July 22, 2020
Please raise your hand if you’ve ever felt personally victimized by allergies in the last couple of weeks. Please raise your hand if when they hit you panicked and thought, “Do I have COVID?”
I don’t remember having allergies as a kid, but boy have they come at me with a vengeance as an adult. My eyes feel stuffed with wet cotton, my sinuses have announced their existence and I’m pretty sure there’s a tiny man wearing brushes for shoes tap dancing in the back of my throat. I didn’t really think I had COVID, but even the tiniest of coughs had me wondering. I’m guessing I’m not alone.
A friend mentioned how easy it was to get tested here in town without ever leaving your car or needing a doctor’s order, so I figured, why not? Not only was I able to get the swab test, but I also got the blood test to see if I previously had the illness and am harboring antibodies.
With my heart issues, I figure the more I knew, the better. Knowledge is power. If I had it, there were all sorts of things to do. If I have antibodies, I could donate plasma. I’m negative on both counts, but that knowledge also gives me power. And, it gives my county some more data that gives them power too.
Knowledge really is power. That’s why the university is sending updates to the Spartan community often about plans for the fall semester. Since no one can really guess what will happen tomorrow, it’s important everyone has as much knowledge as they can. In the spirit of that, check out the latest update from President Stanley about campus plans and preparations.
Sometimes, knowledge comes in the form of an experience. And, as Kamryn Romano, a senior in the Honors College studying journalism and global and international studies, says, “Sometimes the best experiences in life are the ones you don’t anticipate.” Her recent experience working with individuals with special needs gave her the knowledge that will define her actions as she looks toward her career. Read her STUDENT VIEW: My full-circle moment, to learn more about this determined young Spartan.
Stephen Schiestel, a professor of finance, is trying to help recent grads by giving them knowledge so they can have power over their financial futures. Check out his FACULTY VOICE: Money moves for recent grads, to read his five principles for saving and investing.
Spartans are always looking to empower others by seeking knowledge and sharing it. Want to know more about living on campus, depression, new programs in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences or social media and personalities? Those are just some of the stories we’ve reported on this last week. The hard work Spartans are doing every day is what helped us earn six programs ranked in the top 25 globally.
Every day offers opportunities to learn about something. Don’t let those opportunities pass you by. Jump in and grab onto every bit of knowledge you can. Knowledge is power and power can change the world. #SpartansWill.
Lisa Mulcrone
Editor, MSUToday
Photo by Derrick L. Turner