Like everyone else on earth, I’m trying to learn how to handle myself under extenuating circumstances like the current “stay at home” order.

I’ve seen a surplus of videos, articles, posts and Pins of people giving their two cents on how to survive the trying times of COVID-19.

So, without further ado, here’s a typical week of a quarantined college sophomore:

I’ll typically wake up around 9:30-10:30 every morning to not waste my day away. I’d rather wake up and enjoy the morning ahead.

Then, it’s straight to the Keurig for my necesary cup of coffee. I’ll snag my laptop and sip on my coffee while filling out my planner for the day’s to-do’s.

After organizing myself is over with, I’ll take a shower and get dressed to “attend class” like I otherwise would. Taking a shower helps clear my head and prepare for the hours of work ahead.

As a complete my homework, I make sure to drink plenty of water and take breaks to stretch, go for a walk outside or to scroll through my Twitter feed for a couple minutes.

After my homework, I’ll change my clothes and prepare for the evening’s events: cooking and yoga. The yoga mats have usually already been laid out at this point in the day, and my meal of sauteed veggies and fish doesn’t usually take too long to prepare.

The evening is the most relaxing point of my day. After dinner and a workout, I’ll sit down with my roommates and watch some Hulu, Netflix or Disney+; that is, if we can make an actual decision on what to watch in a timely manner.

At this point in the night, I’m pretty much exhausted. I’ll brush my teeth and wash my face, then it’s lights out.

Finding a balance has proven to be one of my biggest obstacles through quarantine, but I’ve pretty much nailed by now. Remember to go outside, and stay healthy!

Happy Quarantine!

Like many other southerners, the beginnings of springtime brings a lot more than just pollen and love-bugs; it’s the beginning of crawfish season!

Crawfish season, for some, is the best season of the year!

Southerners take full advantage of crawfish boils; expect your aunties, uncles, cousins, grandmas, grandpas and everything in between to be there, helping celebrate the joys of life and seafood.

Despite “the good times rolling” and summer creeping up on us, COVID-19 is to blame for the crawfish industry hurting so badly this season.

The closure of restaurants and cancelling of events have left fisherman’s crawfish findings with nowhere to go.

Additionally, crawfish is sold in bulk to feed giant parties of people, which is something that is not a possibility right now given the need to social distance.

Crawfish producers have complained of the season practically being over. Only about 10%-15% of their catchings were being sold.

Ultimately, the crawfish industry is not alone in the feeling the negative impacts that come with a pandemic.

Although it’s disheartening, the wait will only make the crawfish spicier for next season.

With nothing to do aside from surviving online school, scrolling through your phone or eating your life away, it’s no surprise that the gaming industry is thriving under such circumstances.

On March 3, 2017 Nintendo launched its newest gaming device: the Nintendo Switch.

The Nintendo Switch has revolutionized portable and stationary gaming alike; you’re able to connect this device to any TV of your choice, or take it on the go for a hand-held experience.

On March 20, 2020, nearly three years later, Nintendo put Animal Crossing: New Horizons on the market, and timing could not have been better.

Animal Crossing allows fans to escape the trials and tribulations of a lonely quarantine. Building virtual friendships while virtually completing tasks is a relaxing substitute for everyday life!

Adorable and timeless Animal Crossing has been loved and celebrated since 2001

With this, you can only imagine the countless advancements that have given the people of quarantine something to occupy their time with!

Go, Nintendo!

This week’s blog is being composed with a heavy heart. This past Tuesday, April 7th, the world lost an incredible man named Walter Harris Jr. to the novel COVID-19. He was an incredible man who’s left behind an incredible legacy.

51-year-old Walter Harris Jr. is the father of one of my life-long best friends, Walter Harris III. Walter Harris Jr. was an assistant principal at KIPP Central City Academy in New Orleans, La.

He’s being remembered for his passion for educating, his valued love for the Slidell community and his affection and selflessness for his friends and family.

Walter Harris Jr. leaves behind a beautiful wife and three kids. The greater New Orleans area has come together to mourn the loss of an outstanding member of the community.

Walter Harris Jr. was a man who continued to put his family, god and his community before himself. He is forever loved and will be forever be remembered for the remarkable impact he left on so many.

March 2020 takes the cake for the most trying month I’ve lived thus far; little did I know my bedroom would take place of my classrooms the rest of my sophomore year.

Despite the obstacles, Americans seem to be doing a decent job finding light in the dreaded pandemic; boredom, social media and streaming platforms have proven to be a quite powerful trio given the recent craze over Netflix’s explicit documentary, Tiger King.

Tiger King lifts the veil off the bizarre underworld of tiger breeding and and exotic animal keeping. Despite the shock factors that expose these industries, the eccentric characters that populate them are what has people talking.

The introduction of loud and proud “Joe Exotic” sets the stage for what to expect from the rest of the series. The other characters’ energy feeds right into Joe’s, resulting in the series to be a whirl-wind of scandal, controversy and humor.

Tiger King’s story continually manages to be an unusual silver lining in lieu of hard times; if you’re looking for entertainment, it’s only clicks away!

It is hard to escape the daily influx of advertising and constant efforts being made in public relations. Before arriving to college, I had not a clue there was a difference between the two; although, after much consideration and research, there are many differences that make each profession unique.

Overall, public relations is on a much broader scale than advertising. Advertising’s goal is to appeal to a specific target audience in order to generate sales; advertisers buy spaces to put their ad and are not concerned with good relations nor reputation upkeep. How much exposure one’s ad receives is based off of the amount of money he or she is willing to spend; in addition, the advertiser is at his or her own digression with ad content.

Conversely, the focus for those involved in public relations is geared toward building brand awareness and reputation. Any recognition and popularity gained through PR is earned via campaigning, making connections and building trust between organizations. Goals are more long-term with PR and stress the importance of remaining credible and liked. Delivering meaningful information about a brand can build a base of dedicated “fans”, including consumers.

All in all, advertising and public relations are similar, but the ultimate goal of each is completely different. When considering the two as career options, it is important to know distinct differences to ensure the right choice is made based off of qualifications. Learning about the difference between public relations and advertising has proved very beneficial, and I am excited to continue on my trek as a public relations queen!

Communication in general is now, more than ever, the easiest and most advanced it has ever been. With technology consistently following an upward slope, it’s difficult not to take advantage of the convenience and simplicity that comes with it.

It has become very difficult to find someone who is not an internet user; the majority of people communicate via the internet. Whether you’re reading the news, scrolling through Facebook or simply composing a text message, none of this would be possible without the world wide web.

Because the internet is so abundant with people all over the world, it’s not difficult to understand why miscommunications may happen. Aside from individuals flatly publishing fake news to gain popularity or to cause havoc, words can get misconstrued easily, causing rumors and uncertainty.

As the public progresses, it seems the internet is evolving into nothing short of a popularity contest. Gaining fame via the internet is elementary when you’re willing to go to extremes. With this, ineffective communication is more susceptible because of the constant exaggerations, misunderstandings and dishonesty that happens daily.

All in all, the reasons for ineffective communications are legitimate and can cause major problems for internet users looking to stay informed. Although I’m not sure how, I’m hopeful for reform and regulation to ensure information is accurate and far from falsities. There is a fine line between freedom of speech and ignorance!

All written news is journalism. Whether it’s someone’s preference to watch or read their news, a journalist must ensure their writings can be understood and the message is clear to his or her audience. Despite this, the two mediums share many differences that make them uniquely their own.

Print journalism will forever be the pioneer for all forms of journalism. When the news is written for only reading purposes, a journalist must keep his or her reader completely engaged with only words. Reading any material, as opposed to watching, is an active process. Your entire attention is on nothing but the written material; by default, you are retaining more information than if you were to simply watch the same.

Moreover, broadcast journalism adds an element of entertainment and excitement that print journalism is unable to reciprocate. Anchors reading material to an audience have the advantage of being personable; someone is more likely to sit and actively listen to someone pleasing than someone boring and not engaged. In addition, broadcast journalism allows viewers to physically see the person, place or thing that’s being reported.

Personally, I am a sucker for a good read. I feel I receive more fulfillment from reading an article than watching a news story; although, as long as it’s ensured effective communication, both mediums should be respected and celebrated equally. The goal of all journalism is the same; whatever it takes to successfully educate the public.

Since Apple hit the scene with the revolutionary iPhone in 2007, the world wide web of communicating has never been the same. With hand-held access to the internet at all times, it seems there’s little to nothing that’s impossible; especially regarding journalism.

In March 2006, Twitter made its big debut. Users from all over the globe created accounts, resulting in the renown “Twittersphere” that’s known today. Four years later, Instagram took the stage for the newest, trendiest social media platform available.

Although the 2000’s gave us the social media revolution we didn’t know we needed, the playing grounds evened tremendously over time. With this, the question is presented: does Instagram or Twitter hold the prize for the best and most reliable platform?

As a long-time Twitter user, I have a significant bias on this matter. Regardless, Twitter wears the crown for all things news. It’s no secret that President Donald Trump is a heavy tweeter; he, along with several other politicians, use Twitter to their advantage to directly reach their followings. Respected news platforms such as The New York Times and The Washington Post also have Twitter accounts of their own to reach millions with tweets that are direct links to their articles.

In comparison, Instagram simply does not have the same functions or power as Twitter. Instagram’s platform presents itself in a more “formal” light; the app is based off of posting exclusively photos or videos. Instagram’s feed is composed of only your following, and it is very difficult to reach others world-wide without millions of followers. Regarding journalistic integrity, posting a photo with a caption is much less effective than posting a well-constructed tweet with a link.

Although Instagram has significantly more users, Twitter holds its own with reaching a wide variety of people faster than any other social media platform. Despite only having 280 characters, the power of a Tweet goes a long way.

For the first time in history, five extraordinary Black women hold five highly respected titles that represent women and their overwhelming excellence! Just two months ago, Jamaica’s Toni-Ann Singh accepted the title of “Miss World”; this woman–along with the other four who’ve graciously earned their titles– will forever reflect the amazing feats made by African-Americans in general, let alone the African-American woman.

The first woman to take home a title was Miss Nia Franklin of North Carolina. On September 9th, 2018, Franklin powered her way through the competition with flawless vocals and a true passion for the arts; she went home Miss America 2019. Next in line to claim her throne was Miss Teen USA 2019; Kaliegh Garris is a Connecticut native who danced her way to the top to win 37th title in April of 2019.

Shortly thereafter, competitors around the U.S. were competing in the 68th annual Miss USA pageant. Also from North Carolina, licensed attorney Cheslie Kryst took the judges by storm and won on the 2nd of May, 2019; later, she made it in the top 10 at the Miss Universe competition! Preceding Miss World was the fantastic Miss Universe. South Africa native Zozibini Tunzi proudly claimed her crown with a platform fighting to stop gender-based violence; Tunzi made making history one step closer for Toni-Ann Singh in the end.

Miss Teen USA, Miss USA, Miss America, Miss Universe and Miss World are not only influential, powerful, and beautiful standing alone, but now, they have the power of their titles to be global role-models for everyone; especially for those who need it most. I’m grateful and proud to live in an era where this is celebrated and respected. These women’s influence has driven me to continue leading an optimistic and hopeful life for the greater good! Kudos to you, pageant world!