[PHOTOSTORY 4: Stuggle] Balancing work and school in summer finals

 By: Eden Hodges

 Georgia Southern marketing major Joey Kass gets off work to do some last minute cramming before his test. Kass has packed his summer with courses so that he can graduate after four years in May.

Kass enters his home carrying his things from his work at a nearby golf course. Kass caddies at an exclusive golf club, The Ohoopee Match Club in Cobbtown, Georgia.

Kass removes his caddying gear to get ready to take his last final of the summer. Drinks, cash tips, pencils and scorecards normally line the pockets of his vest, but he wore it home for wash day.

Kass logs into his computer to review the test. Kass' tests don't open up until 5 p.m., so he likes to spend the 15 minutes before it opens to get focused.

Kass spends some time playing with his puppy who is begging for attention. "He's so needy," said Kass. "I don't like having to kick him out. Gotta do what you gotta do."

Kass checks the time again before setting the dog down. Kass' dog, Duke, can be especially distracting during a final with a squeaky toy between his jaws.

Kass tidies up his room before beginning his final. "I hate clutter," said Kass. "I can't think when there's things laying around everywhere."

Kass takes a last look at his phone before shutting the door and changing his mindset to focus. His other two roommates have dogs which can get pretty noisy, he said.

Kass closes out his apps and uses his phone to play study music for his last-minute study session. Kass prefers smooth jazz to calm his nerves and improve his focus while he studies.

Kass pulls a binder of notes out of his book bag. Many of his tests, including his final, are open-note since they're online.

Kass uses his final study guide to help him study. Despite admitting to being a not-so-great note taker, he's less worried about the test going in armed with his notes.

Kass highlights a few of the concepts that were on the study guide. For note taking, Kass prefers only a ball point pen and a yellow highlighter.

Kass scans his notes, double checking them with the study guide. Anything he's unsure about he resolves with a quick Google search.

Kass takes a few notes on his computer. "Part of my problem with note taking is I put it everywhere," said Kass. "I haven't decided if I like writing them or typing them better yet."

The clock on Kass' computer screen tells him that his test opened one minute ago. Kass only has 65 minutes to complete his 50 question final exam for his Principles of Management class.

Kass refers back to his notes for the last time. Kass studies even though he has to use his notes because looking up every answer would make him run out of time.

Kass takes a breath before pressing begin on his final exam. "I think I studied enough," said Kass.

[ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT 1] McKenzie Holmes

 By Perla Gomez 

McKenzie Holmes is a Pre-Medicine Public Health student with a minor in Chemistry at Georgia Southern University. 

"My goal is to be a doctor, I either want to go into obstetrics and gynecology or become a pediatrician. Either way, I go I would like to return to my hometown of Waynesboro to help the low-income population that does not have access to health resources."

[PHOTOSTORY 3: A day in the life] Haley Scarborough

 By Perla Gomez 

[MINOR ASSIGNMENT 1: Self Portrait] Perla Gomez

By Perla Gomez 

Hi! My name is Perla Gomez. I am a Public Relations major here at Georgia Southern University with a minor in Fashion Merchandising and Apparel Design. I have a pet chinchilla, her name is Khlo. I named her after Khloe Kardashian because I liked how her name is spelled. I am taking this class because I need to take it for my major and because I really enjoy Dr. Riley as a professor even though sometimes I slack as a student. Excuse me for how I look, this was taken post-work, I work as a server at Bites in the Boro. Please come tip me I am broke

[ENVIRONMENTAL PORTRAIT 3] Frank Stiglic

 By: Austin Carter

Frank Stiglic is a graduate of Ogeechee Technical College and works as the repair service center manager for Cellairis. "I worked for the company part-time while in college, so being able to jump up to management right after graduating was really nice for me."

[MINOR ASSIGNMENT 3] Artsy Coke Bottle

 By: Austin Carter

Photo 1: Rule of Thirds

Photo 2: Identifiable Point of Entry

Photo 3: Framing

Photo 4: Clean Background

Photo 5: Lighting

[PHOTOSTORY 4: STRUGGLE] Bo Knows The Struggle

 By: Chuck Paggett

Adrian Black, 65, sits at his corner as cars pass by. Black is disabled and lost his social security benefits nearly a year ago - he's been coming out to this corner for about 7 months.

The Walmart sign across from Black's setup. Black said he typically comes out to this spot around 7:30 a.m. and stays until around 5 or 6 p.m.

The stoplight turns red at the corner Black frequents. "I know one thing, I'm getting sick and tired of sitting up here - 10 to 12 hours a day man, you know. Sometimes it ain't worth it man, I have set up here for 10 hours - like the other day all I got was $37."

Adrian Black takes a sip of water. "When I get here at 7:30, this whole area is sun. The shade don't get here til bout 12:30 or 1 o'clock - that's why you see how my face is red, that's from being out in the sun."

The light turns red at Brannen Street. Across from Black's corner spot is a Nissan car dealership. The traffic here is essentially nonstop at the light and is an ideal setup for Black to greet prospective Good Samaritans.

Adrian Black sits under the shade with his cooler and sign. "I tell you what though, as far as money and help out here - black people help me more than anybody else. That's the truth, they do man. They've blessed me many, very many times."

The gas station serving customers behind Adrian Black's corner spot. Black says he goes by "Bo" and always wanted to have his own lawncare business. He interviewed with a female Georgia Southern student before for about 2 hours and was brought back a drawing of himself with a truck and sign reading "Bo's Lawncare" - it meant a lot to him and still does to this day.

The shade tree that Black sits under everyday for hours. "She did come back twice and like I said she brought me that picture and I gotta get it framed. I brought it with me everyday for awhile 'cause I wanted to just show her how much I appreciate it. That shit was so cool man, it almost made me cry man when she handed me that thing."

Adrian Black gulps down water under the shade tree. Just an hour or so before, Bo recalls a group of guys in a car who waited until they drove past him then yelled out curses at him telling him to get a job. "We gotta live in this world, let's try to get along," Black said.

A car pumps gas behind the spot Black has made his own. Adrian Black a.k.a Bo is originally from Savannah, Georgia but he's lived in Statesboro for decades now. He says he also lived in Atlanta from ages 14 to 20, but acknowledged he prefers the slower pace of south Georgia compared to the hustle and bustle of city life.

Black stands as he looks off in the distance. Bo suffers from arthritis in his hands and knees which prevent him from working how he wants to. He says he's tried to find jobs - even Walmart where he's posted at - but no luck in hiring given his condition.

Bo's shade tree sits at the corner of Brannen Street and the entrance to Walmart Supercenter. The manager of Murphy USA has known Bo for years and has developed a working relationship with the disabled senior to allow him to sit here although it's technically private property.

The Walmart Supercenter entrance sign in Black's line of sight. Bo says he isn't homeless, but he's close to being so. After losing his disability checks, he struggles to pay rent but he has a few people who try to help support his situation.

Adrian Black drinks water to cool off from the summer heat. "Sometimes when you sit out here, you put yourself on display. I still ain't no damn target though man, you know, and it still don't give people a right to talk to you any kind of way and, you know, disrespect you - but they do and I'm tired of it man."

Black sits patiently under the sweltering sun. Bo says he was sent a letter in the mail for an appointment to reevaluate his social security disability, but never actually receieved the letter. "By doing that - I lost my car, lost my apartment - thank God where I moved out you're allowed to have two people to an apartment and the woman said no honey I can't see you in the street. She said you can move in with me, but I still gotta pay half the rent ... but I would've been out on the street."

Black stands up as cars prepare to turn behind him. Bo has a number of tattoos on his arm from his younger days, but he's not a big fan of them now. "I got all them years ago on the chain gang man and I wish I'd have never done em. I mean if it was a good looking arm it would've been, but they used me as a damn guinea pig for practice. I was like a damn scratch pad."

A view of Brannen Street and the car wash behind Bo's shade tree. "The sun is wrinkling me up man, just killing me man." Black also struggles to pay for his blood pressure medicine after losing disability.

Black prepares to leave his corner spot for the day. One of Bo's neighbors swings by to pick him up most days around 6:30 p.m. She just got done mowing her own lawn so declines a picture, but speaks on how nice and sweet Bo is - she tries to help him out when she can.

A street view of Bo's shade tree in front of Murphy USA gas station. "I got some ibuprofen in here, I ain't out here on drugs - just people assume. It may be the case in a lot of cases - people sitting out here doing this and they're buying drugs with it - but it's not always the case."

Adrian Black sits with his cooler and bottle of water. The phone in this picture records what Bo says. He hopes to not have to come out here much longer and says he plans to get another lawyer to look at his disability case. As cars continually pass by, he's reminded of the bad apples who go out of their way to be rude not knowing his situation. "You know what I'll tell you something, and this is the truth, always remember - you can't fix stupid. You can't fix that, and some people stuck on it. And that's really not a nice word to call people, but some people really are ignorant. I don't bother a soul."

[PHOTOSTORY 3: ADITL] A Starving Artist

 By: Holden Maynard 

This is Gabe Maynard. He is an aspiring artist and meets the stereotype of the starving artist. He is constantly searching for inspiration for his art and ways to make money.

Gabe rises from bed a little after noon. He can't afford sheets yet so he uses one of his hoodies as a blanket. 

Gabe chugs a yogurt in order to have something on his stomach. Being a commission artist he's often forced to make do with little money so yogurt is often a cheap way to get protein in the morning. 

 

Gabe finally wakes up and already wishes the day was over. He has to begin working on commissions but needs to wait for his computer to arrive in the mail.   

Gabe suddenly receives the news that his computer has been lost in the mail. He is now without all of his work and is unable to do his work 

After receiving the news about his computer, Gabe decides to get some other work done. Gabe is currently between apartments and has to find places to stay until his next lease starts.  

Gabe decides to check on his digital art tablet. While he might not have his computer he can at least find solace in the fact that he still has his tablet. 

While still trying to get over the news of his computer Gabe decides to flip through some old sketches and drawing exercises. He's looking for motivation and inspiration to do some more conventional art. 

As he flips through some old drawings Gabe finds his ukulele. Gabe admits he's not very good but decides to play it any way. 

Gabe decides to head outside in order to play and clear his mind. He strums and sings SpongeBob songs in an effort to lift his mood. 

After putting away his instrument Gabe collapses to the floor. The yogurt wasn't enough to keep him going and he begins to feel lightheaded. 

Gabe rises to his feet and makes his way to the pantry only to find it nearly empty. The only things in the pantry are an empty box of ramen noodles and some cans of soup. However Gabe can't eat these because he doesn't own any bowls. 

Since the pantry was a bust Gabe turns to the fridge. However once he opened it he repeated a quote form fight club. "A house full of condiments and no real food". 

With no other options Gabe makes a small microwavable bowl of chili. This was his only option because it was the only thing that didn't require a bowl. 

Gabe has to grab the hot bowl of chili right out of the microwave with his bare hands because he doesn't have anything to keep his hands safe. "Second degree burns are a way of life." 

Gabe sits down and eats to subside his hunger pains. He adds hot sauce to the chili because he believes it'll add to the amount of calories in the meal. 

With his needs met Gabe decides to sketch in his sketch book and plan out some of his commission work. without his computer this is all he can think to do. 

Gabe leaves one of his quick practices sketches for drawing a character's posture. being an artist, Gabe leaves little pieces like this wherever he goes.  

Frustrated with a bad sketch, Gabe rips it from the book and discards it. "There's nothing more frustrating than drawing something amazing then ruining it because you were using a pen". 

Frustrated with the day, Gabe decides to lay down and try and make it end early. The starving artist ends the day feeling defeated and still hungry.