Just across the street from the Cartersville campus, the Bellpoint Gem Show was hosted in the Clarence Brown Conference Center from November 13-15. This show offered a variety of gems, jewelry, fossils and minerals to buy from a variety of vendors.

Some people believe crystals have magical energies that have the ability to boost certain traits or even heal the body. For example, the purple stone Amethyst is known to help with beating addiction and improving intuition while Rose Quartz can soothe headaches and promote love.

Every crystal has a different purpose and meaning that can be applied to everyday life.

These beliefs go back to ancient times. People of the past would assign meanings to the crystals based on how they looked. Amethyst is purple like wine and Rose Quartz is pink which is a color of love. Both of these crystals are also connected to a Greek deity, Dionysus and Aphrodite, respectively, which help push the themes people associate with them in the modern times.

People swear that crystal healing works and can do wonders, but scientists aren’t buying it. Christopher French, a psychologist at Goldsmiths, University of London, did a study giving people either real or fake crystals.

French found that people reported they felt tingly and their mood improved no matter if the crystal they were given was real or fake.

What could be going on is merely the placebo effect where the mind gets tricked into believing something should happen, so it makes it happen anyway. This is tested during drug trials to see if medication actually works or if it’s just people’s minds tricking them.

No matter if crystal healing is real or not, it has no real harm on people as long as they don’t replace modern medicine for the rocks. If it helps people in one way or another, then it helps.

During this pandemic, it seems to be helping, as crystal sales are through the roof. So if it helps some people get through this crazy time, as the band Pink Floyd once said, shine on you crazy diamond.

On Halloween night, Google Trends reported what everyone was expecting — Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas is You” began rising in popularity as it does every Christmas season. Many of us are eager to trim our trees before Thanksgiving, but others argue that it’s too early to start the festivities. I say we put this debate to rest and let people deck the halls whenever they want.

After a long year of cancelled events and being distanced from loved ones, I think we all need a little Christmas. In the midst of a pandemic, celebrating early can be a useful coping mechanism to get us through the cold months ahead.

Earlier this year, people celebrated “Christmas in July” in the hopes that decorating their homes like it was December would bring cheer to an otherwise cheerless isolation.

According to Steve McKeown, a psychoanalyst, “In a world full of stress and anxiety people like to associate to things that make them happy and Christmas decorations evoke those strong feelings of childhood.”

“Decorations are simply an anchor or pathway to those old childhood magical emotions of excitement. So putting up those Christmas decorations early extends the excitement,” McKeown said.

If celebrating Christmas early doesn’t harm anyone and is a comfort to many of us, why is it so frowned upon?

Some people think rushing into Christmas takes away from time for Thanksgiving, saying it’s an important family gathering holiday. However, Christmas decorations don’t take away from those special bonding moments. Thanksgiving can still be celebrated whether or not there’s a tree in the living room.

Christmas is a joyful time of year and in times like these, a little extra joy can go a long way.

So the next time a neighbor puts up twinkle lights in November, don’t be the Scrooge that kills the joy. Celebrating Christmas early isn’t a crime — it’s a valid way to cope with life and we should respect it.

All faculty and students are invited to attend a virtual event on Monday Nov. 16, 2020 at 2 p.m. to learn about stigma, stereotypes and implicit bias. The event is free to join and will be held over Zoom.

Dr. Jay Pickern, Assistant Professor of Healthcare Management, will speak on how biases affect minorities and how we can combat them.

Zoom ID: 945 4302 3761
Password: GHC

It’s that time of year again when everyone has to shift their clocks back and mess up their perfectly good sleep schedules. This past weekend marked the end of daylight saving time and I think it’s time we get rid of it.

Daylight saving started back during World War I in an attempt to save energy that could be used to go towards the war effort. The idea was that if everyone shifted their clocks, they would get more hours of daylight and less electricity would have to be used by the common person.

Whether this idea was successful in the past is debatable, but nowadays it’s irrelevant. We constantly use energy on lights and electronics no matter where the sun is in the sky and America is not in a major war like in the 1910’s.

One argument for keeping daylight saving time is that we get more sun throughout the day, which is technically true. Adjusting the clocks to follow the sun does allow society to have more daylight during those months. But if that’s the case, why don’t we just have daylight saving time all year?

Daylight saving time already lasts over half the year, with only a few winter months in “standard time.” It’s strange enough that what’s considered standard only lasts a third of the year, so why do we have to “fall back” at all?

When winter comes, there will be less sun no matter how the clocks are set. The axis of the Earth will not change no matter how many long summer days we want. There’s nothing anyone can do about that.

So is there any point in changing the clocks? No, there isn’t.

Not only is daylight saving annoying, but it causes actual health problems. According to the American Journal of Cardiology, daylight saving time is linked to an increase in heart attacks. What might not seem like a big deal is a literal danger to people!

So, the United States should either discontinue daylight saving or stay on daylight saving time all year long. We shouldn’t flip-flop like we do now.

Some states are already trying to make this change. Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas are attempting to pass bills to join Arizona to opt out of daylight saving time. These bills are difficult to pass though, as they can mess up time zones gravely.

Despite the challenges in changing daylight saving time, I think many of us would prefer sticking to the same time throughout the year.

And me? I just want to stop changing my clock.

The spookiest holiday of the year is right around the corner — Halloween! Whether you love or hate the holiday, it’s time for pumpkins, spooky scary skeletons and candy.

Due to COVID-19, Halloween may look very different this year. There won’t be any parties and less kids will be taking to the streets in costumes. So, what can we do to celebrate? Well, there’s plenty of movies to binge while you shove those Reese’s and Kit-Kats down your throat.

So here’s my top 10 must watch Halloween movies!

10. Scream

This movie puts a twist on horror by poking fun at its own genre. “Scream” is about a killer who terrorizes a girl and her friends while using horror films as a part of a game. This movie is both meta and terrifying!

9. The Craft

This movie brings a whole new meaning to “friendship is magic.” “The Craft” is about a girl who moves to Los Angeles where she is invited to a coven by three girls from her catholic school. They find that witchcraft comes with a price.

8. The Blair Witch Project

This movie makes other group projects look like a walk in the park. “The Blair Witch Project” is about three film students who go missing while filming a documentary on an urban legend. Recovered footage pulls the viewer into a haunting experience.

7. A Nightmare on Elm Street

You won’t want to sleep after this one! “A Nightmare on Elm Street” is about a spirit that haunts teenagers’ dreams to kill them in their sleep. This movie would be a lot shorter if the main cast were college students!

6. Friday the 13th

Worst summer camp ever! “Friday the 13th” follows a group of camp counselors that get stalked and murdered for camping at a lake with a history of murder.

5. Beetlejuice

Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! This film is about a ghostly couple who enlists help from a spirit to drive out the family that’s moving into their house.

4. Ghostbusters

Who you gonna call? “Ghostbusters” is about three scientists who get fired from their jobs and
decide to make their own business hunting ghosts and stopping interdimensional beings’ evil plans.

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas

What’s this? This movie is a classic for both Halloween and Christmas! “Nightmare Before Christmas” follows a curious skeleton who strays from the town of Halloween to discover Christmas. Full of festive joy, he takes over the holiday — with unforeseen consequences.

2. Halloween

This movie defined what we now know as Slasher films. “Halloween” is about a man who escapes from a mental hospital and goes back to his hometown with a lust for blood.

1. Hocus Pocus

This is one of my favorite movies of all time! It may be cheesy, but “Hocus Pocus” really puts a spell on you! The film is about a brother who accidentally summons three witches who try to steal his little sister’s soul to stay young.

“Hocus Pocus” is a hilarious movie for the whole family, and it’s playing at GHC this week at the drive-in events. For more information, check out this article all about it!

The 10th annual public speaking competition at Georgia Highlands College is now accepting entries from now to November 6. It’s open to all students who are currently enrolled or have previously completed either a Human Communications or Public Speaking course.

The objective of the competition is to write and deliver a five to six minute persuasive speech about any topic of the competitor’s choosing. Students are encouraged to choose a political topic but are not required to to enter the competition.

Director of the speech competition and associate professor of communication, Steve Stuglin, believes this competition is a great way to practice public speaking skills, “Many of our students learn basic public address theory and practice in our Human Communication course or Public Speaking course. Still, the performative art of speaking in public is one that requires significant practice in front of live audiences to master.”

Submissions that advance to the semifinals and finals will be rewarded with GHC themed prizes, GHC bookstore gift cards and prize money, “We’re offering $600 in prizes and money this year,” Stuglin said.

No matter how far students get, they will all walk away from this virtual experience with more knowledge about how to write and deliver a speech.

This year, due to the coronavirus, the event must be done virtually rather than in person like it has been for the last nine years, but Stuglin believes this is a better way for students to compete despite their busy schedules.

“Typically, the event happens on a Friday afternoon at the Cartersville site. This year, the entire event will be virtual,” Stuglin said.

All entries must be uploaded to YouTube and the link must be submitted here along with additional information on November 6 but early entries will get priority placement.

For more rules and information please visit: publicspeaking.highlands.edu

It was a normal day for sophomore Hayden Brookshire, he was riding his ATV on a gravel road in his grandparents’ neighborhood on June 4, when he slammed on his front brakes causing him to fly into the air.

Brookshire opened his eyes to realize the ATV was rolling toward him, so he decided to kick it with his right leg to avoid being run over by the vehicle.

“After my ATV passed my head I turned to the left and saw my left arm above my head twisted and I was not able to move it. I knew it was definitely broken,” Brookshire said.

After calling his grandmother, he was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance.

“Once I got in the ambulance they stuck me seven times before they got a vein. Usually it only takes once for me. I later found out they were not able to get a vain well because I had severe internal bleeding. When I arrived at Floyd hospital they took scans and saw the internal bleeding,” Brookshire said.

Internal bleeding and a broken arm were not the only injuries Brookshire experienced. He had a broken pelvis, twisted right ankle, ruptured spleen, ruptured kidney, a few broken ribs and a few spine fractures.

“They strongly suggested I be life-flighted via helicopter to Erlinger in Tennessee for the surgery. I had my surgery there two days later on the sixth of June,” Brookshire said.

All of this took place during the pandemic, which made visiting hard for Brookshire’s family. He couldn’t have any visitors during his week long stay at Erlinger and could only see his family for a limited time after returning to Floyd Hospital for two weeks.

“I was not able to stand without getting sick for about four days after surgery. Then I was on a walker for a little over a month. My doctor was very surprised about how fast I recovered,” Brookshire said.

According to MedicineNet, a kidney injury takes at least at least six weeks to heal; and according to Intermountain Healthcare, a spleen rupture can take anywhere from three to 12 weeks to completely recover from.

Despite all his injuries, Brookshire was able to recover and come back to GHC for his third semester.

Cindy Wheeler, his English 1102 professor said, “Hayden told me about his accident on the first day of class when we were catching up. The story he told was terrifying, and I am amazed by his miraculous recovery. Hayden is a diligent student and a genuinely nice person, and I’m glad he’s on the mend,” Wheeler said.

Brookshire was able to get off a walker right before school began this year and has just wrapped up his physical therapy. “I am doing amazing now. I am back to how I was before the wreck,” Brookshire said.

“I am very grateful for the doctors, nurses, physical therapist, family, and friends who helped and supported me along my recovery,” Brookshire said.