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In our current society, social media has become so prominent and almost necessary for us to function. When we wake up each morning most of us check social media first thing to see what has happened overnight. A social media platform that has exploded over the past couple of years is TikTok. TikTok is an app where you can record 15-second to 3-minute videos on any topic you would like; even stand-up comedy.

Live comedy shows have become less popular over time, so many comedians have participated in uploading their skits to the app such as Jason Cheny, Andrea Jin, and Dustin Nickerson. The videos are clips of their live shows. Still, it is nice because they are able to repurpose their content and share it with a bigger audience that either was not able to attend due to distance or reach new people that have a similar humor to the comedians who actively post. During the height of the pandemic, the clubs for comedy shows were closed, so many live creators moved to Tik Tok to continue to make income as well as reach their audience and new people during a difficult time.

Old or new comedians being on TikTok is beneficial for the creators because it gives the creator full creative control of their content to make sure their jokes land as intended. It also prevents the comedian from saying something possibly offensive and getting, according to our culture today, “cancelled.” Comedians being on TikTok allows them to edit their sets to make it look smoother and more professional. It prevents mistakes being shown like the infamous “uh/um” or pauses. Despite the fact that some argue that broadcasting standup on TikTok dilutes the art form’s originality, it is recognized that it would reach a much larger audience rather than if it were live.

According to Dustin Nickerson’s website, he is “the world’s most average person.” A comedian who performs in over 300 shows a year, his videos have been viewed over 20 million times, and he has appeared on Comedy Central, Hulu, Fox and Netflix alongside Kevin Hart. Through his jokes on marriage, having children, culture, growing up and always being called “Justin,” Dustin invites you into his world. Many others have used terms like “original,” “honest,” “poignant,” “observational,” “relatable” and “engaging” to describe Dustin’s brand of humor.

Bringing Dustin Nickerson to the stage of Liberty University provides a strong sense of community amongst our peers by letting us put aside our school induced stresses like homework, an upcoming exam which you should probably be studying for, or an essay. With events such as this we can come together for an hour and relax, laugh together, and even learn something new.

 

Written by Pimm Kiatrungrit

Pimm is a junior majoring in Digital Media & Journalism. She enjoys being a part of the blog team and getting to write about topics she is passionate about.

We are seeing a new trend that is influencing our culture and mindset. Scrolling through social media, we see more stretch marks, cellulite, freckles, and acne. Showing who you truly are is becoming more popular.

Social media has a choke-hold on our lives, so it is important to make sure we are following those who are spreading encouragement. It is okay to unfollow to keep a positive feed. There are so many influencers sharing ways to love your body on TikTok, Instagram, Podcasts, etc.

Here are five podcasts to listen to if you are struggling with insecurity and body image:

1. “Navigating Your Body Image in your 20s,” – Morning Rae
Allana Blumberg discusses how important it is to open up about your insecurities and self-doubt because everyone experiences it. We often feel like everyone around us has it all together and one hundred percent feel confident in their body, but the reality is that everyone has days when they wish they looked different. She encourages her listeners to focus on what they feel good about and to wear the clothes that make them confident. You will never truly be happy until you embrace who you truly are.

2. “Body Image & Self-Acceptance” – Anything Goes with Emma Chamberlain
Emma Chamberlain quickly became one of the most famous influencers within Gen-Z. Although Emma has 16 million followers on Instagram, she still struggles with embracing who she is on the inside and the outside. In this podcast episode, she talks about how one comment on her post can change everything. She will post a picture on social media that she thinks she looks good in, but if a follower thinks differently, it will affect her initial mindset. Emma also talks about the importance of awareness and reflecting on what triggers your moments of sadness and self-doubt. If something is not adding to your self-worth, subtract it from your life.

3. “A Healthier Perspective on Body Image and Fitness,” – Happy & Healthy
Jeanine Amapola talks about aiming for progress, not perfection. Learning to love your body will not happen overnight. She opens up about not fully embracing herself, but coming to an understanding that you should not be missing out on precious moments because of insecurity. Life is too short to skip a good time just because you don’t feel cute. Jeanine discusses how she was so desperate for a formula to feel good, so she found her worth in Christ. Your body does not define you!

4. “Real Girls Radio” – Bad Body Image Days
Emma Doherty and Amelia Goldsmith converse about how to stop being self-deprecating. They talk about the toxicity of picking yourself apart while looking in the mirror in the morning. Your morning routine can make or break your day, so if you start it with negative self-talk, it is going to play out for the rest of your day. One tip they give is to surround your mirror with positive sticky notes as a reminder to choose love every morning. They also bring up how your circle can hurt your self-esteem. If you are surrounding yourself with people who bring you down, then it will stunt your journey to loving yourself. Surround yourself with people who love you for you.

5. “Moments Struggling with Body Image,” – Moments Podcast
Lexi Hidalgo chats about how the beauty standard is always changing. Instead of chasing after what type of “body” is trending, focus on being healthy. She tells us to think about the people we love most in life. We do not love people because of their appearance, but by the way they make us feel. We admire the way people smile, laugh, chase their dreams, etc… none of which is body related. Food gives you the energy to dance, swim, walk, and do whatever it is you are passionate about.

I know that loving your body is easier said than done, but with practice, it will get better. I’m assuming most of us reading this blog attend college. This means we are currently living in some of the most memorable years of our lives. When we look back, we are going to recollect the moments that made us feel alive. I encourage you from here on out to worry less about your outward appearance, but to focus on the beauty of living.

 

Written by Riley McAllister

Riley is a Senior Strategic Communications major with a concentration in Social Media Management. She loves keeping up with what is trending throughout media, and being able to write about it. Writing has always been a way for Riley to get creatively inspired. She is excited for her Student Activities blog journey!

We’re a couple weeks into the semester now and the pace of life only seems to be increasing day by day. Maybe you’re already feeling overwhelmed by the juggling act we’re all trying to manage: classes, social life, mental health, and maybe even a job on the side, just to name a few things. It gets exhausting real quick sprinting from Demoss to Green between classes, figuring out your weekend plans two months in advance, and dealing with the mile-long Convo lines on top of simply being a student. If you’re a Freshman, you might be wondering how it’s possible to sustain four years of this. Or, you could be an upperclassman like myself and are attempting just to avoid being burned out again eight weeks into the semester.

If reading that first paragraph alone prompted your Apple watch to ask if you just started a workout, take a deep breath, friend. First, it needs to be said (because we often forget it) that you are not alone in these endeavors. You are quite literally surrounded by others walking through this season of life alongside you. Second, you are not doomed to any sort of future that is shaped by what you are currently facing; change is always possible. In light of that, I’d like to share some insight from my own pursuit of peace in navigating the tempest that is college life.

Now, there’s a good chance you have some friends, or have simply encountered others around you, that seem to have the ability to handle stress and workloads much better than most. You may think that they’ve been given some superpower or spiritual gift that allows them to not succumb to being overwhelmed. However, it’s more likely that they’ve simply developed some healthy daily habits. While we all have our plates full (and possibly even bending), I believe that our habits play a big part in enabling us to deal with what’s on our metaphorical plates with greater endurance, contentment, and peace of mind. There’s one habit in particular I want to start, or perhaps more appropriately, continue the conversation on: rest.

In the realm of education, I believe we hear lots about work ethic, study habits, and organization. Ask the students who stay at the library till close (much respect for y’all) if they’ve ever been given tips or advice on being a better student. I think we have that conversation plenty and for good reason. Most of us can attest that we are working as hard as we can and have been acquainted with feeling worn down as a result. However, what if we’re getting burned out not because we’re working too hard, but because we’re not resting well enough? And I don’t mean the time we’re putting into getting rest, but how we’re resting.

I don’t know you individually to know how you choose to rest, but I do have a good grasp on the culture we participate in and how rest is most often approached. In the age we live in today, our natural inclination when it is time to relax and take a break from work, or really anything that stresses us out, is to grab our phones, laptops, or the tv remote. We are painfully aware that we often go straight to scrolling when we are in need of some comfort or distraction. And it makes sense too; there is a sense of ease that comes along with it that we long for. But, is it actually restful? Do we actually walk away from these things feeling refreshed, or just wishing that we could watch one more video?

Now, I believe there is certainly a time and place for entertainment in our lives. I mean, it’s literally part of our mission statement here at Student Activities. There are times when an outdoor movie night is much needed (shameless plug). Nonetheless, I would pose the thought that we are created and meant for more than just consumption. I would go even further to say that we were made to be creators and cultivators. Taking a brief look at the Creation account in Genesis gives us some insight into this. God, the one who just created the entire universe, says that He will make man in His own image.¹ In the following verses, His first command to mankind is to cultivate the very earth He just made.² In the garden, the most restful place, man is taking after our creative God and cultivating.

We may make the assumption that it takes effort to create or cultivate and therefore it can’t be restful for us. Trevin Wax addresses this very assumption in his article “Consume, Create, or Cultivate: Your Choice”³ (it’s much better than the one you’re currently reading).

He writes, “We live in a culture that drives us toward consumption, not creation or cultivation. The result is we assume creating is work and consuming is rest. We assume that anything that demands something of us must be tiresome and strenuous”.

But that’s not always the case, is it? Think with me for a moment. Do we find greater satisfaction in admiring a certain skill, or in developing it ourselves? Sure, there is enjoyment to be found in a good meal, but what about one that we cooked? Could it be possible that taking the time to grow ourselves through creation and cultivation could leave us feeling more refreshed than simply consuming?

I won’t claim to have mastered this practice (my phone’s screen time will expose me on that one), but it is a habit that I am working on (hence the writing of this very blog). Don’t just take my word for it though, try it for yourself. As you do so, make sure to give yourself grace when you find yourself defaulting back to the rhythm of passive consumption; it’s not easy to break old habits to build new ones. We here at Student Activities are right along with you there in the journey though. As I said before, we hope to provide you opportunities for a little mindless consumption at the end of a long week. However, we also invite you to take part in something a little more along the lines of creation and cultivation in the form of performing at an open mic, Coffeehouse, or maybe just participating in the building of community.

Whatever cultivating or creating might look like for you, friend, my hope is that you’re able to build some healthier habits that will allow you to relieve some of that stress, break free from the trap of consumption culture, and find greater enjoyment and refreshment in your rest, both in this school year and in the years to come.

¹Genesis 1:26

²Genesis 1:28

³Consume, Create, or Cultivate: Your Choice

 

Written by Jordan Hassler

Jordan is a Junior studying Event Planning with a Biblical Studies minor. He enjoys expressing his creativity through words, and sharing his experiences and personality by way of writing. He’s passionate about music, nature, and forming genuine connections with others.

Few things have transcended culture to the degree that Coca-Cola has. Whether it is Santa, a polar bear, or trying to find your name on a bottle, every generation has a way Coke has impacted it. Coke was first introduced in Atlanta, Georgia in 1886. For over 130 years Coke has been innovating to align with customers and culture. Recently Coke released limited edition Coke Starlight to coincide with the recent public interest in space led by SpaceX.

Most recently though Coke has released Coke Dreamworld. Coke describes it having “vibrant flavor notes that evoke the boundless creativity of the human imagination to the unmistakable taste of Coca-Cola.” Coke has a plan to use Dreamworld to Align with culture yet again, this time Gen Z’s culture. Coke wants to test the limits of the human imagination in a culture that has such a strong desire to create their own mark on the world. People who buy packages of Coke Dreamland will be able to scan a code with their phone to experience an Augmented Reality music experience. Coke is literally the drink of the future, and we can be a part of that future.

We are excited to have Coke as our Title Sponsor for Block Party! Go visit them at Block Party to learn more about the magic of Coke and cool down with a refreshing drink. Also go grab some Coke Dreamland the next time you go shopping to experience the future of Coke.

Source: https://www.coca-colacompany.com/news/coca-cola-invites-fans-to-experience-dreamworld

Each Fall semester, after a grueling week of reading the syllabi for every class, students get to relax and celebrate another semester at Block Party. Block Party is a Liberty tradition that not only welcomes in a new freshman class but celebrates the return of all Liberty University students. We all love the fried food, loud music, and joy of seeing our friend being thrown off a mechanical bull but there are a lot of people who help Block Party come together. The businesses who come along side Student Activities as premiere sponsors help make Block Party the event you know and love. This year we want to thank Dominos, Mosaic Collective, Amazon Prime Student, and Your Event Source. We are thrilled that these businesses have come along side of Student Activities.

As college students, we all know and love Dominos, whether it’s a midnight “snack” or feeding the people at your bro/sis hall event, we can count on those pizza’s to be fresh and hot. Go visit them and grab a slice with your friends.

Mosaic Collective is not only selling trendy items for all aspects of your life, but they are challenging people to rethink what they buy and why they buy it. Every item they sell has a story, and we encourage you to go check them out to hear them!

Amazon Prime Student is there for us because we all know a time when that free 2-day shipping came in clutch. Go check out their booth at Block Party to see if you can find any sweet deals.

Your Event Source is always behind the scenes making Block Party great. If you love the view of Block Party from the top of the Ferris Wheel or have made the best memories watching your friends get thrown off the mechanical bull, you have Your Event Source to thank.

We are thankful for our premiere Sponsors and hope you get the chance to stop by and say hi this Saturday!

With the start of the Fall semester right around the corner, enjoy this fun and edgy playlist brought to you by our incredible staff. So roll those windows down and start listening to these immaculate vibes on your journey back to LYH!

After three months apart it is finally time for all of us to come back together for the Fall semester and we are SO EXCITED to see all of you! As students begin to fill Liberty’s campus again for the coming school year, we will see the reuniting of old friends after months apart and we will watch as a new year brings in a new class of freshman who will begin to make lifelong friends! Here in the Student Activities office, we have been hard at work preparing a semester of events that will give each and every student the opportunity to come together to enjoy themselves and to build relationships with one another!

This semester is chocked full, and I do mean FULL, of exciting new events, but also many of the Student Activities events that students have come to know and love will be making an appearance as well. We wanted to provide room for the return of classic events that have become tradition to many of the students here and bring in the new semester with new events that students will soon come to know and love!

Kicking us off for the semester we have Fall Welcome Week which is filled to the brim with classic events like Outdoor Open Mic, Bingo, and Outdoor Movie which are events that we will also get to see again throughout the semester. Speaking of classic events, the annual celebration of surviving the first week of class otherwise known as Block Party is an event, we all can’t wait to get to!

As crazy awesome as Fall Welcome Week is, it is only a taste of what we have for you for this semester! Student Activities has spent many hours putting together new events for the semester are funky, fresh, and fun! (I cringed at that line but it’s staying for the LOLs) With events like Line Dancing Night, Laser Tag, Couch Acoustics, Neon Mini Golf and so much more, there is an event for everyone to come and enjoy this Fall! Our beloved Fall Fest will be making an appearance once again, but students will also get to experience the first ever Monster Mash!

There is so much for the student body to be excited for as we look ahead student concerts, a comedy show with Dustin Nickerson, Christmas in Lights, and of course COFFEEHOUSE! We are so excited for y’all to be back here with us building community and just having fun together! SEE Y’ALL SOON!

 

Written by: Elisabeth Hardy

Elisabeth is a Psychology Counseling major with minors in Biblical Studies and Youth Ministry. She is passionate about using opportunities to show the creativity of God and His presence! She loves writing for the blog as a way to express herself and be creative about things that are fun and relevant.

Lucas James

Lucas James hails from Cincinnati, Ohio. WHO DEY! (If you know you know) Lucas is excited to share his music on the Block Party stage which is influenced mostly by the Indie-pop genre. Lucas enjoys the story-telling aspect of music and how music can take you on a journey. He is inspired by artists such as Lizzy McAlpine and Jordy Searcy. Get to Block Party right when gates open for Lucas James to take you on a musical journey through his life.

KMO

KMO delivers passionate pop/RnB music to his listeners by drawing inspirations from Jon Bellion and Stevie Wonder. The Maryland native’s fun and joyful personality shine through his music and can be seen clearly during live performances. When you see him around campus, ask him about the time he met a president of the United States. KMO is no stranger to the Student Activities stage and is excited to return for Block Party.

Evvie McKinney

Evvie McKinny is an up-and-coming Gospel artist who gained recognition after winning the show Four: Battle of Stardom on FOX. Her debut single on her new record label “Bring the Whole Hood” gives you a glimpse of Evvie’s life and motivations for her music. Student Activities is excited for Evvie to take the Block Party stage and give us a fresh take of the future of gospel music.

Gable Price and Friends

Gable Price and Friends is a punk rock band from Redding, California delivering the hypest jams and the deepest lyrics. Never sacrificing on the deeper meaning, Gable Price and Friends has found their musical niche somewhere between Holy and Hand Grenade. Known for their electric performances, Gable Price and Friends has an energy that fans cannot forget. This band has no clue what it means to use an inside voice. From rock and roll anthems, to cry your heart out love songs for God, this band knows what it means to feel. Challenging lyrics like “Offend my mind so that I can know you more” are a staple of the band and their off the wall perspective on Life, Christianity, and the human experience. Listen to Gable Price and Friends if you want to find yourself jumping around and remembering the goodness of God, Gable Price and Friends will be your new favorite band.

Social Club Misfits

Social Club Misfits is a Christian Hip Hop duo from Miami, Florida featuring the talents of rappers Fern and Marty. Social Club Misfits constantly looks to push the boundaries of hip hop as they combine their unique personalities to create an authentic and positive experience. Their albums pull from several influences such as their Puerto Rician cultural roots, their quirky sense of humor, and their life experiences but they find a way to craft it all to point to God. In 2020 Social Club Misfits dropped the Album “Feared by Hell” and won Hip-Hop Album of the year at the Dove Awards, beating out the Album Jesus is King by then Kanye West. At this time Marty and Fern realized they were burnt out and decided to take a break, a normal death sentence for a musician, Social Club saw this as a way to refresh themselves as fathers, husbands, and friends. Against the odds they are back working on music, this is the passion and talent God has given them. Come experience their high-energy performance and no apologies personalities at Block Party!

It’s getting hot outside and so is our playlist for this month. Put together by our staff and curated just for you, this playlist is great for any occasion. Roll the windows down or hangout with some friends while listening to some of our favorite artists right now.

Here is a playlist brought to you by our event staff. You’ll find everything from mellow indie jams to mood boosting ballads. Enjoy this on your nighttime drives or when you’re hanging at the beach.