Category: 2025 Rock Stars

Quelea quelea; Destructive Crop eating birds of Africa

~ pchandler28 ~ Leave a comment

As Georgians face the challenge of a new invasive species, retired wildlife biologist Jeff Jackson recalls dealing with a different disruptive species — cereal grain eating birds, the Quelea. These birds caused disruptions for farmers.

“They eat any kind of cereal grain, some of the ones in Africa that we saw ate pearl millet, sorghum, and rice,” Jackson said, adding that he and his wife, Phyllis, studied the bird for roughly six years in Chad and the Sudan,

Their task was to find a solution to the cereal grain eating birds, as local farmers took drastic measures to get rid of these birds in order to maintain a successful harvest.

“They come in swarms of locusts, thousands of birds will come and decimate a cereal crop,” Phyllis Jackson said.

In desperation, the local crop growers needed to find a solution. “They would keep the kids out of school, and they would have them in the field, scaring off the Quelea with noise makers,” Jeff Jackson said.

Since the kids needed to be in school or doing other tasks, this method did not suffice.

“The local people made a cover to go over the crops out of dune palm,” Phyllis Jackson said. “It’s pretty labor intensive, since they had to make one for every crop.”

Sadly, these were too time-intensive to make one for each of the thousands of the crops, and since they had to be hand-woven, this was another strike in the war against the Quelea.

“One of the things that was commonly done was use dangerous pesticides, and they would spray these by aircrafts over these colonies containing thousands of nests in a single trees,” Jeff Jackson said.

Although effective, this was extremely dangerous to humans and other mammals, like lions, who frequently were killed by these chemicals. “There was a pilot, of one of these spray planes. He got one of those pesticides on his arm, and he wiped it off not thinking about it,” Jeff Jackson said. “That evening he went to a local bar, to socialize with his friends, and he randomly keeled over and died.”

Over the years, the couple learned that the most effective way to deal with the birds was to harvest the crops before the birds came through and destroyed them. This was where Jeff and Phyllis came into play.

“There, some of the work Jeff did, was to figure out a type of rice, or sorghum, that the people liked, that tasted good, looked good, that would mature when the birds weren’t coming through,” Phyllis Jackson said. “They would harvest it quicker than the typical crop.”

These variations of crops did not not produce as much grain per as the typical ones.

Jeff and Phyllis’ work helped provide aid and neccesary knowledge to the people of Sudan and Chad.

Why Do The Clothes I Wear Matter To You?

~ madiken55288 ~ Leave a comment

By: Madison McKenzie

Have you ever put on a really cute outfit and you are feeling confident? You can feel peoples eyes on you, and then you start seeing looks of disgust and hatred. That has happened to me. Whether it was because my stomach was out, too much skin was showing or because I wore something that people don’t normally wear. People will judge you wherever you go and that is a lesson I had to learn.

In some cases, the clothes you wear would matter. There is a time and a place for the outfits you should wear. You don’t want to wear an overly revealing outfit to a very important meeting or interview. But, if you are out somewhere to hangout, eat, have fun with friends whatever the case may be , then you should be able to wear what you want (as long as you aren’t showing all of your bits and pieces). People should not dictate what you can and cannot wear. Other people should not be able to dim your light.

I feel that people who are not you, shouldn’t have a say in what you decide to put on your body. Sometimes, the clothes that we wear are an expression of how we feel. You are decorating yourself in a way that makes you happy. People shouldn’t feel self-conscious because someone looked at them with a side eye and made them feel as if they were ugly or looked like an outcast.

Your clothing choices shouldn’t be changed because someone else’s views. One’s fashion choices is supposed to be a form of self projection, a way to show what you like and how you want to be viewed. This means that people should have the right to their own style. Some outfits should only be worn at certain events and some outfits will make you look twice. But that aside, don’t diminish who you are to satisfy others.

Fashion experts say that the clothes that we wear show the personality that we created for ourselves. This is because it is a form of self expression which should be important to everybody. Nobody should tell you what you can and cannot wear. They are not you and you are not them. Don’t let them diminish your light.

Opinion Story

~ shustersaybel11 ~ Leave a comment

Growing up, I learned early on how to pretend. Not pretend in the playful, childhood sense — like dress-up or imaginary games — but a more quiet, painful kind of pretending. 

I learned how to act like everything was fine even when it wasn’t, especially when it came to food, my body and how I saw myself. And If I’m being honest, a lot came from growing up next to someone who seemed to have the body I was always told I should want.

My sister has always been skinny. Naturally thin, effortlessly “perfect.” I’d hear people compliment her over and over: “You’re so tiny!” “You could be a model!” Even when they didn’t  say anything directly to me, I could feel the comparison hanging in the air like a fog I couldn’t escape. Like a moth watching a beautiful butterfly flying through flowers.  I was growing up in a body that didn’t match hers, and somehow that made me feel like mine was wrong — like I was the “before” picture no one wanted to be. I remember my mom saying, “Put the food down Saybel, your sister needs it more.” This cut deep between me and my mother’s relationship.

So I started hiding. I didn’t talk about how hard it was to eat in front of people. I didn’t admit how often I skipped meals, or how much shame I carried around after eating something “bad.” I smiled. I laughed. I made jokes. And inside, I quietly punished myself for not being “enough.” I told myself if I could just be skinny like her, things would feel OK. That I’d feel OK. 

But it wasn’t just my sister’s body I was comparing myself to — it was every girl on my screen. Social media, TV shows, magazines, ads … they all sent the same message: thin is beautiful, and everything else you have to “fix.” Every time I opened Instagram or TikTok, I saw endless videos of girls with flat stomachs, perfect angles and “What I eat in a day” clips that added up to barely a snack. When those images are all you see, they start to feel like the only standard that matters. What made it worse is how fake so much of it is – filters, Photoshop, angles and lighting tricks. I didn’t just want to be skinny ; I wanted to be accepted, loved, and seen the way those girls were. I didn’t realize that I was measuring myself against something that isn’t even humanly achievable most of the time.

But here’s the truth : Striving to look like someone else — especially someone you love — is a trap. It doesn’t make you feel better. It just makes you feel invisible. I was fighting a battle inside my own mind, and nobody knew. And I let that happen, because I thought admitting it would make me weak. I didn’t know that there is real strength in saying, “I’m not OK.”

Now I’m starting to learn that I deserve to be seen as I am. That my body is not a failure just because it isn’t like hers. That no one should feel like a failure because their bodies are different. That food is not something to earn or fear. And that pretending doesn’t protect me — it only isolates me. What I needed back then wasn’t perfection. It was protection and compassion. It was someone to say, “You don’t have to look like her. You’re already worthy.”

I am proud of who I am and how I look. I’m not going to pretend anymore.

Student Awareness and Stigma

~ shustersaybel11 ~ Leave a comment

On the surface, college campuses buzz with energy – late-night study sessions, packed lecture halls and students chasing dreams with iced coffee in hand. But beneath that energy, many students are struggling with something less visible: their mental health. Anxiety, burnout and depression are increasingly common among college students (https://sph.umich.edu/news/2023posts/college-students-anxiety-depression-higher-than-ever-but-so-are-efforts-to-receive-care.html) , yet talking about those issues make some students uncomfortable and nervous. For many, the pressure to “have it all together” drowns out the need to ask for help.

Despite growing conversations around mental health, stigma remains a major barrier. Some students often feel that admitting they’re struggling could make them appear weak, dramatic or incapable of handling college life. 

“I felt like everyone else was thriving, so I kept pretending I was too,” said Natasha, a third – year biology major at Mercer University. 

This mindset – one that values toughness over vulnerability – can leave students isolated right when they need support the most.

Awareness of available mental health resources is another challenge. Many colleges and high schools offer counseling services, wellness centers or peer support groups but students often don’t know how to access them – or they assume the wait times are too long to bother. 

“I thought the counseling center was just for people in crisis,” Maggie, a high schooler at Northview High School, shared. “I didn’t know I could go just to talk.” 

Schools may host mental health events during midterms or finals, but that’s not always enough to change a culture of silence.

Students may benefit from more than just a flyer or a single awareness week. Ongoing, visible messaging from professors, resident assistants, and campus leaders can help reinforce that seeking help is a common and supported choice. Even when some teachers praise mental health as an important thing, some don’t realize they give more work than relaxation time.

“There are professors who preach that mental health is important and say you should take care of yourself, but then they say OK and you have a test in three days that is half your grade.” Naluchi, a senior in Mercer university, says. 

When faculty incorporates mental health resources into their syllabi or when student organizations engage in open discussions about emotional well-being, it communicates to students that their challenges are recognized. Even modest efforts – such as faculty highlighting office hours or promoting designated wellness days – can contribute meaningfully to a supportive academic environment. 

Breaking the stigma around mental health in college starts with honest conversations. Students are under pressure: managing school, jobs, relationships and identity – all at once. Minimizing or overlooking emotional challenges may influence the way support resources are accessed or perceived. 

“My school includes mental health and daily conversation, some weeks, which benefits the kids who are struggling in secret, and I think that’s what makes it stand out from all the schools that don’t.” Kerisha is a two-year psychology major from Mercer University. 

These outcomes may offer a broader perspective on what success in education can look like.

Dangerous Energy

~ eashf244ecabe0f ~ Leave a comment

A student anxiously watches the clock. The buzz from the exceptional amount of caffeine in their energy drink had turned into racing thoughts, jittery hands, and a tight feeling in their chest. 

According to  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, up to half of adolescents  consume energy drinks at least once a week,  and a Civic Science  study shows the majority of energy drink consumers are teenagers and young adults.

“A lot of my friends drink energy drinks [and] I would say it’s a very big part of my morning routine to have an energy drink as well,” said Cedar Shoals high school sophomore Catherine Dennison.

Above: An infographic picturing popular energy drinks including Alani, Monster, RedBull and Celcius, respectively, are pictured. Graphic by Edie Ash.

With teenagers included in the majority of consumers of energy drinks, brands like Celcius and Alani Nu have taken further steps to appeal to their audience through flashy packaging as well as collabing with popular celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Megan Moroney, and Jake Paul. 

“There is always something being promoted to teenagers that is bad for them. I think they are incredibly glamourized,”said Athens Clarke County Pediatrician Carrie Kelly.  “They make the packaging so appealing. I think these collaborations are so influential . It’s completely understandable why [they] are influenced”

The energy drink craze has made an appearance all over popular social media apps like TikTok with hashtags including “#Energydrinklover” and “#Energydrinks” having hundreds of thousands of videos. 

“Energy drinks are on TikTok a lot” Dennison said. “When new flavors come out, people definitely post about it and a lot of teenagers are on TikTok, so it definitely influences them.”

While these drinks are known for offering aesthetic packaging and a quick boost of energy,   it’s important to read the labels before consuming your daily pick-me-up.

Many popular energy drinks including Celcius and Alani Nu contain up to twice The American Academy of Pediatric recommended daily limit of 100 milligrams- some reaching up to 250 milligrams. When consumed, Athens Clarke County Pediatrician Carrie Kelly warns consumers of the threats it may have on their health. 

“We want to avoid putting things like that into our bodies, especially for teenagers, as their bodies and brains are still developing and growing,” said Kelly. “Sleep is important for our development, our memory, our learning and anything that affects sleep can be really bad. As a pediatrician, I would say sleep is very important to help ourselves feel healthy and feel less anxiety.”

While flashy packaging and collaborations with popular celebrities can be appealing, The Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System offers a list of healthy alternatives including unsweetened tea, Hot or iced coffee and 100% fruit or vegetable juice to help consumers select a healthier drink.  

“The decisions you make now when your young are going to affect you when your older,” Dennison said. “So making those healthy decisions now will benefit you in the long run”

Story by Edie Ash

Fast fashion and its impact

~ Alli Kruczkowski ~ Leave a comment

According to an article in USA Today, fast fashion is slowing the growth of local businesses, keeping them from flourishing to their full potential.

When younger generations choose clothes, many look at cheap, but trendy choices. 

“Some fast fashion is good because if you need something quickly or if you need a bundle of something then you can order it quickly and cheaply,” said Saybel, a freshman in high school.

According to a UCLA sustainability study, fast fashion is where clothing manufacturers focus on mimicking and producing trendy clothes with poor materials, fast assembly time and low pay wages. Most of these clothes appeal to consumers however, due to social media pushing the trends and highlighting the cheap prices.

“I understand the convenience and why as many people buy it as they do,” Andrew Fritz, a resale store employee, said. “But it’s something that’s gonna get worse and worse the more common it gets.”

Many of these fast fashion prices are so low that local businesses cannot compete. Most small businesses use authentic materials and take a long time to design and eventually produce the clothing item. The time and materials small businesses use creates higher costs; if they lowered the purchase price, they would make no profit. 

With 92 million tons of textiles being wasted every year and 10% of carbon emissions coming from the fashion industry, it also hurts our environment to an extreme degree, according to a study by research firm McKinsey and Company. The less trendy clothes may still be wearable, but consumers want the newest and trendiest outfits so they throw away the old. Many donation centers and landfills are filled with discarded clothes.

“Global consumption of clothing has been exponentially increasing, and the fast fashion industry isn’t going away anytime soon. Since 2000, clothing sales have doubled from 100 to 200 billion units a year,” reports Earth.Org, an environmental news website. “At the same time, the average number of times an item was worn has decreased by 36% overall.”

The advantage that small businesses have over these large fast fashion brands is connection. The community can become close to the owners of these stores and in turn may be convinced to purchase more as support. Also, thrift stores are an excellent alternative to fast fashion stores. Most thrift stores are full of great finds that are still low-price. 

“I think it’s more of an emotional connection because you know you have people who are dedicated to you and actually care and believe in what you’re doing and it forms a relationship,” said a manager of a thrift store.

Negative Impacts of AI Use in Education 

~ jeniffermelissa2020 ~ Leave a comment

Photo by Solen Feyissa on Unsplash

By: Jupiter Sousa
Sprayberry High School
Marietta,GA

AI has been increasingly dominating society as early as 1956 according to Dartmouth Summer Research Project on Artificial Intelligence.

AI has been proven to be a good tool to assist others in many aspects however, some abuse this technology by replacing creative writing with AI to cheat. NerdyNav confirms that 43% of college students use ChatGPT and/or other AI sources and 89% of those students use AI for homework assignments.

This reliance on AI to complete educational tasks has decreased critical thinking, IQ for youths and shortened attention spans. As this will not only affect this generation negatively, but future generations as well. Heavily relying on ChatGPT or AI overview can cause: under developed minds, conflict in problem solving, and lack of knowledge, which decreases a teacher’s ability to teach and students’ ability to learn essential information from textbooks, lectures or socialization that can expand their views.

“Writing is essentially thinking- if you’re not putting in thought, you’re not really learning,” said Braine Ash, a teacher at Clarke Central High School in Athens, Georgia. ” You are not building that skill when you make a computer write it for you.”

This dependence on AI won’t help you obtain the knowledge, which dramatically affects the education for youth in all aspects of learning: “A lot of these kids in math, they’ll take virtual school and will get these classes done in days, it’s not just English.” Mr. Ash says.

This not only impacts students, but also teachers and future generations as they’ll continue to depend on AI to get their high school or college degree, lowering the IQ average for future kids and academic expectations. Ash said teachers need to adjust their teaching styles to consider AI..

“Is it the end of civilization? I don’t think so, however English teachers are going to have to continue to think about how we teach with AI now.”

This is why many teachers are now prone to assign in class essays, so you cannot take it home.

Many debate on the topic of AI and its qualifications for “cheating.” For example, some teachers allow students to use AI to correct or help essay writings to perfect it in order to turn in. But Ash isn’t one of those teachers. “It’s a blurry line there, some teachers don’t have problems with a student doing that- I would not [agree with that] .”

Despite Ash agreeing on net positives of AI being able to assist people who struggle with certain subjects getting automatic feedback on how to correct their mistakes, he believes the negatives overpower the positives in AI. “There’s no denying that at this point, their growth during these years will dictate what kind of writers and readers they will become.”

Ash said that AI usage differs in adults to youth, as adults already have the knowledge to write and read while youth haven’t fully developed yet. Instead of learning that skill they rely on AI to do it for them, never growing or challenging themselves.

The rise of AI may come at the expense of a massive decline in future generations’ IQ. According to ie University, “As reliance on AI grows, experts warn that it could diminish critical-thinking skills and alter fundamental cognitive processes.”

This directs that society should work alongside AI, rather than use it as a replacement for human work. AI will continue to develop and grow within society and there’s no stopping it, but incorporating it in appropriate ways in everyday life will ensure AI has minimal impact on development.

“If you never go through something hard, you won’t grow,” Ash said, adding that if you challenge yourself, you build experience and life lessons that will help you evolve. “It’s not going away, we are going to have to teach our kids appropriate ways to do it, and hope they will.”

How to help the uncounsious

~ andertonsg ~ Leave a comment

Imagine someone in your class or work place suddenly collapsing to the ground. What do you do? Do you call for help? Do you give them water? Do you just stare and hope they wake up? 

“I want people to talk to me and remind me that I’m safe,” said Alondra Pagan-Galarza, a high school student who has functional neurological disorder, which causes her to have functional stress seizures. “Distract me from the situation, talk about something random. Others like to be left alone but I like the social aspect, I like physical contact. I like to know that people are there.”

According to UNC Health Talk, if a person has a seizure they should lay on their side and have their head supported with a pillow. Blankets, jackets or keeping their head up with one’s hands can work as long as one’s head isn’t being hit. Don’t restrain them if one is holding them. Those who faint should be laid on their back and their legs should be above their heart. It’s a good idea to loosen tight clothing or necklaces so blood can easily move. 

People want someone, not a group, with them when they pass out just for some peace of mind. It comforts others to know that someone cares. At the end, let them get up at their own pace and then get some fresh air. Give the person some water and some food to recover after the episode.

Maggie Bishop, a student at Piedmont University in Georgia, was diagnosed with Tachycardia and PNES (Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures) which creates psychological seizures. “Sometimes people don’t know they have this until it [a person passes out] happens. Knowing what to do if someone does have one is beneficial. You never know where you’ll be when it happens.”

Fainting and seizures have their similarities and differences. Fainting usually is for less than 30 seconds, whereas seizures can be three minutes. Seizures could be small with very little movement to large movements. Fainting can have some shaking and their body can move slightly.

“A good analogy of FND that a lot of people use is a computer,” Pagan-Galarza said.  “A computer works right, the hardwares works right, everythings good. All the buttons click but the software is what doesn’t work. It’s inside the computer and you can’t see it.”

According to Patient, four out of 10 people will faint once in their lifetime. This occurs when there is a drop of blood pressure and blood can not make it into the brain. It can be caused by heat, standing for long periods of time, stress or fear, having little salt or fluid or even standing up too quickly. There are reflex, cardiac, orthostatic and neurologic syncopes. Reflex syncope is most common with vasovagal, situational and carotid sinus. Teenage girls and older adults are the most likely to faint. 

“When I actually have a seizure I shake, zone out for like 20 seconds and then I jump but for some other seizures I might shake and I might be paralyzed because that is one of my other symptoms,” said Pagan-Galarza. “When I wake up my brain is still foggy. It’s still confused and I need a minute to process because it’s [brain] been through lots. It’s not any electrical signals, the seizures are not epileptic and don’t cause brain electricity. It’s due to stress and anxiety.” 

The World Health Organization says that 5 million people are diagnosed with epilepsy each year. Seizures can also be caused by brain tumors, brain injuries, infections, fevers or electrolyte imbalance. Menstruation, stress, some medications and lacking sleep can also cause someone to have a seizure. There are different kinds of seizures: absence, tonic-clonic, myoclonic and atonic. There are also functional seizures where it looks like a usual seizure, but is not caused by the extra electrical brain activity like the ones above. 

“I’ll get light-headed and my legs will start twitching,” Bishop said. “My friends have noticed that my eyes start twitching. I don’t notice it because normally I’m already out.”

Not everyone, especially if they have passed out before, wants an ambulance to be called. Hospitals can give a diagnoses of why one fainted and give some things to help. Rescue medications can stop a seizure but sometimes they are stress based and going to the hospital can cause more issues. Listen to what the person wants unless they are in danger.

“I pretty much tell everyone to watch my head so we don’t have to call an ambulance when I’m having a seizure,” Bishop said. 

According to the CDC, it’s important to call 911 immediately if one isn’t breathing, can’t be woken up after a minute, has had a seizure for longer than five minutes or has a head trauma. If it’s their first time having a seizure or fainting, calling a doctor is advised. Always search for a medical ID band that can give one information on how to help that individual.

“It’s important [to learn] because you don’t know why they’re having a seizure,” Pagan-Galarza said.  “It could be epileptic, it could be non-epiliected. It should be widely known especially for FND because it’s not a well-known condition, even though it’s the second most common neurological condition. People need to know if an epileptic seizure happens for five minutes, you call 911. Your brain is getting bad electrical signals. For FND you don’t do that because it’s caused by stress. Stress doesn’t go away in five minutes.”

School’s out!…but what about business?

~ chloejaneorton ~ Leave a comment

Chloe Orton
Cambell High School
Smyrna, Georgia

The University of Georgia is located in a small Georgia town named Athens. During the school year this town is a place of packed bars and restaurants, football fans, shopping students and full parking lots. But what happens to the businesses that rely on the busy crowds when the students go home for the summer and football season ends?

Eric Nelson, who works at Walkers Coffee Shop and Pub, said there is a distinct difference in business once the students leave. “It’s terrible. Summertime is not great because the summer session classes are a lot longer and more intensive, so people want to go home after and not out.”

This is in contrast to fall and spring. “If you were coming here during the school year there would be nowhere to sit.”

The lack of foot traffic during the summer in Athens significantly slows down business. Stores and restaurants are impacted in different ways by the lack of customers. Some more unique establishments, such as The Rook and Pawn, have to adjust their hours during the summer. Other businesses, such as High Country Outfitters, have to adjust to new staffing due to the loss of student employees during the summer. 

With the absence of the major crowds, most businesses rely on local events such as AthFest to bring people in. Tim Kelly, one of the owners of The Rook and Pawn said, “Any sort of downtown festival is a huge boom for us.”

For other businesses like High Country Outfitters, they rely on back to school and student summer events to bring people in.

“Once rush picks up, more people will start to buy shoes, and towards the end of summer more people come in and start to look for things like backpacks for the school year and study abroad,” said High Country Outfitters’ manager Skylar Umstead.

However, some businesses take this off season as an opportunity to renovate and update products. “It’s slower but it’s nice because we get a chance to reset most of the stuff in the store,” Umstead said.

Without students, businesses must adjust to a different audience. “We’ll see more younger kids and families come in during the day looking for something to do which we don’t see a lot of during the school year,” said Kelly. 

There are both ups and downs to the summer season, but these businesses are what make Athens such a fun place to live in and visit. There may be some changes in scheduling, customer audiences or new renovations, but the businesses are loved the same by the UGA students when they come back from summer break.  

“Overall it’s still our place and still very much the same aesthetic and vibe,” said Kelly.


Mental health’s affects on young musicians

~ Eva Saraf ~ Leave a comment

It is no secret that the teenage years are transformative for adolescents, as they grow into young adults. These years can be especially tumultuous for young musicians, who grapple with the pressures and common problems of the music industry, resulting in mental health concerns. If not addressed early, these young musicians are prone to developing more long-term and serious problems like depression, eating disorders and grappling with bipolar or schizophrenia.

While music is beautiful and expressive, the music industry can be a pressure cooker where musicians are pushed to their limits. Nuçi’s Space is an organization in Athens focused on suicide prevention, specifically for musicians. The space was founded after a UGA student and musician named Nuçi Phillips, took his life in 1996. His mother, Linda Philips, created the organization in 2000 to address the epidemic of suicide that was, and to this day still is, raging across the country. Abby Winograd, the marketing & communications manager at Nuçi’s Space, explained the hardest parts of being a musician.  

“Musicians are not put in the best position to access health care and support, especially if people pursue music full time. They’re not getting access to insurance. They’re in late night scenes with exposure to not necessarily healthy conditions,” Winograd said. “Linda wanted to create a center of sorts to provide a safe space for musicians to seek support and help and pursue their music without sacrificing their health.”

The teen years can be anxiety inducing and scary as young people study with their confidence, insecurity and emotion shifts. A rising junior at Athens Academy, and young musician, Evangeline Bina, talked about some of the struggles she has experienced during her teen years and how music has helped her through it all.

“I had a lot of experience in middle school struggling with anxiety, but it kinda all went away. I got really involved in the local orchestra scene, and that helped me build confidence, because, where I wasn’t confident in myself, music helped with that a lot,” Bina said. “Music has gotten me through some of the worst times in my life, times where I kind of felt like I didn’t have anyone, or nobody really understood what was going on.”

Music also pushes you to be more vulnerable, as one captures their emotions in their art. Bina and Winograd both explained how this can be an outlet for young musicians and their emotions, but also open a young person to struggles with their mental health.

“To make music, you have to be very like, in touch with yourself, and sometimes that vulnerability can make you more susceptible to mental health issues, insecurity, emotional problems, which sucks, but it’s also part of making good music,” Bina said.

“Music is a language for people that don’t necessarily have the words or comfort in speaking about how they’re feeling. Music is the language in which they choose to express themselves. It’s how they bond with other people,” Winograd said, adding that mental health needs to be looked at and addressed as a serious health concern, and using the term “brain illness” instead of mental health helps do just that.

“We say brain illness instead of mental illness, because mental health is a real health concern. It’s in the body as much as cancer and really any other physical disease you can think of,” Winograd said. 

Music is a beautiful outlet for young musicians as they struggle with life’s many internal and external problems, and for one to paint their emotions into art is something special. It is important for young musicians to have a safe space that sparks their creativity and Nuçi’s Space is the perfect, supportive atmosphere for that. Bina, a participant of Camp Amped at Nuçi’s Space, explained how the space allowed her to pursue and feel more confident in her singing. She was also able to bond with other campers who had experienced similar struggles to her, to create music.

“I don’t usually like lose myself in the music, but sometimes it can be a sacred space, almost where all the hard things about life just don’t really impact me because music isn’t very judgmental. The people in music aren’t judgmental, but music itself isn’t judgmental either. Like, you can kind of, if you allow yourself, be vulnerable. You can be completely free with yourself, and just let it help you. I find safety and security in that.”

If you ever feel like you need to reach out to someone or need help, you can call the suicide and crisis hotline at 988. This is the link to the hotline’s website.

The Nuçi’s Space website also has a crisis page with lots of helpful information linked here.