. “We expected it to look a little different … but thankfully we were still able to raise just about $40,000 through donations.” Weiss said MSC OPAS has found it difficult to continue with their fundraising efforts, since most of their planned events were profit shares. Weiss said the committee has only been able to continue one form of fundraising. “We just started using Amazon Smile for the year because I had forgotten that this existed for our committee,” Weiss said. “I brought it back in – I’d say at a good time – so that everyone ordering things on Amazon Prime could order directly from Amazon Smile and a portion of the funds could come to us.” The results of these alternative fundraising methods did not meet their expectations as they looked toward the end of the semester. Felton said despite the disappointing situation, there was still good that came out of it. “It’s sad that the event itself and the material aspect of it was gone, but that doesn’t mean our goal and mission changed at all,” Felton said. “If anything, it pushed us further to work harder and love and support CASA even more.”

Gyms and fitness centers remain closed as cases of the coronavirus continue to emerge, and a lack of exercise outlets can make sheltering in place even harder. Physical activity reduces stress and helps individuals cope with other mental health challenges they are facing during self-isolation, according to the Centers for Disease Control website. With fitness centers closed, some people have gotten creative with home workout solutions incorporating household items to create new home workout routines. Even regular gym-goers have reported difficulty maintaining fitness and motivation to work out at home. Lizbeth Medina said she has been a consistent gym enthusiast. Medina said the health effects of not having access to a fitness center certainly vary and she has had to develop new ways to stay positive and on track with workouts while at home. “During these times, it may seem like there’s no purpose to even get out of bed, but fitness is something that makes any person feel happier and healthier and now is not the time to lose touch with fitness,” Medina said. Two keys for Medina have been morning runs and paying attention to nutrition to prevent muscle loss and weight gain. “Of course it’s super easy to blow off workouts while being stuck at home, but it’s really up to how hard you push yourself,” added Medina. In addition to running, Medina said a lack of gym equipment at home changed the way she eats, with more protein and fewer carbs in her daily meals. A regular at the gym, Noah Mendoza said he has gotten creative with home workouts while he waits to return to the familiar gym environment to ensure a small sense of normalcy. “The issue is that people assume that if they don’t have normal gym weights, they don’t have access to staying fit while being self-quarantined,” said Mendoza. “The best substitutes for weightlifters could be anything from food cans in your pantry to milk cartons in your fridge.” Mendoza uses his apartment living room as his workout space, improvising with various household goods as equipment replacements during these unusual times. “With limited access to actual equipment, I had to create my own by using water jugs that are duct taped to a pipe to do my squats and lunges with,” added Mendoza. “It’s an efficient tool and you’d still be gaining the same workout as you would from the gym.” Aside from heavy lifting, Mendoza performs a set of full-body conditioning workouts which can be done with a deck of cards and body weight alone, with no heavy equipment needed. “For every number pulled out from the deck of cards, that determines how many pushups, sit ups, squats or anything you desire to work on you have to do,” explained Mendoza. “It’s a full body workout that will keep you fit during self-quarantine.”

With the academic school year coming to its close, students fondly reminisce about what they are most grateful for this year not only during their time on-campus, but even as Aggies off-campus during the coronavirus pandemic. After the long haul of final exams, this school year will end on Tuesday, May 5. As students transition from the spring semester into summer, they reflect on their memorable moments at Texas A&M this year. While looking back on all she has achieved, English junior Jillian Luna said her favorite memory was participating in a Shakespeare Performance History Undergraduate Professional and Research Experience Program (UPREP) because it was an opportunity that got her outside of her comfort zone. “Working in my UPREP [has] allowed me to push past feelings of fear and gain confidence in new, unknown situations,” Luna said. “This led me to apply for and receive a TA position in the Engineering Technology and Industrial Distribution department.” Meanwhile, civil engineering sophomore Hugo Gonzalez said he became more involved in campus life this year by meeting people and making new friends. “I could list off a number of memories, but to sum them all up, I will say that getting to know my fellow Aggies more was my favorite part of this year,” Gonzalez said. “Expanding my network and seeing how many awesome people I go to school with and being able to make memories with them was something I wouldn’t trade for anything.” Along with this social network, Morgan Chapman, microbiology and genetics senior and Executive Officer for Company B-2, said he enjoys this feeling of unity he experiences at A&M. “What I will miss most about being an undergraduate will be the sense of camaraderie amongst students everyday,” Chapman said. “I’m most grateful for being a part of a community that wants to see others succeed and I look forward to continuing that tradition.” History and English senior Ryan Randle said her best experiences stem from the interactions she had with students as a two-year advisor for the University Honors Program. Randle said it feels surreal for this all to come to an end. “While I am really excited for what I have coming up after graduation, I still feel a bit sad leaving the place I have called ‘home’ for so long now,” Randle said. “It doesn’t help that I never got the chance to say goodbye and thank you to all my friends and professors in person due to the pandemic either.” Political science freshman Sophie Friedman said prematurely moving out of dorms was disappointing to a lot of the freshman class who were just getting used to college. However, she said she cherishes the memories and bonds she made while on campus her first year. “I am glad that we did get to experience the bulk of our freshman year in the conventional way,” Friedman said. “I feel that the new friendships I’ve made at A&M are friendships that will last a lifetime, and the fact that we all still keep very close in touch while not living near each other solidifies how real these bonds are.” Luna said there have been some negatives, like moving to online classes and having to cancel her Ring Day plans, but the positives, like getting a new position and finally being able to yell “whoop,” overshadow them. “In all of the change and unknown, it was great to know that I had a community in College Station and professors who cared about my success and wellbeing,” Luna said. “While the year ended so differently than everyone expected, I knew I had something great to return to and learned to appreciate the small things.” Overall, Gonzales said this has been one of the best years of his life, even with the pandemic, because the Aggie Spirit is still strong despite the trials. “I faced my fair share of hardships during the year, as anyone does,” Gonzalez said. “However, with the support of [my] fellow Aggies, I was able to overcome them and come out stronger. This year, Aggies were put to the test and have shown that nothing can break the Aggie Spirit.”

Experts recommend getting creative as a way to ease emotional distress caused by physical isolation during the continuing pandemic. More than just a way to pass the time, research studies show that art and other creative outlets can help reduce anxiety for improved mental health. While travel continues to be restricted for essential services due to the coronavirus, and as stress increases in advance of end-of-semester finals, art may offer multiple benefits. Struggling with mental health during this time is normal and no one should feel alone, said Sehresh Saleem, who recently completed a Ph.D. in genetics at Texas A&M. “Isolation can be stressful and increases anxiety,” Saleem said. Saleem said she encourages everyone to participate in creative activities no matter their mental health status because of the benefits it provides for everyone. “Creative activities allow us to apply ourselves in a manner different than our normal activities,” Saleem said. “They ease stress, allow us to explore our imaginations and have the capacity to take our mind elsewhere, away from the stressful routine of our daily lives.” Creativity and art help ease the mind when people are experiencing negative thought processes, said artist Bryn Beausoleil. A recent graduate from the University of Texas, Beausoleil explained how art has been positive for her mental health “I think being creative has helped a lot with my mental health while in isolation,” Beausoleil said. “Being creative is emotional by nature, and addressing your emotions is key to making this time of crisis bearable. It’s comforting to know that I can entertain myself, but I’ve also appreciated having the time to just enjoy my creativity.” Beausoleil added that creativity is different for everyone. “I always recommend sketching!” Beausoleil said. “You don’t have to put any thought into it. Just mindlessly drawing for 10 minutes is a fun and stress-free exercise for warming up the creative muscles.” For Annie Lafon, creative outlets benefit her mental health while an undergraduate at Liberty University, and it also produces income from selling her art. “This creative outlet has helped my mental health by giving me something to do,” Lafon said. “It has allowed me to be productive while also doing something that I enjoy. I struggle with Major Depressive Disorder, so I was worried about how this pandemic would impact my symptoms. “However, I have been managing my symptoms fairly well and I think art has really helped with that,” Lafon said. “The positive response to my artwork has also helped my mental health by encouraging me and affirming my talents.” The Centers for Disease Control recommend that anyone who is experiencing emotional distress reach out to mental health resources. It’s also important to check up on others within the community during stressful times. At A&M, all students have access to a range of mental health resources through Counseling & Psychological Services (CAPS). CAPS encourages all students who are experiencing mental health challenges — including anxiety heading into finals — to visit caps.tamu.edu. In addition to a number of self-help options, any student can request an appointment for initial phone consultations and telecounseling, according to the website.