By: Sarah Williams
I am excited to work for the Pulse! It has grown so much over the years from a newspaper to a website. My favorite part of the Pulse is turning new information into an engaging story for students to read. My main responsibility this year will be copyediting, and I can’t wait to start. I hope to have a wonderful time along with my staff members.
By: Lydia Hall
What I’m looking forward to this year being on The Pulse is getting to know a group of like-minded writers that challenge one another, expound the capacity of our writing skills, and push each other to step out of our comfort zone. With this being my first year in college, I want to try new things and discover what God has for me this season!!!
By: Hanna Ritchey
I’m Hanna Ritchey, a sophomore here at Spring Arbor and I’m a photographer for the Pulse! I’ve always had an interest in photography and generally felt drawn to art ever since I can remember. I first started to experiment with photography when I was a freshman in high school. I entered my first photo competition the same year. I’ve entered photos in my hometown fair every year and even worked for my high school yearbook as a photographer. My favorite part about the art of photography is being able to share your point of view to your audience. With photos, you can truly capture the essence of your subject matter. I hope to gain some more photo journalism experience with Pulse and really strengthen my skills as a photographer. I’m so excited to share my passion and continue my journey of photography here with the Pulse!
SAU men’s basketball team defeated Grace Christian University on Wednesday, November 3rd at Aldrich Athletic Center in Grand Rapids, MI. The score was 73 to 63.
According to SAUcourgars.com, SAU’s team statistics were 41 percent successful field goal shots during the first half. In the second, they scored 50 percent. Grace Christian University had a field goal percentage 36 percent.
The game leaders are said to be Joshua Laman (#24), Trey Cottingham (#2), Tyler Kaminski (#40), and Eli White (#11). Lamen scored 19 points, a “career high” record. Cottingham scored 12 points, Kaminski followed with 11 points, and White got 10 points.
Austin Braun (#12) , Kevyn Robertson (#23) and Tyler Kaminski (#40) made the Game Highlight. Braun managed 8 assists, which boosted offense. Robertson and Kaminski both grabbed 8 rebounds allowing the Cougars a 14 second chance for points.
The SAU’s men basketball team will travel to Lima, Ohio to face Northwestern Ohio next Saturday, November 6th. For their 2021-2022 schedule, click here.
By: Emily Selby
I am thrilled to be working on the Pulse again this year. Serving as the editor has been such a fun and rewarding experience. I am looking forward to sharing the stories of the people on this campus and hope to lift others up as I do that. Although we are starting a little later than we had hoped, I think we will make a great impact on SAU for the remainder of this semester and Spring semester.
By: Lydia Hall
Seniors Chris IIvory and Tabitha Sterner hosted their first art exhibit at the Ganton Art Gallery on Friday, October 29th, 2021. The night was cold and rainy without a star in the sky, but once you stepped into the gallery, the presence of two stars illuminated the room. The essence of purity led to the right, the atmosphere of unity swayed to the left, creating a harmonic journey around the ring of art.
Chris’s photographic exhibition was a reintroduction to the purity of women. Although many view Eve as the woman who led to the fall of humanity, this showcase of artwork reframed the broken image of women, picking up the pieces of eloquence, vulnerability, imperfection, and the influences of life, creating a masterpiece that reflected a moment that was simply pure.
Tabitha’s combination of color, shapes, lines, and brushstrokes are prime examples of her inspiration for connectedness and relationships. Many pieces of her artwork were created differently, intended to portray a message saying, “there is not a single human that is exempt from their personal biases, which have the ability to inform different interpretations and perspectives of reality. However, despite our differences, I believe that there are almost always underlying parallels that inspire a sense of unity and gratifying completeness.”
With two brilliant stars among us, these two artists individually illuminated parts of life that the darkness of today’s troubles can sometimes overshadow. If there had to be a theme song for this gallery, it would be “Masterpiece” by Deitrick Haddon. This gallery is the true definition of a “picture is worth a thousand words,” and in this case, a thousand words are not enough to express the meaning of each unique piece of art.
With the essence of purity leading to the right and the atmosphere of unity swaying to the left, a missed opportunity to experience this harmonic journey is an opportunity that was not valued.
However, there is still time! Chris and Tabitha’s combined gallery will be open to students, faculty, and even the public until December 3rd, 2021! Also, did I mention that this journey does not have a price tag: in other words, it is free!!!
Come and support two artists in the making, where the price is right, and most of all, experience two stars, and their artwork light up.
To visit the gallery yourself, here are the hours:
Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm
The gallery will be closed for Thanksgiving break.
Struggling to implement forgivness in your life? Look no further. Here is a truth that may help you.
Have you ever been hurt so badly that it takes everything in you to try and forgive? If that is you, here is an aid to help you try and overcome that problem. Forgiveness can be so freeing and is an important step to implement into our lives.
Why is it so crucial to forgive? As Christians, we should be striving for peace in our relationships. This doesn’t mean that there won’t ever be drama, but we should be willing and striving to let go of things in order to live at peace. When we aren’t willing to forgive, we are assuming all responsibility of carrying that pain and hurt with us instead of handing it to God. Why would we want to carry pain and hurtful feelings around with us when we have a gracious God who is more than willing to carry those things for us?
One thing that makes letting go so hard is the feeling of not being in control. We want to assume the role of making sure the other person(s) gets the “punishment” that they deserve. That punishment is not ours to give, no matter how much we want it to be. It is not our job to ensure that the person that hurt you “gets what they deserve.” God tells us that He will take care of what needs to be done so that we don’t have to. We don’t need to worry about making sure the other person pays for what they have done.
“Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay,’ says the Lord.”
ROMANS 12:19 NIV
By: Emily Selby
Here are six tips to help you survive finals week and prioritize your mental health.
We have made it to the end of the semester! Well, sort of. We have the last hurdle of making it through finals week. With most students scrambling to finish essays and studying for exams, we are at the most stressful part of the semester. Here are seven tips to help you survive finals week and prioritize your mental health:
A big part of self-care is being proactive. Make a plan of what steps you can take when you begin to feel overwhelmed with your workload. This can include having your favorite study playlist ready for when you need help focusing, prepping snacks you can eat when you need a study break, and setting aside a specific time to visit with friends or do something you enjoy.
2. Treat Yourself with Kindness
During the stress of finals week, it is easy to fall into patterns of negative self-talk. Those negative thoughts are valid, and it is okay to acknowledge them, but it is important to remember that those doubts are not an accurate representation of you or your strengths. When negative thoughts start to creep in, take the time to consciously validate yourself and your abilities.
3. Take Care of Yourself Physically
With the stress of exams, it is easy to develop tunnel vision and neglect the essential care that keeps us healthy. It is important to remember to set aside time for proper meals, adequate hydration, the recommended 30 minutes of exercise, and the proper amount of sleep. Maintaining these healthy habits can help keep you feel energized and ready to tackle the stringent workload.
4. Set Aside a Specific Study Space
Make sure you have a space set aside solely for studying. This area should be separate from where you will take your breaks and should be organized with all of the items you might need to be productive in your studying and essay writing. This includes textbooks, writing utensils, your laptop, a water bottle, and snack. Plus, this helps set a clear boundary between when you need to be in an academic mindset and when you are relaxing.
5. Take Breaks
Studying all day, every day would be stressful and tire you out. Instead, make sure to take a 30-minute break every 90 minutes to allow yourself time to decompress, clear your mind, and re-energize yourself for your next study session. These breaks should be a time for you to do something you truly enjoy or find relaxing.
6. Celebrate and Reward Yourself for your Achievements
When you complete an essay, study session, or exam, make sure to take the time to acknowledge your hard work. Watch an episode of your favorite show, eat some ice cream, host a small dance party with your roommate, or plan a small hangout with your friends. Regardless of what you decide to do, make sure that it is something you enjoy so that you can have a moment of reprieve before getting back to work.
7. Remind Yourself of These Truths
Even though exam week is stressful, it is important to remember that this is temporary, you are strong and capable enough to get through this, and that you are not alone. It is okay to ask your friends, peers, and professors for help — they all want to see you succeed.
Remember to work hard, do your best, and take time to practice self-care. Good luck with your exams!
By: Merry Castle
We learned a lot from working on the Pulse this year and we hope you will join our team next fall!
It has been an honor for all of us at the Pulse to bring you campus news content. We are excited for a break during the summer, but will no doubt miss seeing everyone around campus. We wanted to put together a small summary of what we loved most about working on the Pulse in case you might be interested in joining our team next fall!
I have loved being able to write and edit for the Pulse this year. As a transfer student, it was a great way for me to be able to feel involved in different aspects of campus life that I otherwise might have missed. I had the amazing opportunity to practice leadership and writing skills which I am very passionate about. Though our team got a little smaller for spring semester, it was truly a joy to be able to work with other writers and develop our skills together. Working with other writers and establishing goals together was one of my favorite aspects of working on the Pulse team. If you have any interest in writing, interviewing, or editing, this is a great opportunity to get your foot in the door. I cannot wait until next fall to get started again. I have big plans for the Pulse next year.
My favorite part of being in the Pulse is the writing experience. Every 2 week I got the opportunity to write a story for the college to read and copy edit all of the other stories. Working with the Pulse has boosted my confidence in writing and sharing what I wrote. Besides learning about writing techniques, I learned more about the school and other people. I didn’t know much about SAU sports before, but now I am rooting for our university’s teams. Also, every time I interviewed someone for a story, I felt I was becoming more professional. I am thankful to be a part of the Pulse and I look forward to being a part of it next semester.
Writing for the Pulse has been a tremendous honor and privilege for me as I have been blessed with the opportunity to share the stories of my fellow students, faculty, and staff. I have grown more confident in my writing abilities and learned what works and what does not work for me as a writer. This has also been a fantastic opportunity for me to work with a team of like-minded individuals who challenge me to work harder, write better, and think outside the box. Most importantly, this opportunity has helped me realize that I can use my voice and writing to uplift others and discuss topics I am passionate about. That, by far, has been my favorite part of writing for the Pulse — I am so blessed to speak with, learn about, and share the stories of so many different people. It has been an opportunity for me to step outside of my own limited perspective and to focus on the diverse perspectives of others.
Have a great summer, everyone!
