With being a nursing major who is attempting to balance school, work, and a social life, I tend to become overstimulated very easily. If there isn't an assignment due, there is surely an exam or an upcoming skill test to be practicing for. This kind of lifestyle is draining and often brings down my spirit. That was until I heard someone say "Whenever you are feeling down, just think of one thing to make you feel 1% better and do that thing." Such a simple phrase quickly turned out to be a go-to coping mechanism for me. There was a day in October of this year when nothing was going my way. I had woken up late and missed a crucial exam, struggled to get my car to start, and then tripped and dropped my drink on the sidewalk. I remember having a pit in my stomach and trying my hardest not to lose it in my car. That's when I remembered the 1% saying. And imminently an iced pumpkin spiced latte from Starbucks came to mind. I knew that If I sat at a cozy Starbucks coffee shop and sipped on a refreshing iced latte with a little spice, I would feel a tiny bit better. So, I drove to my neighborhood Starbucks and did just that. The instant taste of the pumpkin entered my mouth and created the much-needed smile that had not made its rounds that day. The 1% had been achieved. As I set down the drink, I did the next thing that would add another 1%. I used the plastic straw and stirred the drink, watching the whipped cream mix ever so slightly with the coffee and milk combination. The sound of the ice hitting the interior of the cup brought another 1%. The next 1% came when I took out my phone and took an aesthetic picture of the drink with the business of the cafe in the background. Now I had a cute picture, a delicious drink, and a kick of caffeine in my system. Another 1%, check. Not only had this iced pumpkin spiced latte given me 1%, but it had given me 5% which made me feel good enough to get ahead of my assignments and homework that were due. Many days similar to this then followed. Whenever I am feeling unlike myself, I know that I can drive to Starbucks and get my pumpkin spiced latte, sit in a cozy chair, and stir my drink until I feel just 1% better.

As a CNA in an assisted living community, I am constantly doing things to improve the lives of elderly people in my community. There seems to be a stigma that is accompanied with the thought of elderly people that they are all mean, stuck up, and overall gross individuals. Everything about the statement is so far from the actual truth. The most important thing to keep in mind when working with elderly people in that kind of community is that they are missing the independent times of their past lives. They miss the times when they could go on a walk without having to bring a wheelchair or walker, or go to the grocery store without worrying about falling or even using the bathroom without assistance from a stranger. A lot of the time, they are feeling huge amounts of embarrassment in these situations. That's where I come into play. My job as a CNA includes helping them with any tasks they need assistance with, assisting them with toileting and showers, helping them eat or get proper nutrition, and proving them help with getting dressed. Those are all very important parts of my job but the bigger and most important part of my job as a CNA is the connections I make with the people. Some of them are put in these facilities unwilling due to them being fall risks and potentially injuring themselves on their own. They are scared and sometimes just need someone to talk to. I make it a priority to check in on these individuals and make them as comfortable as possible. Whether it's getting them an extra snack to ease their anxiety or just having a conversation with them, I do my best to find what they need at the moment and provide that.

In my 17 years of life, I have found that having simple pleasures in everyday life makes a huge difference. Whether it is tidying up my room in the mornings so I can focus during the day or going for a run in the evening, all of my simple pleasures make me a more productive and therefore happier person. One of my favorite simple pleasures is crocheting. I find it satisfying and overall relaxing to create a piece of clothing with only one stick and two hands. When crocheting, I allow myself to relax on a comfy chair or a couch so I can be in the stillest mindset I can be in. Most times this works which then transports me to a world of just me and my yarn. Another simple pleasure I have is gardening. Along with crocheting, gardening allows me to relax and focus on something simple: the earth. Summer mornings are always filled me my mom and I bring our tote bags out to our backyard to pick the many fruits, vegetables, and herbs we have spent all year growing. Both the growing and the picking fill me with happiness and gratitude for the earth. Those simple pleasures in my life are exactly what I need to have the motivation for everyday life and be able to take a step back sometimes.

This is Harry! Harry was taken into my family two years ago when his owner couldn't take care of him anymore. Something special about Harry is that he is completely blind and only has one eye due to a dog attack on him. Although he struggles to get around and make new dog friends, he is one tough guy! His favorite things include sleeping, playing with his toy "Squeaky", and being around new people. Instagram- @maddy__riggs

A unique and not-so-common skill I have worked towards over the past couple of years is crocheting. Although crocheting is looked at as a pastime for elderly people, I find it relaxing and beneficial for my life. When I first started my journey of crochet, I read books about stitches I could make and watched youtube videos explaining how each stitch was accomplished. This method of learning took me about a year before I could make objects and small clothing items by myself. My goal for crocheting has always been accompanied by the thought of, why buy it if you can make it? This idea of making instead of buying has led me to make myself a bucket hat for cold winter days, keychains to keep track of my keys, laptop cases to protect my electronics and lots of gifts for my friends and family. Although crocheting is something I love and consider myself to be good at, I am still learning every day. I constantly put new stitches in my projects and incorporate new techniques so I can grow on what I already know how to create. My plans for future crochet projects are more clothing items such as a sweater, a shirt, or even socks. After mastering those techniques, I will hopefully be able to make any type of clothing or object that I can think of.