In this day and age, the Internet is everything. Many of us have lost hours of productivity and sleep because we were too busy surfing the Net. Even when going to class or watching television, people often feel the constant compulsion to check their social media apps. Simple decisions like where to get your morning coffee are even becoming more complex because many have to consider if the coffee shop has free wifi or not.

With the Internet being so prevalent in our Western society, we should really take a step back to evaluate our usage. Internet addiction is a very real thing and can take over your life without you ever realizing it.

Here are five signs that may help you recognize your obsession with the web:

1. Discovering new social media networks is better than discovering new passions.

When Facebook was first opened to the general public in 2006, it took the world by storm and paved the way for our social media-run generation. Nowadays, some people cannot wait to join the newest social media networks as soon as they come out. As advertisements have begun to take over Facebook, the true Internet lovers have started slowly creeping toward the new ad-free network Ello. The site is currently in Beta so it cannot handle too many new users, but you can join the waiting list for a personal invitation.

2. You need a bright screen in your face to help you fall asleep.

As children, many of us needed night lights in order to fall asleep because the ominous feeling of the pitch black was just too much, but now many people are needing a different kind of comfort to go to sleep. With so many movies and television shows available to stream, falling asleep to your favorite program is easier than ever before.

3. You get more excited about a new Tinder match than you get about being at the same party as your crush.

Whether to swipe left or right is often the biggest decision many college students have to make. Seeing a Tinder match in class can make anyone scrunch down in their seat trying not to be spotted. Tinder is supposed to be about meeting new people, but for many it seems to make social situations more awkward. Dating websites are taking the surprise out of meeting new people by making sure you already know all their interests, favorite foods and what they do for a living, all before you even meet.

4. You order all your meals online.

Websites like Grubhub.com and Chownow.com have made it so that no human interaction has to take place when ordering food. Many restaurants have online ordering available and mobile apps so you can order food anywhere from your phone or tablet. When ordering online, you don’t have to ask any questions or make any inferences about the dish you are selecting because every little add-on and option is laid out right in front of you.

5. Quoting Vines and YouTube videos is easier than quoting anything else.

With the large amount of popular Vines and YouTube videos out there, many people have started quoting them in everyday life. After listening to the same six second Vine clip over and over, it is easy to have whatever they were saying burnt into your memory. Once a video goes viral, it is then plastered all over every social media network by those wanting to share their addiction with the world.

Although the Internet is everywhere, it does not mean that we have to let it take over our lives. Closing the computer screen or turning off your cellphone should not be hard tasks.

Follow Tanner Owens on Twitter @T_Owens21

Growing up thinking about college, I imagined having the time of my life while learning about what I love. I always figured college was going to be difficult, but I didn’t really hear about how strenuous the workload would be. People always just told me to make the best of my four years because I’ll never get them back. So far, most of my time at college has been spent either in front of a tiny computer screen or at a desk with multiple cups of coffee.

There is always something we, as college students, should be doing to benefit our education. Even after every assignment is finished and all the reading has been completed, there is still pressure to apply for internships and join student clubs.

This is especially true for students here at the University of Oregon and other quarter system schools. It seems as though immediately after we get our first few assignments of the term over with, it is already time for midterms. Midterms then seem to last, on and off, for three good weeks only to lead us into another phase of studying for finals. Getting a degree should not mean that we have to put everything else non-school related aside.

Heavy workloads that are placed on college students can cause many to forget about passions that do not directly correlate with their major. Even when attending fun events on the weekends, I still find it hard to shake the thought of the assignments I have due the next week. When you are a full time college student, there is no turning it off.

Although we work our asses off trying to graduate, we often do not get the recognition we deserve.  Many of our parents and grandparents think we are here at school just to party it up, even after we try to show them how hard we are working term after term.

When our parents were going to college, it was seen as something extra that people wanted in their lives. It was a place for those who wanted to give themselves that edge in the workforce, nowadays society has made it seem like we have to go to college. Although for how much it seems like we are supposed to go to college, our country has not made it a priority to really prepare young adults for what is to come.

Looking back a few years to when we were seniors in high school, were we really ready for college? Most of us were going to go regardless of if we wanted to or not. We have had this idea in our heads that we had to go to college from a young age, all the teachers knew and all the parents knew, so it is strange that many students are not prepared for the college workload upon graduating high school.

College students today are looking to graduate in four years while having the best times of their lives, but many young adults do not get so lucky. In trying to fulfill our own ambitions and make our parents proud by getting the best grades possible, we can get stuck. Many students experience anxiety, depression and hopelessness throughout their years at college. For some, the workload can be overwhelming to the point where they feel the need to take a term off and give their brain a rest.

While studying for school, trying to work off student debt and pumping ourselves full of Adderall, students can forget that it is important to schedule some time to de-stress. Whether it’s going on a run, playing some video games or pulling out your old painting supplies, everybody needs a little time to wind down and get their minds off of how much work they have.

With midterms at hand and stress levels at the threshold, I have been asking myself lately what is my motivation? Our entire lives we have been told that we should go to college. It seems like something that is supposed to be done, but not for the right reasons. We should be here figuring out who we are, not worrying about getting a steady job right out of college.

English major Emily Volk knew from an early age that she needed to get a college education. “I felt expectations to go to college from my parents, classmates and just society in general. I think in our generation, parents just expect you to go because they want you to be able to get a job,” Volk said.

When getting so caught up in the future and thinking about our careers, it can be easy for someone to forget why they really came to college. Some of us have known exactly what field we wanted to study and put our life’s work into since we were children. We have come to college to sharpen our skills in that specific field as well as expand our knowledge on worldwide issues.

If you’re one of those people who came to college having no idea what you wanted to do in life, then think of this university setting as a golden opportunity to learn about what ever you desire from people who want to teach you.

Often the only words of enthusiasm I can tell myself are, “remember it will make you more money in the future,” but that does not help. If the only motivation here at the university is to graduate and make more money, then that is all we are going to aim for. Being here we are getting the privilege of a lifetime. We are being taught a wide array of subjects that we get to choose ourselves. We cannot just be focused on getting good grades and getting out of here.

Nicole Whitehurst, a junior math major, has been criticized by some people who believe that the career she wants won’t be used to the full potential for her degree. “Parents, teachers, and employers have asked me why I just want to teach and not do something that will make me more money,” Whitehurst said. “Sometimes I wonder if I am making the right choice, but then I get in a classroom and teach and it reassures me.”

College is about gaining knowledge and learning how to do everything on your own. It is up to you to decide what you get out of college. The location, the living situation, the classes, and the extra curriculars are just a few lifestyle choices you get to make for yourself.

We should be discovering our passions and getting inspired by our professors and peers. It seems like money is always running our lives. Between rent, tuition, and most importantly food, some college students are scared to spend one extra dollar and actually do something for themselves.

Junior human physiology major Sam Holland used to spend too much time focusing on making money in the future, but has realized there are more important things he can be putting his energy into. “Money is a necessity to living a comfortable life in any consumer society, but it also destroys lives every day,” Holland said. “I know I’m capable of earning at least a livable salary in the future, so I do my best to not worry about it until I actually cross that bridge.”

Society is turning the college atmosphere from a place of curiosity and conversation to a place where people go in order to earn more money in the future. Many students have experienced the pressures of having to get a college degree in order to make it in this economy. We followed what we were supposed to and now we are here, but we are just trying to make it through every class and get out.

We should be here for the experience of learning not because we want to grow old making more money than our peers. Not everyone is going to get job offer after job offer with awesome salaries when we leave this place; it will take many of us a good 10 years just to pay off student loans.

It is time to take a step back before we get out of here and really think about what we want to learn that can better us as people, not just what will make us more money.

At the gym it’s possible to run into all kinds of interesting people. There are the sweaters who seem to leave a puddle at every machine they use, the grunters who you can hear all the way across the weight room and the singers who think their music is more important than everyone else’s.

But atop all those bothersome people there is a special category for the ones who feel the need to take pictures of their workout and post them on every social network. They bring all the reasons why you skipped the gym and went right to your handheld device.

Many young people think it is more important to post a picture on social media rather than cool down after a long workout. You had an awesome, hardcore workout and you feel so much better now. That is great and I know how you feel. Anyone who has ever worked out knows how you feel.

Every time I get on social media somebody is always showing off their pre-gym snack, tweeting while at gym or glorifying how awesome their workout was. Going to the gym used to be more of a personal experience where you knew how hard you worked and you didn’t care how terrible you looked while doing it. While those gym rats still do have a presence at the gym, there are many people who go to the gym for just as many social purposes as workout purposes. Guys want to talk with each other about what cool, new protein they are using and girls want to show off their latest Nike leggings.

There is a famous saying that claims it takes 4 weeks for you to notice your body changing and 12 weeks for the rest of the world to notice, but our generation has found a way to squeeze that gap with social media. If someone who posts about their 6.47 mile run with hashtags such as #TeamFit or #LegDay is not trying to show off then I am really not sure what their reasoning could be.

There are many different Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts specifically about going to the gym. Some accounts tweet clever one-liners to try and give people inspiration to get off their butt while others post memes about people who have no idea what they are doing while at the gym.

I see “workout of the day” posts and “progress” pictures on my newsfeed just about every single day. Without actually talking to anyone I know which protein powders make the best and worst drinks and I even know what mirrors in the Student Rec Center are the best for post-workout selfies.

I guess working out for the sole purpose of bettering yourself is not enough for some people. If the fact of knowing that you will be able to post a picture of your workout for all your friends to see helps you get up and go work out then more power to you.

I am not trying to bash on people going to the gym. Regular exercise is very important and with so many people in our generation exercising the future is bound to look healthy and bright.

Going to the gym is the new cool work out trend of this time period and those of us who are sick of the gym posts will just have to stick it out. There have been many workout fads that have come and gone fairly quickly in recent pop culture. In the ‘90s we saw mom’s working out to Tae Bo videos in the living room and dads pumping iron on the Bowflex in the garage.

During the 2000’s Wii Fit tried to get families to workout together and the surprisingly popular Shake Weight took the world by storm. It is only a matter of time until the next workout craze takes over and all the sexy gym pictures from 2014 get left behind and forgotten.

Follow Tanner Owens on Twitter @T_Owens21

After a few weeks of school, as the excitement of the new year slowly fades, many students begin to realize how much they miss life at home. Getting overloaded with work, trying to budget for groceries or seeing a hometown friend’s doppelganger on campus can make someone feel homesick. Being homesick is bound to happen to almost every college student at some point in his or her four years at school.

Rylee Ziegler, a freshman from Nevada, often misses the sense of comfort that comes with living at home. “I’ve gotten pretty homesick recently, but talking on the phone with family and friends really helps,” Ziegler said. “I love talking to my mom and sister because they’re my best friends and I am used to spending every second with them.”

When missing home, you may catch yourself lying in bed, wallowing and questioning why you even left for college in the first place, but that won’t help your issue. Thinking about all the fun times you could be missing with friends and family can definitely put a damper on your day. You need to go explore new things, meet new people and really experience the college life. Homesickness may be brought on because you are feeling alone, but realize that it is never too late to connect with people on campus.

Being homesick is not such a bad thing. Yes, it sucks being sad and thinking about people back home, but that means you have strong healthy relationships with them. Maybe you miss the comfort of being at home with family, the confidence that comes when being around your best friends or the affection you get from your long-distance love.

Shelby Lopez, an anthropology major from California, has recently gotten homesick when thinking about missing her little brother’s third birthday party. “My little brother is really young and I miss seeing him grow up,” Lopez said. “And I love talking to my other brother because he is at a different university, so it is kind of nice that he’s in the same position.”

If you find yourself really struggling one day, let yourself be sad and miss home. You have a legitimate reason to be gloomy, nevertheless, you cannot let this sadness be a reoccurring thing in your life. However upset you are that day, you must be able to get past it and start the next day fresh. Letting the sadness slowly creep in more and more everyday can make life hell.

For many students, it is not just the people from home that they miss, but also the food. Although Oregon is full of many good burger joints like Five Guys and Little Big Burger, a couple months without In-N-Out can really take a toll on those who have been eating it their entire lives.

Compared to what many of us eat here at school, a home cooked meal from mom seems like a feast fit for a king. Junior business major, Vania Ahmad, loves going home to get some good homemade Indian food, but never gets too homesick with her family being in-state. “Being away doesn’t really take a toll on me,” Ahmad said. “I obviously miss my parents and my family, but talking with friends helps that.”

A twenty minute phone call with a good friend can help you out a lot more then just a one line Snapchat reading, “I miss you.” Once you start talking about your issues and reminiscing in the past, your attitude towards being at school will pick right back up to where it was week one.

As November nears, seats on Thanksgiving flights out of Eugene are being filled left and right. Many students are planning their trips home for a little family recharge before the dreaded weeks of 24/7 final exam preparation. Figure out your plans quickly because you never know what that extra confidence boost from home could do for your grades and your sanity.

There are a lot of different circumstances in life that can lead an adolescent into homelessness. Some are born on the streets, some have been kicked out of their homes and others choose to run away because they may have gone through horrible situations leading them to believe that being on the streets is a safer option.

People often shy away or turn a blind eye when it comes to dealing with homeless people in the community, brushing them off as dangerous and helpless. But there are some amazing people out there that need our help.

If someone is born and raised on the streets, they grow up being surrounded by drugs and violence. Many don’t get the education they need in order to hold a steady job, which is why the cycle of homelessness is a very difficult to break. It is extremely challenging to get out of that sort of situation when that is all they have ever known.

Hosea Youth Services Project volunteer coordinator Karri Heacock has only been in Eugene for about a year, but has really been impacted by the wonderful young adults she has met and helped.

“There are roughly 150 kids a year being introduced to homelessness,” Heacock said. “Kids are smart, they know our doors are going to be open. We have to pick them up as soon as we see them. We got to show them that they are loved because every kid wants to be loved even if they say they don’t.”

Many community members in the city of Eugene have come together to make several different resources available for homeless youth.

“Hosea drop-in center offers showers, laundry, meals, job trainings, resume building and many other services,” Heacock said. “If someone does get into housing, we can help furnish their place. Right now, our big goal is to introduce our own housing. We just got approved for a duplex and we are in the process of that.”

Services are always trying to help out in any way possible. If one facility doesn’t have educational resources and finds an adolescent that wants to get involved in school, then they will help he or she get involved in programs like Looking Glass New Roads School in Eugene.

The school provides homeless and runaway youth, ages 11-21, with an alternative educational program. There are classes where adolescents can earn basic middle and high school credits as well as receive GED tutoring.

Educational programs in Eugene set the track for young adults to have a chance at normal life by helping them get into Lane Community College and University of Oregon. Once these young adults are back on their feet, they can transition into society and actually reconnect with the community.

We are all people and we have all been dealt different hands, some tougher than others, but we must show compassion to each and every person we come in contact with.

Homelessness is such a big issue in our community and we rarely hear any information about it on campus, but many hardworking professors and students with the University of Oregon Community Philosophy Institute are trying to change that.

Philosophy professor Naomi Zack is currently teaching a course titled Home & Homelessness, and is also chairing the organizing committee for the Community Philosophy Institute’s Homelessness Project.

“We have a website that will be ongoing, a Nov. 6 public lecture and a Nov. 7 roundtable about the role of the University in addressing homelessness, to be composed of local officials, stakeholders, advocates and members of the UO administration,” Zack said. “The general discussion of the roundtable will be what would be nice for the university to do and what kind of obligations does it have, if any.”

As a student body, there are several ways we can get involved and help out these struggling young men and women. Different facilities and centers around Eugene, including Hosea Youth Services, are always welcoming volunteers and donations. Anything from underwear to toiletries, to camping equipment, will help out, and as the winter months approach, jackets and pants are much needed.

Follow Tanner Owens on Twitter @T_Owens21

Porn screwed me. As an 18-year-old virgin, I thought I was prepared for what having sex was going to be like. I had watched video after video of people doing it online, so I figured I knew everything about it. Now after actually having awkward, fun and emotional sexual encounters I know that I was mistaken.

Since the first issue of Playboy was published in 1953, pornography has gone from pictures of naked people in magazines to full on sex videos readily available for any 13 year old with a cellphone. As more people get Internet access at younger ages, pornography has become more than just entertainment. It has become education.

As sex education in schools continues to be restricted by society’s fear of offending anybody, much of what actually should be taught is being left out. Consequently, young adults are turning to pornography to try and “gain experience.”

Dr. Patricia Hasbach, a professional counselor and clinical psychotherapist, thinks that the kind of sex education that many kids are exposed to is very narrow and wishes people didn’t have such a hard time talking about sex. “As a society, we are very uncomfortable with embracing our sexuality and it comes through, often times, in ways that are pretty perverted,” Hasbach said. “We identify sex as being something bad or something negative versus something that is a very rich, wonderful part of our lives that we need to understand and cherish.”

For many young adults, pornography is their first exposure to sex and puts an idea of what men and women’s roles are supposed to be. The guy is always ready to go when he wants to be and the girl is always willing to take whatever is coming. It can teach men that they need to always be able to perform and don’t have to ask permission to do what they want. It also can cause girls to not speak up for themselves because they don’t think that their partner would want them to.

Wendy Maltz is a local sex therapist and author of The Porn Trap: The Essential Guide to Overcoming Problems Caused by Pornography. She has witnessed many clients, both male and female, struggle with issues after being exposed to the kinky stimulation of erotica. “A lot of mainstream pornography has high amounts of aggression and violence. It can give skewed information about sexual functioning and even the look and size of sexual genitals,” Maltz said. “Porn is geared toward what looks good on camera as opposed to anything that has to do with tuning into a partner’s feelings or being responsive as a lover.”

In porn videos, there is rarely any consent shown. Partners often slap, choke and whip each other without knowing if the other partner is up for it. Obviously, the actors and producers have an agreement, but how is an adolescent who has never had a sexual encounter in his or her life supposed to understand that. Usually the guy (or guys) just start doing whatever he wants and the girl (or girls) will go along with it. There is never any sign that either of them is uncomfortable or nervous because that would be too realistic. If you never hear the word ‘no’ in porn, why should a college freshman who has never gathered the nerve to ask anyone about sex think differently?

Much of mainstream porn is all about the fantasy side of sex where everything looks huge, clean-cut and perfect. These actors have not only been professionally trained in sex acts, but have also been nipping, tucking and enhancing whatever they could since they first entered the industry. Sex in pornography shows no emotional connection between partners, it seems to be purely about achieving an orgasm. It doesn’t show the giggling and bashfulness that often comes with getting close to your partner.

Marina Rosenthal, a doctoral psychology student, has taught multiple human sexuality courses here at the University of Oregon. “Each term my students and I discuss what factors must be present in order for good sex to be possible and the only thing that everyone can agree upon are that communication and consent are crucial,” Rosenthal said. “You need to be clear and upfront with your partner about what to expect and what that looks like to individual couples is going to vary tremendously.”

When both partners are trying to be perfect, without asking any questions, the sex can end up being far from perfect. Young adults thinking they have to perform perfectly during sex can cause confidence issues personally and in the partnership.

Having a roommate is like having a permanent buddy that is always down for Netflix binges and 2 a.m. Tacobell runs. Having a roommate is also like having a brand new sibling — only you can’t hit, yell at or tell on this one.

Many college students change their homes year after year. Some find the perfect roommates and never want to leave their side, while others can’t seem to get along with anybody. Living with the right roommates can make the four years of college the best time of your life but living with the wrong roommates could make those years hell.

Before coming to college many students have only lived with family and have never had to learn how other people live. Entering the residence halls freshman year is a very eye-opening experience that is different for everyone. While some find their lifelong best friends in the dorms, others often don’t make connections and feel ostracized.

After sharing a bathroom with 40 strangers for a year, most students leave the residence halls to go out and live with friends. This is when you will find out that being friends and being roommates are in completely separate leagues.

With your friends, you think you know every bizarre thing about them. With roommates, you actually do know every bizarre thing about them. Picture it like this: For any quirky mannerisms you see in your friend, imagine their personality on steriods and that is how it will be after you become roommates. There will be times where they annoy you beyond reason, but there will also be times when you couldn’t imagine living with anyone else.

In the early days of living together there must be a balance in the house. However, don’t be overzealous or too friendly right away. You will start out loving each other, but it is easy to get too close too fast, making everyone sick of each other after just a few months. This could cause great friendships to dissipate.

You want to be able to be yourselves and be completely comfortable with each other. Once comfortable, people tend to let their guard down and that is when things can get messy. It only takes one nasty comment for your trust to be lost and to remind your roommate that they have really only known you for less than a year.

Everyone has pet peeves that can completely set them off at any time and when living with a roommate you find out just how many pet peeves you really have. When your rooms are less than 20 feet away from each other every laugh, fart and scream can be heard from anywhere. You may not think that they can hear you and your significant other through the walls at night, but they can.

Your roommates will often keep you up at night, make messes you don’t want to look at and probably steal some of your favorite foods. You must remember that you will also cause all these same problems for them no matter how hard you try not to, which is why it is important for everyone to be flexible and willing to compromise. The way roommates handle conflicts can have a huge impact on their relationship as a whole.

If you are worried about roommates over stepping their boundaries, then make sure you set those boundaries early. When roommates don’t discuss their issues, they don’t realize they are upsetting each other.

Letting something upset you for months and then snapping at your roommate one drunken night is going to make things awkward for everyone. It is not a bad idea to sit down as a house once everyone is moved in and talk about everyone’s expectations for the year.

It is important to try and make it work with roommates because we all need someone to get through college with. And who better than your live-in best friend?

One of the happiest moments after a night of partying is when you realize it is only 2 a.m. and all the drunchie hotspots near campus are still open for business. Then, the only decision to make is where, and this could end up being the most difficult decision of the night. Some will go for a healthier option such as Subway or Caspian, while others want to load up on carbs with a selection from Dairy Queen or Qdoba.

A lot of people love having the option to get a midnight snack at one of the many restaurants open late around campus, but not everyone loves working the late shift. With Dough Co. delivering until 3 a.m., and Sizzle Pie until 2:45 a.m. Monday through Thursday and 3:45 a.m. Friday and Saturday, several employees have to be up and alert much later than they have before.

Many young employees, against their preference, get stuck working the late shift because they are more recently hired and get the last pick of hours. Sami Gray, a junior currently working at Yogurt Extreme, often falls victim to late shifts.

“Working later is tough, but it really is not hard for me to stay awake. It just kind of messes up my sleep schedule,” Gray said.

In addition to working at Yogurt Extreme, Gray has also picked up an internship for the summer at Women’s Care, causing her  to have to plan time to sleep.

While most would dread working the late shifts, there are some people who need the hours and there are those who actually prefer working late. One night owl is sophomore Jessica Mickey, who chooses to work the late shift at Dairy Queen.

“I pick the late shift because then I get the whole day to do whatever I want,” Mickey said. “Sometimes it makes me a little tired for class, but morning coffee helps.”

Working late at a place like Dairy Queen in a college town, has given Mickey her fair share of dealing with and cleaning up after intoxicated individuals.

“Working late you just have to take power naps, be prepared for crazy people and have a positive attitude,” Mickey said. Handling people who are under the influence can be challenging, but handling people who are under the influence and hungry can be dangerous.

Students who work the late shift regularly don’t get off until after 3 a.m., and then have to make their way home through the dark empty streets of Eugene. Luckily for employees, although bad news for late night patrons, many of the establishments around campus close earlier during the summer because of the lack of students in Eugene. Come September, students will pile into Eugene and make sure 13th Avenue is lively from dusk to dawn.

Next time you’re picking up food from Subway or getting Dough Co. delivered after a late night study session, maybe ask your server how his/her night is going. Whether drunk or sober, it’s not difficult to be nice to the people that are there to serve you.  Even just giving them an extra big smile might be what helps them get through the rest of their shift.

Creativity and artistry often get pushed to the back of our minds as we go through life. Most of us remember being artistic in some way as a child – making Play-Doh sculptures, coloring outside the lines or constructing musical instruments. After childhood, however, creativity is less promoted each year as other matters take precedent, such as athletic achievement and good grades.

Creativity is often forgotten, and often people don’t consider creativity to be an important skill in the business world.

The Arts and Business Alliance of Eugene is here to remind us that creativity is an inherent part of any successful organization. The non-profit’s goal is to encourage community liveliness by emphasizing the collaboration between the arts and business sectors. Through bringing the arts and business together, they hope to drive economic expansion as well as inspire creativity and innovation throughout Eugene.

The ABAE has been working very hard this summer preparing for and putting on the Create! Eugene festival. The month-long celebration of the arts includes 31 days of workshops, exhibits and performances for people of all ages and abilities.

Over 100 workshops have been going on during the month of August including classes in photography, dance, culinary arts and more. Eugene gives life to many different art forms due to the large number of artists in the community.

Cenya Eichengreen has been enjoying the art of bead embroidery for the past five years, and now shares her talent with others by teaching monthly workshops at Harlequin Beads & Jewelry.

“I love our community and being amongst other artists, they’re so inspirational. It is so exciting to see what everyone else is doing and we just kind of feed off of each other,” Eichengreen said.

The Create! festival takes advantage of Eugene’s natural beauty with the Plein Air Paint Out Competition. The competition takes place in the heart of Downtown Eugene at Kesey Square with painters from all over the region painting outdoor landscapes or cityscapes from within Lane County.

Patti McNutt, a Plein Air Painters of Lane County member, has been a full-time painter for the last eight years. She does not often enter her work in contests, but loves painting in this competition because it is all outdoors.

“We have all this beautiful land out here with so many places to hike and I love painting it all. I just love being outside and painting outside,” McNutt said.

Creativity can come from anywhere in life, taking shape in many different forms. You are the only person holding yourself back from a life full of originality. Demonstrating creativity does not necessarily mean having to invent something, but it can be expressed in developing new perspectives or influencing the way someone else sees something. As we mature into adults and become serious about setting up the rest of our lives, spontaneity, adventurism, playfulness and curiosity shouldn’t be forgotten.