This semester at Harding has been full of change, but students staying home after Spring Break was the biggest change of all. The new normal has left many students, faculty and staff members wondering: How can one stay connected while being so far away?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tTechnology has come a long way over the years, granting an easy way to contact people even hundreds of miles away. For those missing game nights with friends, GamePigeon on iPhone \u2014 or another collaborative gaming platform \u2014 may be just the thing to tide you over. GamePigeon lets participants play games such as pool, basketball, archery, mini golf, checkers and more through iMessaging. Friends can keep up the friendly competition through this virtual means.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tJunior Davis Rowan has long been a fan of GamePigeon for fun with friends, but he said it is just the first step in staying connected through a time of separation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\t\u201cYou play back and forth, and then when it\u2019s over, you\u2019re in the perfect position to continue the connection by carrying on a conversation with that person,\u201d Rowan said. \u201cIt\u2019s not the same as being with them in person, but it is kind of the best we\u2019ve got right now, so I think you just have to look at it from that perspective and see it\u2019s about more than who wins the game of 8-ball.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In addition to virtual games, technology also provides many ways to gather with friends over the web just to catch up. You don\u2019t have to be isolated from the friends you met for lunch or your weekly devotional group. An easy way to continue that time together is through video conference calls using platforms like FaceTime, Houseparty, Zoom and even Snapchat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Seniors Ben Shearer, Alli Morris and Sydney Elliott have been active on Houseparty to ensure they still spend time talking with each other and building those relationships.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBeing on campus, and especially in the dorm, our friends just naturally assemble in a room or in the hall most nights and catch up,\u201d Shearer said. \u201cIt\u2019s in that setting where many of my fondest memories of college have taken place. While we can\u2019t be in that kind of a space together anymore, it\u2019s still nice to see everyone\u2019s face and engage in those same kind of conversations through our phones.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tThere are other ways to stay in touch with your friends besides those involving technology, however. Old-fashioned snail mail still works as a means of catching up with friends. That\u2019s right \u2014 classic pen and paper can lead to each letter having the potential to become a sentimental and meaningful treasure from a friend.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A surprise, handwritten letter is guaranteed to make someone\u2019s day. It shows a level of care and thoughtful intention. Senior Kaley Burks loved sending notes to people through campus mail and did not want the practice to end now that everyone is scattered. After seeing a friend do it, she asked for people\u2019s addresses through an Instagram story with the hopes of becoming pen pals with as many people as possible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI thought it would be perfect just to still keep in touch with people and let them know I care and miss them without having to text people all the time,\u201d Burks said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\tAn unexpected end to on-campus life for the semester brought a lot of change to a lot of students. However, opportunities to connect, encourage and communicate still abound. It may take some creativity and a few new ideas, but with a little work, all can stay connected during this time of separation.
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