Category: Features

For members of Kappa Sigma, fraternity life isn’t about parties — it’s about leadership and service throughout St. George.

The Kappa Sigma fraternity, unaffiliated with Utah Tech University, has recently appeared on campus.

The members must keep school activities separate from the fraternity. They are allowed to attend events as students, but not as representatives of the fraternity.

Kappa Sigma was founded over 150 years ago at the University of Virginia in 1869, but has been around in Italy since the 1400s. Kappa Sigma is also the world’s largest collegiate social fraternity.

The fraternity’s main focus is to promote leadership, community and involvement.

“The four pillars the fraternity is built upon are fellowship, leadership, scholarship and service,” said Brooks Ayre, a junior management and accounting major from Houston. Ayre is the grand procurator, meaning the vice president.

The members of Kappa Sigma want to help students become leaders.

“We are just another avenue, another option for students to pursue leadership, for students who want to get involved,” said Ian Kelly, a senior communication studies major from Chicago. 

Kelly, the campus involvement chair, is the main bridge between the fraternity and campus. He focuses on finding events and clubs that members are interested in, helping students get more involved on campus.

The fraternity is primarily service-based. They plan to help out at the St. George Marathon and assist with setup for Afuego Fridays and Young and Dumb parties. The brotherhood also helps with community service projects at a local Catholic church that one of their members attends.

The chapter’s events are invite-only. Members and their invited guests are welcome to their events. If someone would like to attend an event, they have to reach out to get an invitation.

“Kappa Sigma is this big, huge organization and they spread their ideology or their traditions through each school,” Ayre said.

Kappa Sigma is the only male Greek organization in St. George. The brotherhood recently charted a club called Greek Leader Committee, where they teach Greek-like values.

“We are one of the few, if not the only organizations on campus, that I can confidently say we’re about merit,” Kelly said.

The current members learned about the original frat that was created in 2019, before it was dissolved by the organization, from fellow classmates who invited them to come to a meeting. Thomas F. Cudd III, a senior finance major from Calgary, Canada, saw a future in the fraternity and wanted to recharter it to truly follow the values that Kappa Sigma is known for.

“I was like, ‘I don’t know, it sounds kind of weird,’” Cudd said.

They realized if the people they trust are in it, then they could give it a chance. After learning more about the morals and ethics, the current members realized it aligns with what they believe in. They also saw how the networking opportunities were beneficial for the future. 

“We are men of excellence and that is what Greek life offers,” Ayre said. 

The fraternity has not become an approved organization at Utah Tech because the university doesn’t have Greek life on campus. The school focuses on having clubs and leadership organizations for students to participate in.

Any male student enrolled at Utah Tech and taking 12 credits or more is welcome to join. The fraternity is accepting new members and will allow more members after their two-week training period. Members are required to maintain a GPA of 2.5 and follow its 65-page code of conduct, Cudd said. 

The process to join starts with contacting a member and attending a meeting. After a one-on-one conversation, prospective members can read and sign the bid form. 

Fraternities are widely known for big parties and drinking culture. Kappa Sigma would like to disassociate from these stereotypes.

“It might take my entire lifetime to change that stereotype, but I’ve basically made a vow to myself that’s what I’m going to be working on my whole life,” Cudd said.

CLARIFICATIONS AS OF SEPT. 26:

• Utah Tech doesn’t sanction fraternities or sororities on campus, as the Utah Tech Student Association Club Council Bylaws explain that national fraternity and sorority charters aren’t permitted. Student clubs can’t use Greek letters, national fraternity names or imply university-recognized fraternity status.
• Members part of unaffiliated groups are welcome to attend campus events as individuals. However, they can’t hold meetings, recruit members, give tours, or use campus facilities in ways that imply university affiliation.

Let your creativity show at the Atwood Innovation Plaza Makerspace, where students have access to a variety of machines to prototype their concepts, personalize clothing and explore 3D printing.

The makerspace was opened to help people create and make their ideas a reality.

“The whole plaza was built as a place just to innovate,” Bailey Larkin, manager at the makerspace, said. “It was just a place where people could bring their ideas and come and bring them to life.”

Students from different departments of the university receive help from the makerspace to start their businesses, make a successful project or promote their social media, Larkin said.

The makerspace operates Monday through Friday, noon to 6 p.m. and offers different types of machines that students can use during open hours.

• Laser cutters: Available in one large size and two medium sizes to make usage of the machines more convenient.
• Different types of printers: These include 3D printers, large printers for making posters, Bambu Lab printers, direct-to-film printer and fabric printers.
• A wood shop machine: This equipment can be used to create shapes or sculptures from wood.
• Sewing station with embroidery: With the help of the machine, visitors can sew or patch up clothes.

Some resources, such as training at the makerspace, are free, while usage of machines needs to be paid. 

Use of the machines costs between $2 to $5 for 30 minutes. A 12-hour block of 3D printing time is $5. The cost of lasers depends on the size and can be up to $5. Larkin said the makerspace is funded through the university, and the price cost only covers the maintenance of the machines.

Students have the opportunity to buy the materials for their ideas or to bring their own materials to the makerspace and work with them. For example, students can bring their own fabric they want to use for the sewing station, or paper that will be used for printing.

The makerspace employees recommend that visitors book the machines in advance to avoid the wait time.

“It is helpful to book in advance, especially on some of our popular machines, like our Roland printers, which do the stickers and posters, or our laser cutters,” Larkin said. “So, if you do not book in advance, a lot of times, there is not a time slot open for you when you come in.”

For students who want to come to the makerspace for the first time, the faculty offers tours during which students will have the opportunity to get acquainted with all the machines.

“I think this is a great place to either just be creative,” Larkin said. “If you are a crafty person and you want to come in and do some crafts, whether or not you are wanting to sell those products or whether you are just wanting to do them for yourself.”

Sadie Sorenson, a senior integrated studies major from Richfield, who has experience with the makerspace, said it is a great place to visit.

“Mostly, I have made lots of birthday presents, lots of party decor stuff for other small businesses,” she said. “It has so many resources for any project.”

Jamie Cox, a parent of teens who come to the makerspace to craft by themselves, said they have visited a few times and are designing their own shirts.

“I like it [the place] because my teenagers who have gone through training can come and 3D print,” Cox said. “The possibilities are endless and there is always people here to help them, so I do not have to figure it out at all.”

Larkin said in the near future, the makerspace faculty plan to bring more machines that students can use without waiting. Visitors can suggest new machines they would like to see, and the faculty will add them to the list of things to buy.

Beyond the equipment and possibilities to create, there is another feature that makes the makerspace special.

“I think the people do [make the makerspace special],” Larkin said. “[It’s] the amount of people [who] come in with amazing ideas that they are wanting to use.”

The semester has just started, and classes are starting to get more arduous; you feel like you have to study large amounts of information in a short time and you can’t get everything inside your head.

If you are stuck in this situation and want to overcome it, you must first learn that adapting to a different study method is the better option than wasting precious study hours doing something that doesn’t work effectively.

The following are three methods that help students to study and perform better, accompanied with advice from Utah Tech University faculty.

The SQ3R Method

SQ3R stands for Survey, Question, Read, Recite and Review. For his method, you have to survey the information in the book while taking notes on the important parts. Then, question the content that you just read.

If you know how to form good questions, you should get your answers by simply reading the chapter. Once you get the answers, recite what you finished reading in your own words and see if you can answer your questions with that new rephrasing.

Finally, review the chapter so that you fully understand it and quiz yourself on parts that you struggle with.

The Feynman Technique

The main idea behind the Feynman Technique is to understand the content you are studying by trying to explain it simply. That way, you are required to learn the material, to be able to present everything in a simple way. Once you have done so, review everything, search for those parts that you struggle to understand and simplify any complicated terms. If you have done this right, then someone without the same academic background as you should be able to comprehend the material you are presenting.

Color-coded notes

Color-coding notes is commonly used to study by highlighting the content that is considered important with various colors. It may sound simple, but this method is more useful than people believe.

The reason why people color-code their notes is that people find it easier to recall information by associating a color with a certain piece of information.

Bright colors like yellow or red have been scientifically proven to be positive for learning and remembering information, since we always associate those colors with messages that are important, like a stop sign.

What does faculty recommend?

Writing Center co-coordinators, Madison Foster, a senior dental hygiene major from Prescott, Arizona, and Chasta Martin, a senior English major from St. George, gave their advice on studying.

To prepare for large exams or projects, Martin said time management is an important factor.

She said that saving time for mental breaks is essential. However, you should avoid activities that make you procrastinate your large projects.

For example, if you write a paper, she suggests planning out how many pages you’ll write in so many days. This will ease students’ burdens of writing a 10-page paper in one day.

Best study methods for different types of degrees

There are cases where some methods work more efficiently than others. Foster listed them as follows:

• Math-based programs are best supported through repeated practice with problem sets and sample exams.
• Degrees that require hands-on work, such as healthcare, engineering and the fine arts, are strengthened by reviewing demonstrations or instructional videos before attempting the tasks independently.
• Writing-intensive fields, including English and other humanities degrees, benefit from outlining, drafting and revising work before submission.

How to succeed with a new study method

You now have the keys to improve your studying and make it more efficient. However, the commitment to these methods sometimes fail. Martin gave her opinion on why this happens and how to stay consistent.

“Procrastination reduces the effectiveness of even the best study strategies because students do not give themselves adequate time to learn,” Martin said.

Martin said students can avoid this by breaking assignments or exam preparation into smaller tasks and beginning as soon as the work is assigned. Distractions, such as cell phones or multitasking, also prevent students from studying effectively.

“Establishing a designated study environment, blocking off specific study times, and removing distractions from easy reach can significantly improve focus and make study methods more successful,” she said.

What do students recommend?

James Saley, a sophomore mechatronics major from Salt Lake City, said that making friends in all of your classes not only makes the classes more enjoyable, but also gives you someone to turn to with your questions.

“As a student in an engineering field, it can be difficult to fully grasp so many different concepts from so many different classes. For me, it makes it easier to understand the material if you have others to discuss it with,” Saley said.

Additional resources

For additional help, check out the following locations on campus:

• Academic Performance Center
• Math Tutoring Center
• Writing Center

With a focus on elevating student success, Tamron Lee, the new dean of students, shares his goals to enhance students’ experience on campus.

Lee is originally from Washington and has worked in higher education for over 15 years. He graduated from Dixie State University with a bachelor’s degree and earned both a master’s degree and a doctorate in business administration.

In addition to the new position, Lee teaches marketing courses for the College of Business, which allows him to use his professional experience to help students directly.

Before becoming dean of students, Lee had already done work to help the student body, including a SWOT analysis. SWOT analysis helps the university to understand its advantages and areas for improvement. It stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats.

Lee said, “From that work, I gained a lot of insight into what things could be improved [and] expanded.”

Lee became the dean of students because he wants to help students be successful in their academic life and to be a source of support for them.

“I love helping students succeed, and the dean of students allows me to do that,” Lee said. “Oftentimes, the dean of students has to deal with topics and situations that are difficult, but it is also very rewarding helping students to overcome difficult challenges.”

The four main goals Lee has are hearing students, participating in student engagement, ensuring the safety of students, and focusing on student conduct and community standards.

Hearing students

Focusing on interactions with students, Lee plans to find ways to connect with different groups of students to meet their needs. First, he wants to conduct meetings with students who need help. Lee also plans to communicate with students in their club spaces and participate in listening lunches, which will cover different topics. The board of trustees will be present at some of the lunches as well. 

Participating in student engagement

Attending students’ activities is one more important goal for Lee. He wants to provide students with special games during events. One of them is “chuck and chicken,” where a person places a toy chicken on a launch pad and tries to launch it as far as possible into an empty basket on the ground.

“I will get it out during events like Club Rush or randomly throughout the semester, to try to connect students who are walking to and from class,” Lee said.

Ensuring the safety of students

The third point that Lee wants to focus on is safety on campus and study areas for students. He plans to provide students with safety and support.

“I am really interested in focusing on student safety and well-being,” Lee said.

Student conduct and community standards

Lee’s final goal is student conduct and community standards. Lee said it is important for him to ensure that each student’s code of conduct is upheld to promote fairness and respect for all students on campus.

Addison Williams, a junior marketing major from Las Vegas, shared her thoughts on the dean of students.

“I think students will be able to get more of the resources they could use and use it to their advantage,” Williams said. “I am curious and open to see what [he will] have to offer to the campus, because I feel like it could be really useful and helpful.”

Some students have already had an opportunity to meet with Lee. One of those students is Avary Hirschi, a freshman psychology major from St. George.

Hirschi said she met the new dean of students during her orientation at Utah Tech, and she feels excited about future campus improvements.

Lee acknowledged that the university can always do more to maintain students’ experience.

“There is always work to be done to improve the student experience, whether that is through ‘active learning. active life.’ program, or by finding ways to improve various student services,” Lee said.

The Residence Hall Association, created five years ago and revived last spring, is redefining dorm life by helping students build community and connection on campus.

“We’re trying to build a culture where students can feel like they can go out on a Tuesday or Friday night and there is going to be something out there for them to find a sense of self,” said Kaitlyn Hougham, a senior elementary education major from Las Vegas, and building coordinator for Campus View I, Chancellor Apartments and University Inn. “College is about finding yourself, and we are trying to open opportunities about doing that.” 

RHA is student-led with the help of adviser Penny Mills. The association consists of a president and three building coordinators.

This campus association organizes events on campus like Harvest Hangout, Mardi Gras and movie night. RHA also plans to work with other clubs and student services, like the Academic Performance and Tutoring Center, to create larger activities. 

The organization hosts one main social activity each month, and then building coordinators will plan a smaller event for each of their specific buildings. The association will typically host four events per month. Each event is designed to hold value, like educational lessons or create community bonding.

“Helping students build memories and experiences on campus is one of the group’s main goals,” said Chris Uyleman, a sophomore general studies major from Orem, and the building coordinator for Campus View III.

The association encourages students to learn how to utilize their buildings, such as study rooms, lounges, kitchens and a gym. Briana Flory, a sophomore biology major from Henderson, Nevada, and the president of RHA, said most students don’t take full advantage of these spaces. So, RHA wants to change that, as well as become a resource students can come to for events.

“People are not only building their skills here, but they’re also feeling like they have a safe spot on campus,” Flory said.

Ashlee Phillips, a sophomore pre-engineering major from Henderson, Nevada, and a student living on campus, said most of their knowledge of RHA comes from attending the events.

“I don’t know much about RHA, but I did attend the Mardi Gras event last year and had a great time talking with people and hanging out with my friends,” Phillips said.

Students can volunteer at the events if they are looking for opportunities to get involved on campus. Those interested can stop by Mills’ office or scan the QR code found in the housing newsletter, as the association currently has two open positions.

Career Services at Utah Tech University held its first student job fair Aug. 26 for the 2025-26 school year. The event was held in the Gardner Ballroom, where employers set up booths with a variety of activities and informational panels to get students interested in applying.

During the event, 26 employers visited the campus to present themselves to students. Many of these opportunities offered flexible hours, pay above minimum wage and benefits.

If you, too, are looking for a job with flexible hours, decent pay and benefits, then look no further. Here’s five of the employers that visited the Utah Tech job fair.

Mesquite Entertainment

Mesquite Entertainment is a company focused on making visits to the Mesquite, Nevada area enjoyable and exciting. They have a variety of open positions, ranging from dining assistant, to hotel assistant manager, to security guard. These positions vary in pay, with some offering $12 per hour and others offering $17 or higher. Benefits include dental, health, vision, 401(k), life insurance, paid time off, free meals at work and on-the-job training.

Israel Hernandez, a human resources director from Mesquite Entertainment, said they’re looking for “individuals with a customer-service mindset.”

If you’re interested in working with Mesquite Entertainment, you can apply here.

Black Desert Resort

Black Desert Resort offers luxury stays and experiences, including spas and golfing, to visitors of the St. George area. They are looking for students interested in hospitality, golf and the food industry. Depending on the position, their pay can start as low as $9 or as high as $24 per hour. For benefits, Black Desert Resort offers comprehensive health insurance, 401(k), paid time off and discounts for on-site facilities and experiences.

For more information, or if you’re looking to try your hand at the hospitality/food/golfing industries, you can visit them here.

EverLights

EverLights, known for their permanent Christmas light installations and partnership with Tuacahn Amphitheatre, is looking for mission-driven students to join their team. The positions open now are customer support, customer success and content creator. EverLights offers healthcare, dental, vision and 401(k)s to their employees.

For students interested in learning more about these customer-facing and content creation jobs, you can apply here.

City of St. George

The City of St. George has many positions open right now, part-time and full-time. These positions focus on a variety of skillsets, including administration, custodial, recreational, transit and more. The range of pay depends on the type of employment, with the lowest pay at $12.22 an hour, and the highest positions earning salaries of $98,882-$123,602 per year.

Benefits for these positions include healthcare, retirement, paid time off, holidays (which, if unused can be used as paid time off), sick leave, life insurance and others. The full list of benefits can be found here.

To apply for these opportunities, you can find them here.

Utah Tech Event Services

Last but not least on this list, Utah Tech Event Services is hiring students to join their mission of making every campus event a memorable one. If you’re looking for a job on campus with fellow Trailblazers, this could be the right fit for you. The position is part-time and flexible, and the starting rate is $12 an hour.

If you want to join Utah Tech Event Services, you can fill out an application here.

If you weren’t able to attend the student job fair this time, or are worried about missing the next one, fret not. Cheryl Brandt, the student employment specialist with Career Services, said they have several events planned for the remainder of the semester.

The Foam Dance at Utah Tech University launched the new semester by engaging students. The event took place Aug. 22 at 9 p.m. near the Campus View II parking lot and lasted until midnight.

Brett Coleman, student engagement coordinator for Utah Tech Student Association, said about 3,000 students attended the Foam Dance.

The first dance of the semester is an opportunity for students to meet new people and have a fun time before the hardworking year.

“It [the event] is important because it is an awesome experience for them [students] to have a ton of fun, to make new friends, and rebuild connections with their friends,” Coleman said.

The party helps students feel welcome among the Trailblazer family and encourages them to be close to each other.

“I could see how this dance could be important, because it brings students together,” said Emma Hardy, a junior medical technology major from Layton. “When you think about Trailblazers, you think that we are just a huge family, and we all support each other. This dance shows the spirit of Trailblazers.”

The Foam Dance plays a key role not only for freshmen, but also for upperclassmen, allowing them an opportunity to rebuild their social connections on campus.

“A lot of upperclassmen look forward to this [event] every year, so it is something for them to return to,” Coleman said. “It is a tradition for them.”

For some students, this event serves as a source of relief before the busy semester. One of those students is Erin McKinnon, a junior marketing major from Redding, California, who helped organize the event.

“It is a chance to relax and have fun before the school year really starts,” McKinnon said. “That is why it is the first week, so you do not get bogged down already.”

The music took an important role in creating a high-energy atmosphere at the event, keeping students excited and interested. 

McKinnon said, “All sorts of music, lots of pop, lots of hip hop, lots of, I would say, nostalgic music for our generation. Music everyone knows, that gets you dancing.”

This year, the organizers of the event changed the foam color to white due to issues with the color of foam during previous years. The pink and blue foams dyed students’ skin and clothes. 

“This year, we have learned from the past years that foam actually dyed students’ skin color,” Hardy said. “So here, there is going to be no dye in the foam, just white soap.”

The final event put on by the LGBTQ+ Student Organization was the Queer Prom, a fun opportunity to relax and party with friends before finals week.

HB 261’s ruling within the past year has affected the club’s resources, but the club members shared their gratitude that the LGBTSO is still standing and a safe space for students.

Some members of the club arrived an hour early to help set up the event. They brought snacks, threw streamers to hang from the ceiling and blew up balloons. The party was small, but it was perfect for a group of friends to get together before finals. Around 20 people came to dance and enjoyed each other’s company.

Mason Britton, a junior social science education major from Lake Havasu, Arizona, is a member of the LGBTQSO club. Britton said the restricted resources have affected other clubs, but they are glad that the LGBTQSO is still around because it is a space where people can be themselves.

Britton said: ”I saw first-hand how it affected people, then the Center of Inclusion and Belonging was dissolved last summer, it honestly devastated a bunch of people… A lot of incoming club presidents weren’t able to support their clubs because they didn’t know what they were doing, and they didn’t have the resources available. I’m really grateful that this club didn’t go under.”

The president of the LGBTQSO, Peyton Cottrell, a senior history major from Houston, said HB 261 has affected the club by putting more pressure on them to do more themselves since the LGBTQ+ Resource Center has been dissolved. Before, the resource center helped the club put on events like the Lavender Graduation, but this year, it all falls to the LGBTQSO club.

Cottrell said: “The biggest change is delegation because in previous years we had the LGBTQ+ Resource Center… they put on a lot of events for us… but since that has been taken away, we have been asked to take on all the extra load… It’s a lot more pressure on us, I would say.”

Mars Tankard, a psychology major from Yuba, California, and member of the LGBTQSO club, said HB 261 can’t really affect clubs, and that is important because having spaces where people can be themselves is vital.

Tankard said: “[For] me personally, [HB 261] is a bit much, but it’s important that we have spaces like this, like the LGBTQSO. [HB 261] can’t really target clubs as much, and I’m grateful for that… I think even a smaller space is still important for the marginalized groups affected.”

Britton said: “I like seeing everyone come together at the end of the year. It’s a stressful season with finals, so it’s good to have a little breather.”

Infamously, finals are the worst time of the semester for all college students; whether it’s staying up until the middle of the night finishing an essay after weeks of procrastination, struggling to balance school and life or crying over extreme stress, finals take an extreme toll on students making mental health more important than ever.

During the last few weeks of school, students start to experience burnout, which is a physical and mental exhaustion that takes place when a person experiences stress for a long period of time.

Isabella Flores, a senior psychology major from Upland, California, said burnout happens specifically during finals because they are the “final hurdle after a long, tedious, steady, four months of the semester that can make or break your grades.”

Avoiding burnout can start with time management skills, but holistically, it can also be avoided by doing things outside of school.

These include mindfulness, peer support, hobbies that are not related to your major, healthy lifestyle choices and going outside.

Mindfulness

Practicing mindfulness starts with taking a break, whether it is just closing your computer or taking a nap; practicing mindfulness can make a huge difference.

This could include journaling, yoga, meditation, taking a power nap or even going to a spa.

“Finals have been stressful, I have a lot to get done and not a lot of time to do them between two jobs,” Milo Carter, a senior art education major from St. George, said. “Honestly, I don’t do anything to stay stress-free, but I’m booking myself a massage after finals.”

Academic burnout can present itself in many ways, including feeling exhausted, lack of motivation, irritability, increased pain or tension in the body, higher frequency of illness due to stress, inability to concentrate, feeling bored or uninterested in things once loved, anxiety and depression.

Flores said taking care of your physical health is the most important way to fight burnout during finals. This includes brushing your teeth, showering and sleeping.

“These basics are what are going to ensure you’re feeling physically good, to then in turn work as a buffer against burnout,” Flores said.

Peer support

Peer support, including campus resources, is helpful in fighting academic burnout and low mental health.

Aylin Bayles, a freshman communication studies major from Delta, Colorado, said: “Student resources are so crucial for students who are feeling stressed or burned out. I know that I was feeling mentally stressed and overwhelmed, so I visited the Booth Wellness Center; after my appointment, I instantly felt like I had my life back on track and was able to tackle school again.”

Student resources at Utah Tech can help students stay successful during finals, including the Booth Wellness Center, the peer coaches for freshmen, the Writing Center, the Academic Performance Center and other tutoring services.

“I have felt burnt out on writing papers, but to avoid my brain blocks, I looked for other on-campus resources, such as the Writing Center,” Bayles said. “The Writing Center has been a huge part of my academic success.”

Appointments with tutors and peer coaches can be made through Navigate; tutoring services can help students get their grades up and help during those high-stress situations, like writer’s block.

Carter said: “The Booth Wellness Center is a wonderful resource as well. My therapist there has been instrumental in keeping me sane during finals. There are so many resources on campus to help and support you, you just have to take the initiative to reach out and use them. It’s all worth it.”

Hobbies

Having fun things to do that are not related to school acts as a break for students who are experiencing burnout.

“I make sure to take some time to do the things I’m passionate about. Finding time to draw my own personal projects, listen to music, or even spending an hour with a loved one helps restore me,” Carter said.

This can also include spending time with friends, taking a break from school to get outside and doing things you would usually not have time for.

Flores said: “Another way [to fight burnout] is to have something to look forward to, also known as the ‘sweet treats.’ Always have something in the short, medium and long term to look forward to. Such as a planned trip, outing with loved ones, a yummy meal, or a special item you’ve been wanting to buy. These goals will help keep you forward-thinking and motivated to make it through the daily grind of life.”

Healthy lifestyle choices

Getting outside, taking a walk, doing yoga and prioritizing healthy eating habits are more important than ever during finals.

“Get out of your living space and go outside to get some sunlight and fresh air to have a peak lizard moment just to give yourself a nice break,” Flores said. “Going for short walks to get any type of physical movement, even if it’s just to your mailbox or 10 minutes around the block or up and down your stairs in your house, can provide a buffer from poor mental health.”

If things get too difficult, Flores said to please reach out for help if needed; there are services available that are earnest in their commitment to helping those struggling through periods of mental health crisis.

“No one is immune to struggling with mental health, and reaching out for help is nothing to be ashamed of,” Flores said. “The alternative to not reaching out is permanent and not something you can take back. Your life matters more than anything else.”

If you or a loved one needs help, please call these hotlines:

• 911

• 988 Suicide and Crisis Line

• Hurricane Stabilization Center: (435) 986-8701

• Southwest Behavioral Health Center: (435) 634-5600

• Behavioral Health Access Center at St. George Regional Hospital: (435) 251-4480