Pictured above: Cheryl the Bull stands wearing a facemask, mimicking the new social distancing guidelines citizens are supposed to abide by amid the coronavirus pandemic. Thomas Iacobucci | The Crow’s Nest
By Katlynn Mullins
A lot of things slowed down when isolation began, but school trotted on.
Students and alumni have had to find ways to make it work while keeping their own safety in mind.
Art and physical activities have been a popular pastime for some students. But for others, they’re much more than that: They provide a steady source of income. It’s what they study in school and how they make a living.
So, they found a way to adapt.
For some students, their major played a role in their endeavors.
Grace Stocksdale, a junior graphic design major, had to come up with a “response to COVID-19” in one of her classes after its regular schedule veered off course.
She and fellow graphic design major Makenzie Hall — who were partners for the assignment — elected to create free advertisements for local businesses.
They didn’t feel comfortable charging money for the ads, but wanted to figure out a way to “help promote the locals.”
So far, they’ve reached out to a few businesses who have taken them up on their offer. There were a few steps that needed to be taken before creating each ad, however.
“We want to know more about the business first,” Stocksdale said in an email. “We ask about color schemes, imagery, current logos they use, etc. Then we create an ad based on the information provided.”
Graphic designers from other universities have also been branching out.
Renee Kiffin is a University of Central Florida alumna but dropped into the Facebook group, USFSP’s Know It All’s Guide To Knowing It All, to offer illustrated portraits for graduating seniors who couldn’t get professional photos taken.
“I usually do graduation portrait photography, but I don’t have the necessary equipment to practice safe social distancing,” Kiffin said in an email. “I am a very hands-on photographer, so I decided to practice my other creative avenues during quarantine.”
She has more than five years of experience in graphic design and even got into USF St. Petersburg’s graphic design program before deciding to attend UCF.
No one has reached out about portraits yet, she said, but those interested can do so here.
Not everyone turned to art in self-quarantine, though.
Valeria Costa is a yoga instructor at Campus Recreation. Every “Flow Friday,” she takes to the department’s Instagram — as other trainers have — with a video of a yoga sequence.
“My intention for each flow is to provide others with an uplifting or relaxing practice that is easy to do,” she said. “I really want people to walk away feeling good in their body and mind.”
For those who think they don’t have the room to practice in their home, Costa encouraged creativity.
“I have a friend who has four young kids, and she could not find a quiet place to do yoga,” Costa said. “So she got creative and locked herself in her walk-in closet, rolled out her mat and practiced.”
If you don’t feel like locking yourself in the closet, Costa said, going outdoors is also a great option.
“There is so much to gain from an at-home practice during these times of uncertainty. Yoga is physical, so you’re moving your body, pumping your heart and learning how to breathe. Yoga is also extremely mental,” Costa said.
“Practicing how to physically and mentally go through a yoga flow can give you insight on how to deal with the world off the mat.”
She said it’s different from teaching in-person, though.
“It is still enjoyable, and I am happy with both settings,” Costa said. “I think it is wonderful that Campus Recreation has adapted and decided to bring classes into the virtual world.”
When Costa first started yoga, she wasn’t completely comfortable with going to in-person classes.
“It was not until I started an at-home practice that I gained the confidence to do yoga with others,” Costa said.
“Although I’m not able to meet my students in person or see their beautiful faces, I am grateful that people who might be scared of yoga can try it out.”
