Keeping calm during finals week can be difficult. Yet, in room 220 of Steely Library, the sounds of busy studying and note-taking fade away into a silence only interrupted by the movement of hooks, needles and pieces of conversation. The keys to destressing, according to workers at the Stego Studio, include slowing down, making art and discussing the latest news found on and off campus.
The Studio serves as a place to find art supplies and use 3D printers, but another value many students and faculty alike have found is a place to truly relax. The monthly fiber art meetups have had turnouts of 10 to 13 students and faculty, most looking for a place to crochet or knit, but some simply looking for a quiet environment to take a break in. In addition to the fiber arts monthly meetings, the studio often hosts specialty art events like the scrapbook and bracelet-making events in October and November of this year.
The turnout the Tuesday before finals week was smaller, with six people in attendance. Samantha Geiger, makerspace coordinator and NKU alum, organizes the events. She also ensures that the fiber arts meetups offer a place to unwind, no matter your skill level. Geiger highlights the importance of trying different crafts through the studio to find one that clicks. She designed the craft events with this in mind by making them drop-in friendly, so students can come late or leave early as needed.
The focus on learning new hobbies and crafts seems to extend beyond the makerspace coordinator, with Geiger explaining, “My hobby is collecting hobbies,” leading to a multitude of “me too’s” from the attendees.
Technical theater major Jordan Kerr weighed in on how to find new hobbies and craft arts to work on.
He said, “Audition hobbies, get on Pinterest, look around until you see something and figure out how to make it.”
New art styles and hobbies mentioned by attendees included whittling and stained glass making. The importance of having multiple options for destressing and rotating hobbies was expanded upon by Saylor Siegert, a sophomore social work major. Having a summer hobby like gardening and a winter hobby like knitting has helped reduce burnout both in school and hobbies, according to Siegert.
Geiger also took the time to shout out the weeklong destressing events held at the library during finals week. These events include a pizza and lemonade luncheon on Monday, fuel NKU providing food Tuesday and a ‘relax zone’ with coloring and puzzles on Friday. In addition, craftmaking events for beaded bracelets and button making will be held on Wednesday before a general art and craft event on Friday. Overall, it’ll be a packed week but with many opportunities to unwind before, between and after finals.