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When College Is a Four-Year Journey: Sophomore Year

Vicki nelson.

This is the second in a four-part series about the college journey for students in a traditional bachelor's degree program. Although your student’s experiences and timetable will be unique, the evolution from new freshman to graduating senior often follows a common path. Click here to read Part 1, Freshman Year.

Once your student has survived that first tumultuous year of college, you may assume they will move seamlessly through the next three years. But each year of college marks a different stage in your student’s development.

The word sophomore has its roots in the Greek language and means “wise fool.” It’s an appropriate label for students at this stage. Sophomores have more self-confidence and “college knowledge,” but they still have a long way to go. Like the first year of college, this is also a year of discovery, but this year will be different.

Sophomores are settling into the life of their school. They may be deciding about a major, narrowing their choice of organizations in which to participate, and redefining their social engagement on campus as they move away from friends-of-convenience and find those who share their interests and values.

The first year of college may have been a year of discovery about independence and college life, but the second year is about finding your place in that community and making important decisions.

Sophomore Slump

This can be an awkward year.

Some second-year students experience the dreaded sophomore slump. Sophomores are no longer the center of attention. They become the “middle child” as they transition from the more structured first year to more independence.

This is a year when the idealistic vision about what college would be meets the everyday reality of the work. Students need to think about who they want to be and choose a major.

The end of college still seems a long way off.

Courses are more difficult as students move into more classes with upperclassmen. Many sophomores experienced a lack of motivation because they continue to struggle to decide what they want to study. Some studies have found that sophomores spend the least amount of time studying in college. They may experience a dip in grades for which they are unprepared.

While the first year of college involved broad exploration about what it means to be a college student, sophomore year is often about a deeper, more personal exploration. Students need to make sense of all the information they gathered during their first year and find their place in this community.

Although many sophomores may not realize it, or be ready for it, the main task this year is identity development.

Students face a big question: “What do I want my life to be?” The task of choosing a major requires more self-reflection than many students expect. They may wrestle with questions about values, sense of purpose and what gives their life meaning.

Your student’s ties with home and hometown friends may decrease as they become more independent and more vested in their new community at school, yet the work of sophomore year can be difficult work, and students may need support and encouragement now more than ever.

Encourage your student to do the deep work involved in self-reflection. Remind them that getting to know who they are now will help them find direction. Talk about their dreams and aspirations and the vision they have for their lives.

Choosing and Moving into a Major

This is a year when students need to connect the reality of the present to their vision of their future.

Much of the deep work that sophomore students are engaged in this year is prompted by the need to declare a major by the end of the year. Some students may also struggle as they discover that the major they thought they wanted isn’t a good fit. What now?

Students feel much like they felt about their choice of college –making a wrong decision will ruin their future.

Choosing a major rarely locks a student into a specific career – and many careers can be approached from various majors. As they delve deeper into a field that interests and excites them, students will learn more about specific careers. Knowing this may help alleviate the stress around this important decision.

The work of sophomore year feels weighty and has consequences. Mistakes begin to feel costly and it’s a good time to begin to map out a plan for how your student will complete their studies over the next years.

Transfer Panic?

Sophomore year is a time when many students consider transferring. While a transfer may be the right thing for some students, it is important that your student think carefully about it.

Students who are considering a transfer because they want to start somewhere with a clean slate or who have chosen a major that their current school doesn’t offer, are taking an appropriate step.

Some students want to transfer because they are disillusioned with their college experience. Their expectations were high, and what they see on social media looks as. though things would be so much better somewhere else – anywhere else.

The difficulty of the self-reflection that students need to do this year may add to their disillusionment. This is hard work. Discomfort may translate into dissatisfaction with the school. Students may not realize that they will take their internal struggles with them.

The decision to transfer is a personal that rarely has a clear right or wrong choice. However, talking to your student about their reasons may help give them perspective and help them understand why many sophomores wrestle with this decision.

What Can Parents Do This Year?

• Talk to your student about sophomore slump. Understanding it may help your student avoid it.
• Don’t be alarmed by a possible dip in grades. It is normal this year.
• Encourage your student to explore their values and sense of purpose.
• Remind your student that time spent studying is important and often translates into better grades. This seems obvious, but lack of motivation may affect grades.
• Encourage your student to take courses that will help them explore potential majors and to find those that excite them.
• Remind your student that a choice of major does not necessarily equal a career choice.
• Help your student explore their reasons for any feelings of dissatisfaction.
• Encourage your student to work with an advisor to begin to map a plan for completion – especially if your student is considering study abroad next year.

This year marks the conclusion of the transition into college and into a more stable time of getting the work done. The next two years will be the time for your student to start a new transition in preparation for a career and professional life.

Junior year will bring even more changes.

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What’s Ahead For Your College Student? The Four Year Journey

As you send your high school student off for their freshman year of college and you worry about how they will manage, it is almost impossible to imagine the college senior that you will have in four years.  It may help to remind yourself of the child who began high school four years earlier.  Could you have imagined then, what they would be like four years later as they graduated from high school?

Students mature during their college years, not only because times passes, but because they experience many different influences and demands.  We’ve discussed in many posts the importance of helping your college student learn to advocate and take responsibility for their actions and decisions.  It is not always an easy thing for us, as parents, to remember the important long-term goals over the immediate impulse to ”fix” any problems.

There is a definite rhythm to the college years.  Some students move through the years, and the sequence, flawlessly, and other students may hit roadblocks or move forward and backward on occasion.  For parents, it is helpful to keep in mind that there is a natural rhythm and growth.  Your student’s needs and goals during each year and/or phase of the college journey may change.  Your student may or may not be aware of the changes, but if you can keep them in mind, you may be better able to help your student at each stage of the journey.

Freshman Folly — The freshman year is a time of transition.  Your student may spend a good part of the year learning how to manage their responsibility and independence.  They will make new friends and try new things.  They may navigate changes successfully or may make mistakes and less than perfect choices.  This may be a year of experimentation, and as in all experiments, some may yield better results than others.  Your freshman also may have more options available to them and more room for academic experimentation. They  may not yet have chosen a major and so will want to take several different types of classes as they explore.  Your student may discover new areas they have never considered before.  There is often time during the freshman year for experimentation, exploration, and some seemingly foolish choices.

Sophomore Slump — Your college student may experience a slump of sorts during the second year .  They are no longer one of the ”new” students on campus and special attention is now going to the new class arriving.  There is an assumption that students have settled in by their sophomore year and are more on their own.  The end of the college journey still seems a long way off, and students begin to take more upper level work which may prove more difficult. For some students, this is a time when transferring to another college looks enticing.  It may be an important time to talk to your student about their dissatisfaction and whether a change will really help.  For many students, the end of the sophomore year is also the time when they will need to declare a major and the decision may be intimidating.  This is the year when students must settle into the middlework of the college experience .

Junior Jitters — Junior year may begin to bring both confidence and nervousness for your student.  They may feel confident in their abilities to navigate and manage the college experience.  They may be moving into more leadership roles on campus.  Junior year may be a wonderful year of blossoming and a growing sense of purpose.  However, junior year may also bring some nervousness for your student.  This is often the time when your student will settle into the meat of the material in their chosen major.  They may have second thoughts about their choice or commitment.  Your student may choose to study abroad or participate in another off-campus experience which will add to their uncertainty.  They may be trying to arrange an internship or summer experience related to their career.  Your student will also realize that they have passed the half-way mark of college.  Have they learned enough?  Will they be prepared for a career?  Will they find a job?  Will they ever hear from their friends once they graduate?  All of these questions begin to create an uncertainty and nervousness this year.

Senior Segue — In music, a segue is a transition from one section of music to another without a pause.  During the senior year of college, much emphasis will be on the transition to career and work or graduate school .  Your student may feel that they have just barely made the transition into college and it will be time to transition once again.  Many students are literally terrified as they face the abyss that seems to loom after college.  The message is reinforced throughout the year.  Students often complete their ”capstone course” in their major, completing their study of their field.  Career Offices hold workshops on resume building, interviewing, and dressing for success. If your student is considering graduate school, they will be completing applications and taking qualifying exams.   Students experience a series of ”lasts” as they do things for the final time.  At the time in the spring semester when other students are choosing their classes for next fall, your student may especially experience the reality that they will not be returning next year.  Your student will be simultaneously elated and terrified, but be ready to move on.

Of course, each student will experience the rhythm of college differently.  Some students may not experience the sequence in exactly four years.  Some students will find a particular stage difficult and others may find the same experiences exhilarating.  You may stand back and observe your student’s development, or you may feel that you need to step in and help your student navigate a particular phase.  Knowing the natural rhythm will help you, as a coach, to help your student understand that what they are experiencing is natural and normal.

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Journey into Preschool: a 4-Year-Old Child’s Milestones and Development

Brittany Loeffler

It’s a miraculous and beautiful thing to witness your child grow and achieve milestones. As a parent, it’s your job to enjoy these exciting new experiences and ensure that your child’s development is on track to meet these milestones.

While each age and stage of your child’s life comes with its own breakthroughs, this is a deep dive into 4-year-old milestones.

Exploring Growth in 4-Year-Olds: Height, Weight, and Appearance

Physical development milestones, movement and motor skills, cognitive milestones, language and communication milestones, social and emotional milestones, sleeping and feeding habits of a 4-year-old, common behaviors and nuances parenting 4-year-olds, 4-year-old development: how to keep your child safe, developmental delays in 4-year-olds.

SviatlanaLaza/Shutterstock.com

As parents, witnessing your child’s growth is one of your greatest joys. When it comes to physical development, a 4-year-old child typically undergoes significant changes.

Their bodies start to lean out, becoming more athletic and coordinated. With consistent nutrition and physical activity, children at this age are likely to gain around 4-5 pounds in a year and sprout up by 2-3 inches.

This astounding growth rate allows them to reach new heights (quite literally) in their maturity and ability to navigate the world.

On average, a well-nourished and healthy 4-year-old weighs around 40 pounds and stands an impressive 40 inches tall. This average is for both a boy and a girl.

Of course, keep in mind that every child is unique and may not adhere exactly to these averages. However, these numbers can serve as a useful guide to gauge your 4-year-old child’s growth progress.

What Milestones Should My 4-Year-Old Achieve?

There are many milestones that your 4-year-old child should achieve at this stage in life. From cognitive and motor to social and academic learning skills, there are 4-year-old milestones in all aspects of their life to attain and work towards.

Andrii Yalanskyi/Shutterstock.com

As your preschooler crosses their fourth birthday, a world of newfound independence and discovery awaits them—and you! Among the many transformations to look forward to, physical development takes center stage.

Below are some key milestones in this domain that your 4-year-old toddler is likely to achieve:

• Self-serve at meal times and put food on their plate
• Pour water or a drink into their cup
• Hop on one foot
• Do and undo buttons and zippers
• Pedal a tricycle

Remember, patience is key while you eagerly wait for your child to achieve these milestones. Every child is different, and the pace at which they develop varies from one precious tot to another.

Juliya Shangarey/Shutterstock.com

By the age of four, your child should manifest remarkable independence in their movement and motor skills.

Your 4-year-old child should be able to achieve the following movement goals:

• Walk up and down stairs independently
• Balance on one foot
• Getting dressed and undressed
• Copy and draw basic shapes and the alphabet
• Catch and throw a ball outside

Achieving these skills indicates the development of their overall physical level, fine motor skills, and hand-eye coordination. These necessary skills are the foundation of growing and becoming adults.

OLHA TOLSTA/Shutterstock.com

As your little one reaches the age of four, they should be able to demonstrate increasingly complex cognitive milestones. Cognitive milestones include problem-solving skills and understanding concepts in everyday life, which will build the foundations for them academically and educationally.

The typical 4-year-old should be able to:

• Count to 10
• Follow two- or three-step instructions
• Understand the concept of time , days, and months
• Identify at least four colors and shapes correctly
• Increased attention span

If you’ve taught them, some may even know their address and phone number! They’ll also begin to understand everyday things like food and money, broadening their understanding of the world.

Lena Ogurtsova/Shutterstock.com

Your child’s vocabulary and language capabilities should evolve at a rapid pace. They should be able to speak clearly and make use of more detailed sentences. Don’t be surprised if they start to engage in meaningful conversations!

Along with participating more in conversation, developmentally, your child should also be able to:

• Understand basic grammar rules, such as “he” and “she”
• Be able to express themselves
• Recall a story or tell what comes next in a familiar story
• Sing songs and nursery rhymes from memory
• Speak clearly in full sentences with at least five words

Don’t expect your child to be forming entirely grammatically correct sentences or pronouncing every word correctly. The goal is to be able to understand what your 4-year-old is trying to communicate to you.

Rawpixel.com/Shutterstock.com

Your child is likely forming stronger emotional attachments and advancing in their social interactions. Here are some social and emotional milestones they should be approaching:

• Showing a preference for group play over solo activities
• Expressing emotions more accurately and showing empathy towards others
• Frequently asking intriguing questions out of curiosity
• Developing a sense of humor and enjoying kiddish jokes
• Displaying an increasing desire for independence and control over their environment
• Learn how to share toys with other children

Their emotional landscape is expanding, too, enabling them to show empathy. They’ll express feelings more astutely, resonating with others’ feelings and responding accordingly.

As their curiosity piques, they will bombard you with questions—a sign of their blossoming cognitive abilities. A sense of humor shines through, creating gleeful, laughter-filled moments.

LeManna/Shutterstock.com

4-year-olds need ample sleep, averaging 10 to 12 hours each night. This sleep isn’t just for resting—it’s important to their overall health and significantly aids their physical growth and cognitive development.

A daytime nap will offer that extra recharge to help keep their energy levels stable throughout the day. Most preschool and kindergarten classes offer naptime in the middle of the day or late morning.

As for feeding, anticipate them eating at intervals of approximately every two to three hours. Don’t worry if they sometimes declare they’re not hungry or eat just a little. Unlike adults, children eat in harmony with their bodies’ needs, meaning they are less likely to eat when they are not hungry.

Maintaining a consistent feeding schedule will help accommodate their small stomach size and continual growth and energy needs.

When preparing meals and snacks for your little one, remember to aim for healthy food. Include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and natural options. Avoid sugar and high-fat or overly processed snacks.

InesBazdar/Shutterstock.com

One of the most astonishing 4-year-old milestones is blossoming into an independent, curious individual. You’ll notice a surge in imaginative play, a fondness for storytelling, and an ability to play cooperatively with others.

At this age, they are more assertive in expressing their will and getting testing boundaries occasionally. Attention span and focus improve, and they engage in more complex tasks. You may also witness a burst of self-centered behavior as your child’s awareness of ‘self’ begins to peak.

Embrace these transformations as they are key indicators of healthy development, even if they sometimes challenge your patience.

You might also notice that your little one has become a question-asking machine. The countless “why?” and “how?” questions might seem tedious and can occasionally drive you to distraction.

You must pay heed to their curiosity and provide answers as best you can. This active inquisitiveness is a vital aspect of their cognitive growth and a sign they are making sense of things and the world around them.

Demonstrating patience and taking the time to indulge their thirst for knowledge can greatly support their development, fostering a lifelong love for learning.

Helping Your Child Reach 4-Year-Old Milestones

Yuganov Konstantin/Shutterstock.com

The journey to help your child reach their 4-year-old milestones can be both rewarding and challenging. These tips may ease the process and boost your child’s growth in all areas:

• For physical and motor skills, incorporate playtimes that encourage creative movement. Set up obstacle courses with cushions and furniture for multilevel fun that furthers fine and gross motor skills.
• For cognitive development, engage your toddler in simple problem-solving activities. Jigsaw puzzles and shape-sorting toys can enhance their logical thinking abilities.
• To promote language and communication skills, maintain a robust conversation with your child. Regularly reading together can’t be underestimated as it nurtures a love for language, expands vocabulary, and builds listening skills.
• In terms of social and emotional development, allow for playdates and family gatherings. As they interact with others, they practice empathy, sharing, and turn-taking. Make time for pretend play—it is imaginative and pivotal in emotional development.
• Cultivate healthy sleeping and eating habits for your little one. Develop a consistent bedtime routine and aim for a balanced diet.

Constant love, encouragement, and patience from your side can foster their growth as they reach milestones at four years old!

Maximilian100/Shutterstock.com

As your 4-year-old develops and yearns for more independence, you must reconsider the safety of your child, first.

They will begin attending preschool and kindergarten, spending time away from home and in the care of others. This can cause some anxiety and nervousness in parents.

One way to combat this feeling and always know where your child is at all times is with the Findmykids App . The downloadable app allows parents to see where their children are while also allowing children to send alerts to their parents if they are in danger.

With the Pingo GPS watch , parents can track their little ones who aren’t old enough to have a phone too!

Download the Findmykids app for free right now or purchase a Pingo Track GPS smartwatch with a full app’s license included!

Maria Symchych/Shutterstock.com

Understanding and recognizing these milestones is essential for you as a parent. It allows you to notice if your child might be experiencing developmental delays.

Sometimes, these delays might require simple interventions, like speech therapy. However, other times, they might indicate more significant issues.

Some signs of developmental delays include:

• Avoiding playing with other children
• Unable to say their full name
• Shy, fearful, or aggressive behaviors
• Separation anxiety from parents
• Limited interests
• No eye contact with others
• Difficulty holding a crayon or pencil

By being informed and vigilant, you can identify any potential roadblocks in your child’s progress early and seek necessary medical or professional guidance.

Remember, although these delays can be worrying, many children catch up with their peers given the right support and time.

When to be Concerned About Developmental Delays in Your 4-Year-Old

Alena Zharava/Shutterstock.com

It’s crucial that, as parents, you become alert if your child seems to exhibit persistent difficulty in speaking, understanding, or executing instructions.

Similarly, if they have trouble forming sentences or if you notice potential issues with their hearing, immediate consultation with a pediatrician is advised.

These can be potential indicators of developmental delays in your little one that require professional evaluation.

Remember that early identification is key to setting the appropriate interventions and support. Don’t hesitate to seek help when these concerns arise.

Keeping Your 4-Year-Old on Track to Achieve Important Milestones

Dusan Petkovic/Shutterstock.com

Helping your child reach crucial milestones at the age of 4 is vital to their overall development. This stage lays the groundwork for their physical, mental, social, cognitive, and language abilities.

Engaging your child in activities that stimulate these areas can positively impact their growth, increasing their confidence and self-esteem. However, as parents, your role doesn’t stop at fostering growth.

Ensuring the safety of your child is equally critical. This means providing a secure environment for exploration, monitoring for any changes in behavior or development, and acting promptly if developmental delays are noticed.

Let these milestones be the guiding posts for your child’s journey into growing up, and balance your encouragement and assistance with love and protection!

If you found this article helpful in navigating your child’s 4-year-old milestones, share it with other parents to help them keep their kids on track too. 

michaeljung/Shutterstock.com

What is the normal behavior of a 4-year-old?

A 4-year-old typically is independent, curious, and enjoys interactive play. They may be prone to brief emotional outbursts but overall should exhibit cooperative behavior. Increased imaginative play, storytelling, and frequently asking ‘why’ exemplify their burgeoning cognitive developments.

What should my 4-year-old be able to do?

Your 4-year-old should have enough independence to get dressed by themselves, brush their teeth, serve food, draw a person, identify colors and shapes, recall stories, follow directions, count to 10, and play cooperatively with other children.

How does a child behave at 4?

4-year-olds are often very curious and imaginative. They can become assertive, especially as they yearn for independence while asking about the world around them.

What does the average 4-year-old do?

Average 4-year-olds will play, create, and ask questions. They will be active outside, playing games, running, and riding tricycles. They will make up stories and games with their imagination. They gain some independence through activities such as brushing their teeth and pouring their own water.

Is a 4-year-old a toddler?

4-year-olds are not considered toddlers. They are considered to be preschoolers.

Toddlers are ages 2 to 3 years old.

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What the Traditional 4-Year Student Journey Means for Engagement

Student affairs professionals constantly make assumptions about their learners. 

By knowing a learner’s gender, academic major, residential status, and other demographic attributes, student affairs professionals attempt to extrapolate that student’s goals, interests, challenges and needs. 

These snap judgments usually aren’t malicious; they’re a natural human inclination and, better yet, an effort to customize campus programs and co-curricular opportunities to better fit each learner. 

One defining factor that can be particularly revealing is a student’s year—where they are in their undergraduate journey.

Knowing if a student is in their first, second, third or fourth year can give you valuable insight into what emotions they might be experiencing and, thus, how your office can best engage them on campus. 

Furthermore, understanding the bigger picture—the full four-year engagement journey—can help all the offices within your broader student affairs division develop collaborative strategies that support students appropriately each and every year. 

So, we’re inviting you to take a step back with us, to broaden your lens beyond the targeted focus of your office this week. We’ve designed four simple images summarizing the common emotions that a traditional four-year undergraduate student experiences each year. We’ve also included ideas for how your student affairs department can play a pivotal role in helping students manage these emotions—through events and services that uplift their enthusiasm, tamper their nerves, foster their ambitions and so much more. 

Here's a preview:

Click here to download all four cards.

We hope that, by continually reminding yourself of the full enrolled student journey, you’ll discover new opportunities for engagement, better assess individual student needs and gain confidence about the value of your work.

Happy engaging!

Last updated: January 11, 2023

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• Entertainment
• Inside <i>Hamilton</i>‘s Four-Year Journey From Stage to Screen

Inside Hamilton ‘s Four-Year Journey From Stage to Screen

T he Hamilton movie arriving on Disney+ on July 3 is different from the other musical movies you might be familiar with. It’s not a fully produced film adaptation, like the recent versions of Mary Poppins or Les Misérables , nor is it a live TV musical like the ones that have flooded network television over the past few years.

Instead, the film is something of a hybrid: it captures both live 2016 Broadway performances as well as closed-set renditions of songs shot from the stage. Thomas Kail, the director of the stage production and the film, wanted to convey the show’s immersive energy while also zooming in on quieter, more character-driven moments. The result, he hopes, offers “a way to give the viewer an opportunity to understand what it was like to be in the Richard Rogers Theater in June 2016,” he tells TIME.

As the film arrives amid a global pandemic and protests for racial justice, some are skeptical that a musical primarily about white slaveholders can speak to a moment in which long-held American narratives about opportunity and justice are being forcefully debunked. But Kail hopes that the show can “move the conversation forward and continue to amplify the movement.” In an interview, he discussed how the project came together across four years; composer Lin-Manuel Miranda and actor Phillipa Soo, who plays Eliza Schuyler in the film, also offered insight into the experience in separate conversations.

In 2016, the creative team behind Hamilton decided to film the show

By the summer of 2016, Hamilton was already a huge smash on Broadway: it had broken the record for Tony nominations with 16 nods, and it was pulling in more than $2 million a week at the box office. On June 12, the cast performed a rousing rendition of “History Has Its Eyes On You/Yorktown” at the Tonys, proving that the show could translate well to two dimensions.

But the relentless pace of Broadway, which requires 8 performances a week, was taking a toll on the original cast. In June, Miranda, Soo, Leslie Odom Jr., and other cast members announced their departure the following month. To the show’s creators and its many fans, it seemed obvious that a historic show’s original cast should be preserved for posterity. “This company was so alive and so deep into their roles,” Kail says. So he decided to shoot them over three dates, between June 26 and 28.

The cast did not rehearse specifically for the shoots

Kail was no stranger to filming musicals: earlier that year, he had directed Grease: Live on a Warner Bros. Studios backlot. Before filming Hamilton , Kail says he did not give any unique instructions to his cast, nor did he hold a film-specific rehearsal. “I said the same thing I said to them that I would say on any other performance: ‘No more, no less. You know what you’re doing,’” Kail recalls. “The connection was molecular. They didn’t need me to guide them at that point.”

“It required very little gearing up for it,” Soo says. “All I asked of myself, especially since I was so exhausted at that point, was just to show up and let the story guide me.”

Kail used a variety of techniques to shoot the show

Declain Quinn, the Hamilton movie’s director of photography, fastened three cameras overhead, then put six camera operators around the Richard Rogers Theater. One hundred microphones were also placed across the venue. On June 26, Kail shot the show’s matinee performance with all of its roaring crowd noise, then asked the cast to stay behind to shoot a few more songs.

The next day was a Monday, which was usually the cast’s off-day. Instead, Kail spent 12 hours shooting various scenes with them, especially ones he thought would be captured better with an intimate approach. Instead of staying in the audience, Kail got directly onstage, filming with a steadicam as well as a crane and a dolly-mounted camera.

This technique allowed him to get inside the action and match the show’s kineticism with his own. In “The Room Where It Happens,” for example, Kail starts by honing in closely on Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, mirroring the conspiratorial and private nature of their scheming. As the scene progresses, however, the camera shifts to Aaron Burr, who longs to be privy to their negotiations. “It gives you an opportunity to be inside and have a relationship to the interiority of the moment, which is harder to do when you’re watching something in a theater where there might be 100 people sitting in front of you,” Kail says.

Some details come through on film that even the highest-paying audience member might have missed. Toward the end of “The Room Where It Happens,” for example, Odom Jr. stands on a table and jumps while the tablecloth beneath him is pulled away; the overhead camera presents a vantage point unseeable from the front row.

The various camera techniques also allowed Kail to capture the show’s quieter and more emotional moments, including Soo’s heartbreaking ballad, “Burn.” “It was fun to feel like I could go inside a little bit more,” Soo says. “Especially during ‘Burn,’ Eliza is so exposed out there and so alone. It was interesting to explore that knowing that the playing space was a little bit different.”

The following day, Kail shot Tuesday’s performance, and then loaded out. The entirety of the Hamilton movie comes from those three days of shooting.

The footage went unreleased for four years

When Miranda originally announced that he was filming the show, he tweeted that he had “no idea” what they were going to do with it. “Throwing it in a vault at Gringotts for a bit probly,” he wrote, referring to the ultra-secure bank in Harry Potter .

Kail and editor Jonah Moran started editing the footage together in the autumn of 2016. They edited on and off for 18 months, and developed a rough cut by the summer of 2018.

At that point, however, productions of Hamilton were flourishing around the world. Kail and Miranda didn’t want to decrease the value of those productions by releasing the film, so they decided to put it on hold. The New York Times reports that they shopped the film around Hollywood at that time but ultimately turned everyone down.

Last year, the team felt they were ready to move forward, and struck a deal with Disney+, which paid $75 million for the rights, according to Deadline . Kail finished up “the last 1.5%” of editing in April. The film was supposed to arrive in theaters next year—but due to the pandemic, Disney pushed up its release, on the small screen, to coincide with July 4 weekend.

Miranda says he hopes the show will resonate in this moment. “Every issue, every problem, every fight we have now in this country was present in our founding,” he says. “When I wrote the Cabinet Battle about state’s rights, we’re still having that fight, only now it’s about the pandemic and supplies. And the original sin of slavery can still be found in the systemic racism and police brutality of this country. I see so much of the connection of the language of revolution between what’s in the show and what’s going on right now.”

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Top 25 Creative 4 Year Anniversary Gift Picks for a Memorable Day

Table of Contents

Celebrating a four-year journey of marriage is a testament to love’s strength and the shared experiences that have enriched two lives. “Top 25 Creative 4 Year Anniversary Gift Picks for a Memorable Day” is a carefully curated guide designed to inspire those searching for the perfect 4 year anniversary gift . This milestone, often marked by the exchange of fruits or flowers as a traditional gift, symbolizes the flourishing partnership between spouses. For those seeking a 4 year anniversary traditional gift , the options abound, from artisan-crafted fruit baskets to elegant floral arrangements.

The quest for a heartfelt 4 year anniversary gift for a wife takes a thoughtful turn, as this selection includes gifts that are not just tokens of appreciation but also reflections of the deep understanding between partners. Similarly, finding a 4 year anniversary gift for him can be a journey of discovering items that resonate with his personal taste and celebrate the unique bond you share.

This article doesn’t just list gifts; it dives into the very essence of why each 4th wedding anniversary gift has been chosen, ensuring that every reader can find something that speaks to their heart. Whether it’s a traditional, modern, or utterly unique anniversary gift , these top picks are bound to inspire and facilitate a truly memorable celebration.

The significance of such an occasion is matched by the thoughtfulness behind each 4 year anniversary gift for a wife or husband, making it clear that every recommendation is infused with warmth and consideration. As you navigate through this collection, be assured that each suggestion aims to enhance the celebration of love and the cherished moments that have led to this day.

A Guide to Finding Your Perfect 4 Year Anniversary Gift

Considering a special occasion like the four- year anniversary, an appropriate souvenir must be thoughtful and pleasant. Its is the fourth year of a relationship that represents fruit and flowers symbolizing blossoming and ripening process. In more modern interpretations, appliances are often given, signifying the practical aspects and comfort in a relationship’s daily life. The symbol color for this special occasion is blue or green, both hues representing depth, stability, and a harmonious growth in the partnership. The geranium, with its varied and vibrant colors, stands as the emblematic flower for this anniversary, mirroring the diverse and rich experiences shared over four years.

When choosing the best gift for 4 year anniversary , take these elements of traditional and modern traditions into consideration. For instance, a geranium bouquet not only follows the tradition but also livens it up with some natural charm. At the same time, instead of something conservative and traditional you may choose a genuinely useful yet atypical device which will simplify your shared daily routine. We have to think about our partner’s preferences and needs as well. Does nature mean to them, that flowers portray their love the best or would a modern and creative tool make them happy every day?

In this regard, personalization of a gift is another tip. Personalization indicates that the gift has been thought out and is unique. The most memorable of choice guarantees that such engraved items, custom art or a photo album full of memories spanning the past four years will be deeply meaningful. Such presents not only mark the occasion but also contribute to strengthening your special relationship.

Finding the ideal 4 year anniversary gift requires a combination of tradition and individual creativity. Even if you decide on the symbolism of fruit and flowers, practicality offered by an appliance or something else completely different it is essential to choose a gift that illustrates your path together with the many more years ahead. This combination of the old, new and individuality will surely make your four-year anniversary an unforgettable, treasured event.

Traditional Fruit Gifts For 4 Year Anniversary

Celebrating four years of joy together demands an occasion filled with meaning and tradition. A 4 years’ anniversary gift made to observe the tradition of giving fruits symbolizes that the relationship between partners did ripen. It is an acknowledgment of the growth and fertility that have been signatures of the last four years. 

This selection of traditional fruit gifts captures the nurturing aspect of your relationship, by offering a range from gourmet rendered monumental baskets to artisan preserves that convey sweetness in this journey. For those who hold dear the traditions of age-old practices, such gifts will pragmatically manifest an aristocratic love that bloomed in time.

Tasty Fruit Jams

UNCOMMON GOODS

Embark on a sweet journey through the delightful world of tasty fruit jams, a perfect 4-year anniversary gift for the couple who loves to savor the flavors of life. Each jar is a mosaic of carefully selected fruits, simmered to perfection and sealed with the promise of quality. Spread it on morning toast or pair it with a cheese platter for an evening treat, these jams are a testament to the sweetness of your years together.

Homemade Limoncello Kit

Celebrate your four years of zestful love with a homemade limoncello kit, a gift that adds a personal touch to your anniversary celebrations. This kit includes everything needed to create your own batch of this classic Italian liqueur, offering a shared experience that’s both fun and meaningful. Toast to your relationship with a glass of your crafted limoncello and cherish the love that continues to grow.

Cold Pressed Juice Variety Pack

For the health-conscious duo, a cold-pressed juice variety pack is a refreshing 4-year anniversary gift. Bursting with a spectrum of flavors and nutrients, each bottle is an elixir of well-being, symbolizing the vibrant and dynamic spirit of your partnership. Enjoy a burst of vitality with every sip and toast to many more years of happiness and health.

Dried Fruit Gift Tray

A dried fruit gift tray is an elegant and healthful way to commemorate four wonderful years. Meticulously selected and naturally preserved, these fruits offer a taste of the exotic, reflecting the diverse experiences you’ve shared. This gift tray is not only a nod to the traditional fruit gift but also a convenient, delicious treat perfect for any anniversary celebration.

Apple Harvest Festival Reed Diffuser Set

Embrace the essence of autumn with the Apple Harvest Festival reed diffuser set, a 4-year anniversary gift that fills your home with the warmth of the season. With notes of crisp apple, cinnamon, and a hint of orange, this diffuser set provides a continuous, flame-free fragrance that is both comforting and uplifting, just like the partnership you’re celebrating.

More: Discover the Best 2 Year Anniversary Gifts for Your Loved One

Traditional Flower Gifts For 4 Year Anniversary

Flowers have always been the Beggar of love’s language and a 4-year anniversary gift from this floral world screams passion and respect in their loudest tone. Celebrating the beauty and fragility of flowers, these conventional blossom gifts for a 4-year anniversary are chosen to reflect your special one of a kind growing relationship. 

Each delicate petal and stem is a celebration of the gentle years that you created together, whether it be an arrangement filled with geraniums in recognition of four-year anniversary or a customized bouquet containing your partner’s favorite blossoms. May these botanical marvels symbolize how deep and aromatic your love is.

Flower Carved Custom Fruit Bowls

Discover the charm of Flower Carved Custom Fruit Bowls for your 4-year anniversary gift. Designed with skill, the bowls combine practicality and elaborate design represented by beautiful carvings of flowers borrowed from traditional anniversary symbolism. However, a bowl is more than just a container for fruit – it’s an individual piece of art that will decorate your home with its unique design and symbolize the development of your relationship during these four years.

Framed Geranium Print

The Framed Geranium Print is a charming ode to four years of love and development. Featuring the lively geranium, which is known as a traditional fourth-anniversary flower, this print not only becomes an attractive addition to your room’s design but also helps you with preserving these beautiful moments forever. The frame’s high quality and bright images are guaranteed to keep the memory of your special event going for several years.

Sterling Silver Pressed Flower Earrings

Gift Sterling Silver Pressed Flower Earrings to your partner as a 4-year anniversary gift because the earrings embody grace and true beauty. In each unit is a real flower, representing the eternal love that unites you. The sterling silver setting enhances both the appearance and longevity of these earrings, so they will be remembered as fondly as the memories created between you.

Tea Towels Wildflowers

Choose the combination of functionality and appeal in Tea Towels featuring Wildflowers. These towels have rich designs which represent the nature in your kitchen as peaceful ideals. Made of absorbent fabric, they are as functional as they are poetic, making it the ideal 4-year anniversary gift for a house that appreciates equally its appearance and utility.

Lavender Geranium Shower Steamers

Liven up your shower routine with the calming scents of new Lavender Geranium Shower Steamers. Designed to provide the same tranquil feeling as you would find in a spa, these steamers emit lavender and geranium aromas with every use. They are a mindful gift to mark four years of shared joy.

Modern 4 Year Anniversary Gifts

As you reach the four-year mark, celebrate with a modern twist on anniversary gifting. This collection of modern 4-year anniversary gifts is tailored for the contemporary couple, merging innovation with sentiment. These gifts step away from traditional norms and embrace the present with stylish and trendy choices that reflect the current life you’re building together. 

From sleek gadgets to chic home decor, each gift is a symbol of the life you have modernized as a pair, making it not just an object of desire but a milestone of your shared journey. Elevate your anniversary with a gift that resonates with the pulse of today’s world.

Bluetooth Speaker Water Bottle

If a perfect 4 year anniversary gift that unites hydration and harmony is sought, try the modern Bluetooth Speaker Water Bottle. This multi-function device not only maintains the optimal temperature of any drink but also entertains you with your favorite music. It is suitable for the one who likes to involve his outdoor adventures or gym sessions into a live soundtrack. This water bottle promotes drinking water into a song due to its durability and high-quality sound.

Robot Vacuum

Experience the convenience of contemporary lifestyle with a Robot Vacuum as an appreciative 4 year wedding gift for the household. This hands-free cleaning buddy brings the gift of time and comfort. 

As it smartly navigates and packs a punch of suction, the machine is ideal for keeping your floors immaculate so that you both can benefit from cleaner homes without work. The robot vacuum is an indicator of your desire to look after the shared space in all its aspects and ensure that your partner feels comfortable.

Portable Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner

For the fourth anniversary, give a gift that helps maintain your house clean. This practical upholstery cleaner is a gift that suggests interest in the experience of living and daily life. Its tiny size and excellent cleaning properties handle spills, stains significantly helping its popularity in every home. This cleaner is an embodiment of a life full of energetic living and protecting your surrounding environment.

4 In 1 Oven Air Fryer

In addition, the 4 In 1 Kitchen appliance is an ideal choice for a culinary enthusiast as a four years anniversary gift. This multipurpose device is a countertop jewel capable of baking, roasting, Air frying and reheating with an intuitive interface. This is a perfect option for people who value the ease of cooking and creativity in your kitchen that will guide you along with them through new recipes, methods.

Mini Fridge

A Mini Fridge makes a delightful and practical 4-year anniversary gift as it offers your partner with a personal space for their favorite drinks and snacks. This limited cooler fits beautifully into any home office, workshop or a nooksie as it pleases. It is a present that shows your gratitude for their comfort and personal preferences, which enables them to relax more easily while consuming the beverages of his or her choosing.

More: 25+ Perfect 8 Year Anniversary Gifts to Mark Your Special Journey

Romantic and Fun 4 Year Anniversary Gifts

Four years of laughter, love, and shared experiences deserve to be marked with gifts that reflect the happiness and passion in your relationship. These are intended to reignite the excitement and passion that you two have enjoyed from day one. 

If it’s a fun little game to share as lovers or an offbeat memento full of zest for your time together, each gift will make you smile and set the magical sparks ablaze. Be ready for yet another year of love with a gift that represents the fun you had and memories still to be made.

Electronic Love Note

In the modern digital era, we can say that Electronic Love Note is a unique transformation of romantic contemporary gestures. This modern 4-year anniversary present is an electronic device that allows you to send sincere messages through its beautiful design. It’s a modern interpretation of the traditional love letter that tech-oriented couples may enjoy. Whether this is an everyday affirmation or a remark of endearment, this device ensures that the communication remains interesting and individual.

Personalized Scrabble Set

They bring you board games and playful evenings that capture the best spirit of anniversaries, which also perfectly describes this Personalized Scrabble Set as a gift. This modified game, which is designed for avid Scrabble players, has your names on the board such that every play becomes a sentimental moment. Mark the 4-year milestone with an engaging mental duel that keeps developing memories in every formed word.

Personalized Night Light “I Love You To The Moon & Back”

SANDJEST 

The moon brings light to the world of night with a Personalized Night Light reading, “I Love You To The Moon & Back,” and reminds you that your love is infinite. It’s not only a light, but your love that pays homage to each other every night.

Personalized Anniversary Couple Keychain “Always Be By Your Side”

The Personalized Anniversary Couple Keychain allows you to take a piece of your romance wherever you go. It reads “Always Be By Your Side” and serves as a constant reminder of your commitment. This 4-year anniversary gift is sentimental but practical, meaning it’ll keep your love with you even when others are far away.

Reasons Why I Love You Box

Unlock the depth of your emotions with the “Reasons Why I Love You” Box. This intimate 4-year anniversary gift invites you to share the many reasons your heart belongs to your partner. Each reason is a gift in itself, making this box a treasury of love and a testament to the years you’ve cherished together.

More: 25+ Romantic 1 Year Anniversary Gifts for Your Special Someone

Personalized 4 Years Anniversary Gifts

It is personalization, which turns the simple present into a gift of memories. With the fourth anniversary of your union approaching, these custom 4 years celebration gifts provide a chance to capture what you’ve shared during all those memorable moments. 

Each of the custom-engraved keepsakes that come with personal messages and bespoke artworks crafted about your love story, has been created in order to make your anniversary as unique as possible. Use these presents as a representation of the special relationship you have and a celebration for the unique journey that is yours.

4 Year Anniversary Photo Print

The 4 Year Anniversary Photo Print is the perfect way to celebrate as you reach this milestone. This timeless print encompasses your special moments together, beautifully encapsulating this period in the warmest colors. It is carefully designed to capture your precious memories with perfect clarity and vividness. This print is perfect to display your home with a note of history and the journey taken together.

4th Wedding Anniversary Lighted Christmas Ornament

A 4th Wedding Anniversary Lighted Christmas Ornament can light up your festive décor with its twinkling magic. This charming bauble not only lights up your tree but also signifies the fourth anniversary of marital happiness. With a gentle light inside, it provides a toasty hue that represents the enduring gleam of your love. It’s a perfect combination of holiday festivity and special anniversary celebration.

Personalized Special Date Canvas For Couple

Capture the day that holds a special place in your heart with the Personalized Special Date Canvas For Couples. This bespoke artwork is not just a canvas, but a chronicle of your love, custom-tailored with your significant date. The sophisticated design and personal touch make it a standout piece, ready to take pride of place in your living space, celebrating your unique bond.

Personalized Couple Photo Custom Mug

Start every day with a smile and a sip of nostalgia with the Personalized Couple Photo Custom Mug. This mug goes beyond a regular kitchen staple, becoming a cherished item that holds both your favorite beverage and favorite memory. It’s a daily reminder of your love, with each customized photo and message making every coffee break a trip down memory lane.

Personalized Ceramic Ornament Couple Annoying Each Other

Annoy your love to the moon with this Personalized Ceramic Ornament. This sentimental keepsake is in honor of the lighter side to your relationship. A sentiment crafted from ceramic to last with quirky memories sure to elicit laughs and love, it’s a durable memento that is perfect for your anniversary.

More: 35+ Perfect 5 Year Anniversary Gifts for a Half-Decade of Love

As the article “Top 25 Creative 4 Year Anniversary Gift Picks for a Memorable Day” draws to a close, it’s clear that the perfect 4 year anniversary gift is one that reflects the beauty and growth of a shared journey. Whether it’s embracing the tradition with a 4 year anniversary traditional gift or capturing the heart with a unique 4 year anniversary gift for her , the gesture of giving becomes a reflection of the love and memories created over four years.

For the husbands in search of that impeccable 4 year anniversary gift for a wife , or the wives looking for that meaningful 4 year anniversary gift for him , this guide serves as a beacon, leading you to a choice that resonates with your significant other’s spirit. It’s about celebrating the past with 4th wedding anniversary gifts that hold significance, and looking forward to the future with presents that promise more joyous moments ahead.

In the spirit of meaningful commemorations, Sandjest stands ready to elevate your gift-giving experience. With a commitment to handcrafted personalization, Sandjest transforms ordinary presents into extraordinary symbols of affection, ensuring that each 4 year anniversary gift from their collection is as unique as the love it celebrates. Their dedication to hand-delivering personal gifts encapsulates a vision where every token is an intimate expression of the bond you cherish.

So, let Sandjest assist you in marking this milestone with a personalized touch. Visit Sandjest to select a gift that truly embodies the depth of your feelings and the joy of your celebration, and let this anniversary be a memorable testament to your enduring love.

What Are Some Unique 4 Year Anniversary Gift Ideas that Go Beyond Traditional Presents?

When celebrating a four-year landmark in your relationship, you might wish to find a 4 year anniversary gift that strays from the beaten path of tradition. Our article, “Top 25 Creative 4 Year Anniversary Gift Picks for a Memorable Day,” offers a treasure trove of unique ideas. From custom art pieces that capture your shared experiences to innovative gadgets that cater to modern comforts, these suggestions are designed to surprise and delight your partner on this special occasion.

Can You Suggest Creative 4 Year Anniversary Gifts that Are Both Meaningful and Personal?

Absolutely, the essence of a memorable 4 year anniversary gift lies in its ability to mirror the personal journey you share with your partner. Our curated list includes personalized gifts that range from engraved accessories that carry your shared dates or quotes to bespoke experiences tailored to your partner’s interests. These gifts are not just items; they are personal stories wrapped in the warmth of your love.

How Can I Find a 4 Year Anniversary Gift that Celebrates Our Unique Story?

Every couple’s story is distinct, and finding a 4 year anniversary gift that honors that uniqueness is key to a heartfelt celebration. In our article, we highlight gifts that can be customized to reflect your special narrative, such as a map detailing the place you met or a book that intertwines your life’s milestones. These gifts are not merely objects but emblems of the time you have woven together over these four years.

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• Breaking Up

By Olivia Sanders

By Olivia Sanders • November 26, 2023

Post 4-Year Breakup Guide: Rebuild and Thrive

Key Takeaways:

• Breaking up from a 4-year relationship marks a significant emotional and life transition, necessitating time and patience for healing.
• Understanding the common emotional stages post-breakup helps in managing feelings more effectively and fosters self-awareness.
• Self-care and seeking support are crucial in rebuilding self-esteem and identity after such a long-term relationship.
• Embracing personal growth and lessons learned from the relationship can lead to a more positive and fulfilling future.
• Recognizing when to seek professional help is essential for healthy emotional recovery.

Understanding the Impact of a 4-Year Relationship Breakup

Ending a relationship that has spanned four years is not just the end of a partnership; it's the closing of a significant chapter in one's life. This period often involves shared experiences, growth, and intertwined lives, making the breakup a deeply transformative experience. Acknowledging this impact is the first step towards healing.

For many, this breakup can lead to a re-evaluation of self-identity and goals. During the years together, partners often build their lives around each other, and separating those shared aspects can feel like starting over. It's a time to rediscover individual interests, preferences, and aspirations that might have been overshadowed by the relationship.

The sense of loss can be profound, encompassing not just the partner but also the future that was envisioned together. This loss extends to mutual friends, routines, and even shared living spaces. The grieving process for all these elements is natural and varies greatly from person to person.

Financial and practical implications also play a significant role, especially in long-term relationships. Decoupling finances, finding new living arrangements, and adjusting to single life entail significant changes. These practicalities can add stress to the emotional burden of the breakup.

Finally, this breakup is a journey of personal growth. It's an opportunity to learn from past experiences, understand personal needs and boundaries, and grow stronger as an individual. Embracing this aspect can transform a challenging experience into a catalyst for positive change.

Recognizing the Emotional Stages Post-Breakup

After a breakup, individuals typically go through various emotional stages, not unlike the stages of grief. Understanding these stages can help in navigating the emotional landscape of a breakup more effectively.

The first stage is often shock and denial. Despite anticipating or even initiating the breakup, the finality of it can still be jarring. Denial serves as a defense mechanism, buffering the immediate shock of the loss, and can manifest as disbelief that the relationship is really over.

Anger frequently follows denial. This anger can be directed at the ex-partner, oneself, or the situation in general. It's a natural response to the perceived unfairness and hurt caused by the breakup. Recognizing this anger as a normal part of the healing process is important.

Bargaining is another stage, where one might find themselves trying to negotiate with their ex or even internally, thinking about all the ways they could have done things differently to prevent the breakup. This stage reflects the struggle to accept the reality of the situation.

Depression or profound sadness is a common stage, where the full weight of the loss is felt. This stage is marked by feelings of emptiness, loneliness, and despair. It's crucial to acknowledge these feelings and allow oneself to grieve while also remembering that this stage, like all others, is temporary.

Acceptance is the final stage, where one comes to terms with the reality of the breakup and starts moving forward. Acceptance doesn't mean being okay with what happened, but rather acknowledging it and understanding that life continues. This stage is crucial for healing and rebuilding a new, independent life.

Navigating the Initial Shock and Denial

The initial response to a breakup, especially after a long-term relationship, often involves a significant degree of shock and denial. This reaction is a normal part of the coping process, acting as a psychological cushion against the immediate impact of the separation.

During this phase, individuals might find themselves unable to accept the reality of the breakup. They may continue to behave as if the relationship is still ongoing, avoiding discussions or thoughts about the breakup. This denial is a temporary defense mechanism, giving the mind time to gradually process the change.

It's important to recognize and acknowledge these feelings without judgment. While denial can temporarily shield from pain, it's also crucial to gradually face reality. Support from friends, family, or a therapist can be beneficial in gently acknowledging and moving beyond this stage.

Shock and denial can manifest in different ways, such as disbelief, numbness, or a sense of surrealness about the breakup. As these feelings start to subside, they pave the way for more intense emotions, signaling the beginning of deeper processing and healing.

Dealing with Anger and Bargaining

Following the initial shock and denial, many people experience anger. This anger can be directed towards the ex-partner, circumstances, or even oneself. It's a natural response to the perceived injustice and hurt experienced in the breakup.

Anger, while challenging, can be a powerful force for self-reflection and change. It's essential to express this anger in healthy ways, such as through talking to trusted individuals, engaging in physical activity, or creative pursuits. Suppressing or ignoring anger can lead to prolonged emotional distress.

Simultaneously, the bargaining stage often sets in. This stage involves the 'what if' and 'if only' thoughts that revolve around the idea of undoing or somehow avoiding the breakup . Bargaining is a way of clinging to the hope of reconciliation or change.

It's not uncommon to mentally replay the relationship, thinking about different scenarios where things could have been different. These thoughts are a part of the struggle to make sense of the breakup and can be accompanied by feelings of regret or guilt .

In navigating these stages, it's helpful to maintain a sense of perspective. Understanding that these are normal reactions and part of the healing process can provide some comfort. It's also beneficial to channel these emotions into constructive actions that promote self-care and healing.

Ultimately, working through anger and bargaining helps pave the way towards acceptance and healing. It's a process that requires time, patience, and often, the support of others. Each stage, while challenging, is a step forward in the journey of recovery from a breakup.

The Depths of Sadness: Finding Your Way Through

Experiencing deep sadness after a breakup, especially from a long-term relationship, is a natural and expected part of the healing process. This stage involves confronting the pain and emptiness felt in the absence of a once-significant other.

During this time, feelings of loneliness, loss, and despair can be overwhelming. It's important to allow oneself to feel and express these emotions, rather than suppressing them. Engaging in activities like writing, art, or talking to close friends or a therapist can be therapeutic.

While navigating through sadness, it's vital to maintain basic self-care practices. This includes simple routines like eating well, getting enough sleep, and engaging in physical activity. These practices can help in maintaining physical and emotional balance during this challenging time.

Eventually, as one continues to process these emotions, the intensity of sadness begins to lessen. Gradually, moments of peace and acceptance start to emerge, indicating the beginning of healing and movement towards a new chapter in life.

Acceptance and Moving Forward

Reaching a state of acceptance is a crucial milestone in recovering from a breakup. Acceptance doesn't mean forgetting the past or no longer feeling pain; it means acknowledging the reality of the situation and understanding that it's time to move forward.

With acceptance, the focus shifts from what was lost to what can be gained. This stage is about rebuilding and envisioning a new future. It involves setting new goals, exploring new interests, and opening oneself to new possibilities.

Re-establishing a sense of self is key during this phase. After a long-term relationship, individuals often rediscover parts of themselves that were overshadowed by the partnership. This can be an exciting and empowering process.

It's also a time for reflection – understanding what was learned from the relationship and how it has shaped personal growth. Such reflections can provide valuable insights for future relationships and personal development.

Forging new connections and strengthening existing ones is also important. Social support from friends, family, or support groups can provide comfort and encouragement.

For some, this might also be a time to consider new romantic relationships. However, it's essential to ensure that one is emotionally ready and not just trying to fill a void left by the previous relationship.

Lastly, acceptance and moving forward is an ongoing process. It's normal to have moments of sadness or reflection even after reaching this stage. The key is to acknowledge these feelings but also to recognize the growth and progress made.

Rebuilding Self-Esteem After a Long-Term Breakup

Rebuilding self-esteem is a crucial aspect of recovery after the end of a long-term relationship. The breakup can often leave individuals questioning their worth and abilities, making it essential to work on regaining confidence.

One effective way to rebuild self-esteem is through self-affirmation. This involves practicing positive self-talk and acknowledging personal strengths and achievements. It's about changing the narrative from self-doubt to self-appreciation.

Setting and achieving small goals can also boost self-esteem. These goals don't have to be grand; they can be as simple as picking up a new hobby or improving a skill. The key is to celebrate these achievements, no matter how small.

Surrounding oneself with supportive people who provide positive reinforcement is another important step. This support can come from friends, family, or even support groups where one can share experiences and receive encouragement.

Finally, engaging in activities that promote self-care and wellbeing, like exercise, meditation, or simply spending time in nature, can significantly improve self-esteem. Such activities not only enhance physical health but also contribute to a positive mental state.

Re-establishing Your Individual Identity

After a long-term relationship, re-establishing one's individual identity is a journey of self-discovery. It's about reconnecting with oneself and rediscovering personal interests, values, and aspirations that may have been overshadowed during the relationship.

Exploring new hobbies or revisiting old interests can be a powerful way to reconnect with oneself. These activities not only bring joy and fulfillment but also help in understanding personal preferences and passions.

Reflecting on personal values and beliefs is another critical aspect. This can involve introspection about what truly matters and what one stands for, leading to a stronger sense of self.

Re-establishing independence is also key. This involves making decisions independently, being self-reliant in daily activities, and learning to enjoy one's own company. It's about finding comfort and confidence in being alone.

Building a new routine and structure in life can provide a sense of stability and normalcy. This might include establishing new daily habits, creating a personal space that reflects one's individuality, or even changing one's lifestyle to better align with personal goals.

Maintaining social connections is important, but it's also vital to establish boundaries that honor one's individual needs and preferences. It's about balancing social life with personal space and time for self-reflection and growth.

Lastly, embracing change and being open to new experiences can lead to a richer, more diverse sense of self. This openness can bring unexpected opportunities for growth and fulfillment.

Maintaining Healthy Boundaries Post-Breakup

Establishing and maintaining healthy boundaries after a breakup is crucial for emotional healing and personal growth. Boundaries help in defining what is acceptable and what isn't in terms of interactions with an ex-partner and others.

One of the first steps in setting boundaries is deciding on the nature and extent of communication with the ex-partner. This might mean limiting contact to necessary interactions or choosing a no-contact policy for a while, depending on individual needs.

Setting boundaries also involves protecting personal space and time. This means respecting your own emotional limits and not feeling obligated to meet others' expectations, especially if they compromise your well-being.

Lastly, it's important to communicate these boundaries clearly to those involved. This clarity helps in avoiding misunderstandings and ensures that one's emotional needs are respected by others.

The Role of Social Support in Healing

After a breakup, especially a long-term one, social support plays a vital role in the healing process. A strong support network can provide comfort, guidance, and a sense of belonging during a time of significant emotional upheaval.

Friends and family often serve as the primary source of support. They can offer a listening ear, practical assistance, and the reassurance that one is not alone in this journey. However, it's also important to choose supporters who are empathetic and understanding of your situation.

Joining support groups can be beneficial. These groups provide a platform to share experiences with others who are going through similar situations, fostering a sense of community and understanding.

Professional support, such as therapy or counseling, can also be crucial. Professionals can provide unbiased advice, coping strategies, and tools for emotional management that friends or family might not be equipped to offer.

Engaging in social activities, even when it feels challenging, can help in regaining a sense of normalcy and joy. Activities like group sports, clubs, or community events provide opportunities to connect with others and reduce feelings of isolation.

It's important to balance social interactions with personal space. While social support is beneficial, having time alone for self-reflection and self-care is equally important for healing.

Lastly, as one heals, social dynamics may change. Embracing these changes can lead to new friendships and relationships that align with one's evolved sense of self and life post-breakup.

When to Consider Professional Help

Recognizing when to seek professional help is a vital step in the healing process post-breakup. While it's normal to experience sadness and grief, there are certain signs that indicate the need for professional intervention.

If feelings of sadness or loss become overwhelming and persistent, interfering with daily functioning, it might be time to consult a professional. This includes prolonged depression, inability to perform regular tasks, or a consistent feeling of hopelessness.

Another sign is if you find yourself stuck in any of the emotional stages of post-breakup, such as prolonged anger or depression, without any signs of progression. Professional help can provide strategies to move through these stages more effectively.

Turning to unhealthy coping mechanisms, like excessive drinking, substance abuse, or self-harm, is a clear indicator that professional support is needed. These behaviors can escalate and lead to more serious health issues.

Professional help can also be beneficial if you're struggling with intrusive thoughts about the breakup or your ex-partner, which can manifest as obsessive thinking or inability to focus on other aspects of life.

If you feel isolated and find it hard to seek support from friends or family, a therapist can provide a safe and confidential space to express and work through your feelings.

Finally, consider seeking help if you're experiencing physical symptoms related to stress and emotional distress, such as sleep disturbances, changes in appetite, or chronic fatigue. These physical manifestations are often linked to emotional well-being.

Creating a Positive Outlook for Your Future

After a significant breakup, developing a positive outlook for the future is key to moving forward. This involves shifting focus from the past to the possibilities that lie ahead.

Setting new goals and aspirations is a great way to start. These goals can be related to personal development, career, hobbies, or relationships. They provide direction and a sense of purpose, fueling positive momentum.

Practicing gratitude can also help in fostering a positive outlook. Acknowledging and appreciating the good aspects of life, even the small ones, can shift perspective and improve overall happiness.

Engaging in activities that bring joy and fulfillment is another way to build a positive future. This might include traveling, learning new skills, or dedicating time to passions that were put aside during the relationship.

Lastly, maintaining an open mind and being willing to embrace new experiences and relationships can lead to unexpected joys and opportunities, paving the way for a fulfilling and optimistic future.

FAQs on Handling a 4-Year Relationship Breakup

Q1: How long does it take to get over a 4-year relationship? A: The time it takes to heal from a breakup varies for each individual. It depends on factors like the depth of the connection, personal coping mechanisms, and the support system. There's no set timeline, but it's important to allow yourself as much time as needed to heal.

Q2: Is it normal to still love my ex after the breakup? A: Yes, it's normal to have lingering feelings of love and affection towards your ex-partner, especially after a long-term relationship. These feelings can take time to fade and don't necessarily disappear immediately after the breakup.

Q3: How can I cope with the feeling of loneliness post-breakup? A: Coping with loneliness can involve engaging in social activities, pursuing hobbies, and building a support network of friends and family. Additionally, focusing on self-improvement and personal growth can also help alleviate feelings of loneliness.

Q4: Should I stay friends with my ex? A: Staying friends with an ex depends on individual circumstances and how it affects your emotional well-being. If maintaining a friendship hinders your healing or causes confusion, it might be best to reconsider the decision.

Q5: How do I deal with mutual friends after the breakup? A: Navigating mutual friendships post-breakup requires communication and boundaries. It's important to express your feelings and needs to your friends and find a balance that works for everyone involved.

Personal Growth and Lessons Learned

Enduring a breakup after a 4-year relationship often leads to significant personal growth and the learning of valuable life lessons. This period of transformation can be a catalyst for positive change and self-discovery.

One of the key lessons learned is the understanding of personal needs and boundaries in a relationship. The experience can provide insight into what is truly important in a partner and in a relationship.

Many also learn the importance of self-reliance and independence. A long-term relationship can sometimes lead to dependency, and a breakup offers the chance to rediscover the ability to stand alone.

Another valuable lesson is the ability to cope with change and adversity. Navigating the aftermath of a breakup builds resilience, adaptability, and strength, which are beneficial in all areas of life.

There's also a deeper understanding of emotional intelligence gained. Experiencing and managing a range of emotions post-breakup enhances empathy and understanding towards oneself and others.

Breakups often lead to a re-evaluation of life goals and priorities. This can lead to a more authentic and fulfilling path, aligned with one's true aspirations and values.

Finally, there's an opportunity to learn about forgiveness and letting go. Holding onto resentment or regret can be damaging, and learning to forgive (both the ex-partner and oneself) is crucial for moving forward in a healthy manner.

Rediscovering Happiness: Steps to Take

Rediscovering happiness after a breakup involves a conscious effort to focus on positivity and self-growth. It's about finding joy in the small things and rebuilding a sense of contentment from within.

Engaging in activities that bring personal joy is a crucial step. Whether it's a hobby, sport, or creative pursuit, these activities can provide a sense of achievement and pleasure.

Developing a practice of mindfulness and gratitude can also significantly impact one's outlook. This might include meditation, keeping a gratitude journal, or simply taking time each day to reflect on positive aspects of life.

Lastly, connecting with others and building meaningful relationships can enhance happiness. This doesn't necessarily mean romantic relationships but also friendships and community connections that bring a sense of belonging and support.

Embracing New Beginnings After a Long-Term Relationship Ends

The end of a long-term relationship, while challenging, opens the door to new beginnings. Embracing this new phase of life can lead to personal growth and unexpected opportunities.

Creating a vision for the future is a great starting point. This can involve setting new goals, exploring different interests, or even making significant life changes like a career shift or relocating to a new place.

Reinventing oneself can be an exciting aspect of this journey. It's an opportunity to experiment with new styles, hobbies, and even social circles, exploring different facets of one's personality and interests.

Staying open to new romantic possibilities is also part of embracing new beginnings. However, it's important to ensure emotional readiness and to learn from past relationship experiences.

Travel and exploration, whether locally or internationally, can provide fresh perspectives and experiences, aiding in the discovery of new passions and interests.

Investing in personal development, through education, skill-building, or self-care practices, can enhance self-confidence and open up new pathways for growth and fulfillment.

Volunteering or getting involved in community projects can be a fulfilling way to connect with others and contribute positively to society, fostering a sense of purpose and connection.

Ultimately, embracing new beginnings is about saying 'yes' to life's possibilities, learning to adapt, and finding joy and fulfillment in new adventures and experiences.

Recommended Resources

• Getting Past Your Breakup: How to Turn a Devastating Loss into the Best Thing That Ever Happened to You by Susan J. Elliott, Da Capo Lifelong Books, 2009
• It's Called a Breakup Because It's Broken: The Smart Girl's Break-Up Buddy by Greg Behrendt and Amiira Ruotola-Behrendt, Broadway Books, 2005
• The Breakup Bible: The Smart Woman's Guide to Healing from a Breakup or Divorce by Rachel Sussman, Harmony, 2011
• relationship breakup
• emotional support
• personal development

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2025 Toyota 4Runner Is Finally Here and Appears Worth the Wait

The fifth-generation off-road SUV had a successful 15-year run, but the sixth-gen's new powertrains and upgraded frame make it easy to move on.

• Most models will be powered by an i-Force 2.4-liter turbo four that makes 278 horsepower, while others get an i-Force Max hybrid with an added electric motor that ups total output to 326 horses.
• Appearing more like a Tacoma SUV than it has in decades, the new 4Runner shares many exterior styling cues and interior features with the recently released pickup, while also nodding to its past.

After an impressive 15-year run, the fifth-generation Toyota 4Runner finally hands the baton to the 2025 Toyota 4Runner to kick off the model's sixth generation. The previous model's popularity hardly waned, but its time had finally come thanks to the arrival of the new crop of engines, eight-speed automatic transmission, and the TNGA-F frame and suspension architecture that recently came online with the newest Toyota Tacoma and the reintroduced Land Cruiser.

More Like a Tacoma SUV Than Ever Before

The 4Runner's new front-end styling is not a direct Tacoma carryover, but it does bear a striking resemblance. Its stance is similar too, with a wider track and three extra inches of overall body width. Like the Tacoma, much of the extra width comes from prominent fender flares that protrude farther to cover the suspension’s wider track. Many specific dimensions have not yet been released, but the Toyo Open Country AT III tires fitted to the TRD Pro and Trailhunter are sized at 265/70R-18, a sizing that translates to 33 inches tall.

Larger tires of this sort are now possible because, like the Tacoma, the 4Runner's wheelbase has been lengthened at the front to gain more body-mount clearance. Fitting larger tires to past versions of both trucks was problematic because of the relative lack of daylight in that area. For the 4Runner, this amounts to a 2.4-inch wheelbase increase (from 109.8 to 112.2 inches), which matches the new Land Cruiser , Lexus GX550 , and even the Lexus LX600 . Further back, the 4Runner's new styling jogs up past the rear doors in a way that makes its rear haunches appear even more muscular, while the rear side window's upper edge rolls into the roof in a way that pays homage to its first- and second-generation forebears.

Inside, the instrument cluster, center stack, and all the various buttons, switches and knobs look identical to those found in the new Tacoma, right down to the controls for the part-time four-wheel-drive transfer case (full-time on the Platinum and some versions of the Limited). The same 14.0-inch infotainment touchscreen is available on some trims, standard on others, and includes wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The overall interior styling is a dead ringer too, apart from different material and color choices for the TRD Pro and Trailhunter examples we sampled. This is outstanding news, because our recent test of the Tacoma TRD Off-Road proved that this interior is thoughtfully laid out, has handy storage features, and is easy to get familiar with.

Two Familiar New Engines

Under the hood, the 2025 4Runner's base engine is the 2.4-liter i-Force, a turbocharged inline-four that makes the same 278 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque it does in the Tacoma. Backed solely by an eight-speed automatic, this engine will be the lone offering in the SR5 and TRD Sport and will be the base fitment in the TRD Off-Road and Limited. We were highly impressed by this setup in a recent comparison between a Tacoma TRD Off-Road and a Chevy Colorado ZR2 , where the i-FORCE punched well above its weight by matching the significantly more powerful Chevy step for step and recording an identical 6.8-second 60-mph time. Meanwhile, the outgoing 4Runner's 4.0-liter V-6 produced just 270 hp and 278 pound-feet and feels lazier than that deficit suggests because of the dated five-speed automatic transmission it's hooked to. Fuel economy for the new model hasn't been revealed, but it's bound to be a leap forward from the thirsty V-6/five-speed combo.

Even more power is available with the 2.4-liter i-Force Max 4Runner Hybrid , which sandwiches an electric motor between the 278-hp engine and eight-speed transmission to up total output to 326 hp and 465 pound-feet of torque. It'll be optional in the TRD Off-Road and Limited; it will be the standard fitment in the TRD Pro, Trailhunter, and full-luxe Platinum. This engine has not yet surfaced in the Tacoma, so we have not tested it. But the extra power and torque are significant and can only make an already strong combination that much more compelling. Increasing fuel economy over the standard setup isn't necessarily the prime objective here, but fuel economy is bound to nudge up anyway because the system can recapture deceleration energy and redeploy it strategically later on.

An optional third-row seat returns to the 4Runner lineup. Toyota isn't saying, but based on what we've seen we think it'll be restricted to the standard i-Force engine. The hybrid's battery pack resides under the rear cargo floor, and its presence would seemingly make it impossible for that powertrain to coexist with the third-row seat. Expect the third row to be available on the SR5 and on Limiteds that lack the hybrid powertrain option. Access to that third row has been carved out by a change in the rear seat, which does away with the current two-step flip/fold design and switches to a one-step tumble that's faster and creates a third-row entry point.

New Suspension Thinking

Because the new 4Runner shares the TNGA-F architecture with the Tacoma and Land Cruiser, its suspension layout utilizes the same sort control-arm suspension up front and multilink live axle arrangement in the back. It's the same basic concept as before, but the geometry has been thoroughly rethought. Details about the full range of offerings across the entire model range are scarce, but we do know that the TRD Pro will be fitted with Fox QS3 dampers with manually adjustable compression “clicker” adjustments, while the Trailhunter will ride on ARB/Old Man Emu dampers. Both will have external reservoirs at the rear.

As with the Tacoma, the TRD Pro's suspension tuning will be geared more toward high-speed desert running, while the Trailhunter's is optimized for overland-style off-road exploration and rockier trail work. As such, the Trailhunter has additional skid plates and more robust rock sliders that are bolted directly to the frame. The one we saw had a built-in air compressor that looked stock, with a Trailhunter-branded roof basket and snorkel air intake that may or may not have been standard equipment. Time will tell.

Toyota has said that the electronic rear differential locker is standard fare for the TRD Off-Road, TRD Pro, and Trailhunter, which matches the Tacoma's strategy. We also spied a disconnecting front anti-roll bar on the TRD Pro and Trailhunter and were told this feature will be optional on the TRD Off-Road. Whether that'll be a stand-alone option as it is on the Tacoma or a part of some yet-to-be-announced option package remains to be seen. What all this means, though, is the current-generation 4Runner's optional KDSS system of hydraulically defeatable front and rear anti-roll bars is a goner.

Coming This Fall

We know enough about the new 2025 Toyota 4Runner to be excited about it, and the announced fall 2024 release means we won't have to wait long to drive one and learn how much the various trim levels will cost and what sort of fuel economy the two powertrains can deliver. It has clearly been a long time coming, but the new sixth-generation 2025 4Runner seems well worth the painfully long wait.

Dan Edmunds was born into the world of automobiles, but not how you might think. His father was a retired racing driver who opened Autoresearch, a race-car-building shop, where Dan cut his teeth as a metal fabricator. Engineering school followed, then SCCA Showroom Stock racing, and that combination landed him suspension development jobs at two different automakers. His writing career began when he was picked up by Edmunds.com (no relation) to build a testing department.

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2024 Final Four: UConn's Donovan Clingan and a journey of dominance marked by tragedy

Donovan Clingan has put on a clinic to lead UConn to the Final Four. (1:43)

BOSTON -- IF THERE'S anyone qualified to recognize a lack of patience, it's UConn walk-on Andrew Hurley . He's the son of coach Dan Hurley and the grandson of Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley, which gives him a generational familiarity with impatient DNA.

When asked for the defining personality trait of UConn star center Donovan Clingan , Andrew Hurley chuckles and mentions his close friend's limited patience.

"He's always got to be the first one to be anywhere," Andrew Hurley said, flashing the family's noted sarcastic chuckle. "We will be walking into team dinner tonight, he'll be the first one into the restaurant. He's always got to be the first one there."

Clingan, a 20-year-old sophomore, starts his day with a cup of hot coffee from Dunkin' that begins a caffeinated quest to be first. Be it going to a workout or meeting up with friends at the local hibachi grill, Clingan sprints ahead. "When people are late," Clingan deadpans, "it bothers me."

Clingan says his punctuality comes from his mother, Stacey Porrini Clingan, who instilled a simple lesson: "If you're not 15 minutes early, you're 10 minutes late."

As one of the breakout stars of this NCAA tournament, Clingan has emerged as an antithetical modern basketball prospect -- getting ahead by sticking around. He has taken his impatience and made it a discipline, allowing him to deliver on time for UConn.

His four years at a local public school, Bristol Central High in Bristol, Connecticut, and playing for the home-state university, cast a throwback vibe to Clingan's basketball development. He projects as a top-5 pick in the upcoming NBA draft and has led UConn to the cusp of back-to-back NCAA titles. It marks an on-time arrival of an atypical plan.

CLINGAN RESISTED THE temptations of the system and stayed local, the rare four-year public high school player to emerge as a high-profile recruit.

The decision ties to the death of his mother from breast cancer just over six years ago. Stacey's passing left Donovan -- and the community who revered her -- reeling.

Porrini Clingan graduated from Bristol Central in the Class of 1993 as a three-sport star in swimming, basketball and track. While in high school, she wrote a poem for her creative writing class on what it was like to be recruited, comparing it to going "on a date and you don't know what to say."

Porrini Clingan chose Maine and, attending on a hoops scholarship, helped the Black Bears to three straight NCAA tournaments.

She ended up in the Bristol and the University of Maine Sports Halls of Fame, with her qualities as a teammate and friend just as distinguished as her athletic accolades.

After graduation, she taught first grade at Greene-Hills Elementary in Bristol and touched a generation of students.

"I want to play in her name, her honor and try to do special things so I can make her proud." Donovan Clingan on his mom, Stacey

A former English teacher at Bristol Central, Gale Dickau, who is the director of the school's writing initiative, recalled Porrini Clingan as the "velvet hammer," gentle but persuasive. She stood 6-foot-4, and Tim Barrette -- a veteran coach at Bristol Central -- said her stature made her "larger than life" to the first graders she taught.

Clingan says that before his mom died when he was in eighth grade, he didn't take basketball particularly seriously. As he forged his way through a difficult period, he leaned into the sport -- his mom's best sport -- and along that path came a support system.

Amid the loss, Donovan Clingan channeled his anger and focus into basketball, leaning into the lessons Stacey had taught him. The community rallied around Donovan, his sister, Olivia, and father, Bill.

"When she passed, I really just told myself I want to just take my game to another level," Clingan said. "I want to play in her name, her honor and try to do special things so I can make her proud."

While many of the top 100 recruits hopped prep schools to raise their profiles, Clingan stuck around and worked landscaping in his hometown -- cutting lawns in the summer and shoveling snow in the winter.

He played four seasons at his local high school, stayed loyal to his lower-profile AAU team (Boston Spartans) and chose to stay at UConn when the promise of being an NBA first-round pick loomed after UConn won the national title his freshman year.

"How do you measure loyalty?" Barrette asked. "Especially in today's day and age, the almighty dollar is what everyone looks at. Donovan is different."

Staying for his sophomore season elevated his career and extended UConn's dominance of college basketball.

AT 3 A.M. DURING snowstorms, Rich Brown would pull into Donovan Clingan's driveway in Bristol and pick up the country's tallest snow shoveler.

For nearly three years in high school, Clingan worked for Brown, who runs Rich's Property Management LLC when he's not working in security and as an athletics coordinator at Bristol Central.

Clingan would shovel his own driveway before hopping in with Brown in the predawn darkness. The gig paid between $15 and $20 an hour, plus breakfast at Dunkin'.

In the summer, Clingan would landscape yards for Brown, even leaving a souvenir dent on the side of one of Brown's dump trucks when a lawnmower flipped during an ill-fated attempt to mow a hill. "Hey Mr. Brown, I dinged up the door on your dump truck," Clingan recalled sheepishly. "I tried to be cute with the yellow mower. It didn't work out. I'll pay for it."

"In the grocery line, pumping gas. Everyone is talking about Donovan." Former Bristol Central english teacher Gale Dickau

Mishaps aside, Clingan proved a diligent employee. But on the first day college coaches could legally call recruits -- June 15 heading into his junior year -- Clingan warned Brown he would get some calls that day. High-profile coaches buzzed his phone, and he continued to cut the lawns. "It didn't stop him from working," Brown said.

Shoveling the driveways and landscaping the lawns of Bristol illuminate the connection of Clingan to the city. It's a story of reciprocal love, with his ties to the community deepening in the wake of his mom's death.

"I think his decision to stay in Bristol is the heart and soul of that kid," said Dickau, who began working as a student teacher at Bristol Central in 1967. "He so much values family. From losing his mom, he's created this very strong connection to family, friends, the school community and the community at large.

"She was such a magnetic personality. She had legions of friends in town, and they helped take those kids under their wing. It's such a strong bond."

Barrette jokes that the powerhouse AAU programs would call him about Clingan joining their team. And the powerhouse prep schools would call his AAU coach, Joe Chatman. Both knew that Clingan didn't want to go anywhere.

The coaches prioritized Clingan's personal development as much as on-court development as he grew into his frame -- he's now listed at 7-2. While his competition wasn't elite in high school, his choice to stick around was based on more than rankings and offers.

"I don't think the dreams of being a top-5 pick in the NBA draft and all that were on his list at that point," Barrette said. "Just being the best basketball player that his mom wanted him to be."

Clingan led Bristol Central to a state title in 2022. The title game victory marked 43 consecutive wins for the school. (The prior season, the state tournament was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.) He averaged 30.3 points and 18.4 rebounds in the season that ended with a banner.

"In town this week and last week, no one talks about anything else but Donovan," Dickau said. "In the grocery line, pumping gas. Everyone is talking about Donovan."

At age 20, there are signs Donovan Clingan is still growing up. He wears a T-shirt under his basketball uniform, the time-tested sign of an underclassman's still-developing upper body. At the NCAA dais for interviews, Clingan's eyes dart back and forth to the teammates surrounding him, his grin showing he's still a bit unsure how to act in the spotlight.

UConn coaches note his awareness and youthfulness. Clingan went through a true recruiting process before committing to UConn, visiting Syracuse, Michigan and Ohio State.

Clingan knew exactly where he wanted to be. When he committed to UConn in July 2021 as a top-50 prospect, he was regarded as the school's best incoming big man since Andre Drummond .

"At that point, all of these things hadn't happened yet for this staff," UConn assistant Luke Murray said. "So for him to be as acclaimed as he was, one of the top high school players in Connecticut the last decade or two, for him to stay home was huge for us."

But everyone knew there would be a lot of work between his commitment and a spot in the NBA draft green room, and Clingan has embraced the journey. When the 2022-23 season ended with the Huskies winning the national title and Clingan contributing off the bench, he didn't really ponder the NBA.

His name buzzed in the mock draft world, but he knew his game and body needed more time in the 860 area code. He averaged just 13.1 minutes off the bench and scored 6.9 points per game.

"He would have been a top-20 pick, but he knew he wasn't ready," Dan Hurley said. "Literally, the next day, he just came in and said, 'Hey, Coach, I'm not ready. Let's run it back.' There wasn't a meeting with the agent and a series of drama, you know. He is a special kid."

That decision has paid dividends, as Clingan nearly doubled his minutes and scoring for the Huskies this season. He's averaging 12.9 points and 7.5 rebounds, and his 2.5 blocks per game is No. 8 nationally. He has maintained his trademark impatience, as he called Barrette while getting into the dentist chair for a procedure last year to reattach one of his front teeth, which was knocked out against Georgetown in December. He buzzed at 10 a.m. to schedule a workout for 12:30 p.m., just as he'd be leaving the dentist chair.

The list of what he has worked on this season is long, as he has focused on his passing, finishing over both shoulders and expanding his range. (He's quick to point out he hit a pair of 3-pointers this year, as he's 2-for-7 on the season.)

"Really just trying to be as impactful as I can," he said. "Set up better screens and just working on defense, moving my feet, protecting the rim and just really trying to be more aggressive in ball screens."

The impact came slow at times. He battled a foot issue early in the season and missed nearly a month after hurting himself in late December.

Murray said that Clingan focused on his diet and came back lean, focusing on portion size and eliminating late-night eating. (Clingan used to drink a 32-ounce Brisk iced tea before high school games, a window into some needed nutritional tweaking.)

Clingan refers to Dan Hurley as an "enemy and your best friend at the same time," appreciative of how he has pushed him hard in practice and embraced him off the floor. "He wants to get the most out of you," Clingan said, "and he wants you to be on your A-game without being complacent."

Hurley calls Clingan the "Jolly Green Giant," appreciative of how he has endured and remained a positive spirit. "It's just rare to see somebody that has dealt with what he has dealt with, the heartbreaking tragedy, and then has the personality that he has," Hurley said. "He's so vibrant, and he brings so much personality."

No surprises here 😤 DC brings home UConn's first Regional MOP since Jordan Hawkins (2023) #MadeForMarch | #MixForSix pic.twitter.com/YwDnPbTg0p — UConn Men's Basketball (@UConnMBB) March 31, 2024

THE SLOW BURN of development completely unfurled in the NCAA tournament, as Clingan blocked eight shots against Northwestern and emerged as the most dominant player on the floor against Illinois in the Elite Eight.

Clingan showed his mobility and defensive versatility by turning into a defensive buzz saw. He blocked five shots as the Illini went 0-for-19 on shots he contested. He scored the game's first seven points and finished with 22 in 22 minutes. Illinois star Terrence Shannon Jr ., another projected NBA lottery pick, became visibly hesitant, according to Hurley, after getting blocked at the rim so many times.

In the stands, Clingan said a crew of about 14 friends cheered him on. His father, Bill, family members and his longtime girlfriend and her family were flanked by friends and former coaches. Barrette and Chatman remained a unified coaching front, sitting next to each other in TD Garden.

His obsession with arriving early and insistence on staying home have both Clingan and UConn in rare territory. UConn is well-positioned to defend its title, potentially becoming the first program to do so since Florida in 2006 and 2007.

Clingan and the Huskies meet Alabama on Saturday in Phoenix in the Final Four.

"Being born and raised from Connecticut, to put that jersey on and just to compete at the highest level ... it's special," he said. "It's a historic program that has achieved a lot of things, and so I'm just trying to be a part of it and just try to represent the state the right way."

That patience will also pay off. Clingan's recognition that he needed to stay projects to more than $20 million in guaranteed money -- the contract difference between being pick No. 5 in this upcoming NBA draft as opposed to No. 20 last year.

But it has been priceless to have that journey unfold close to home, as a community and state have rallied around him. And Clingan knows his mother is happy with how it has all unfolded. Except, of course, his 57% free throw percentage.

"I know that she's smiling down, I know she's supporting me," he said, before smiling himself. "And I know she's definitely not happy with my free throws."

Second-half surge powers No. 11 NC State to unlikely Final Four berth with defeat of Duke

DALLAS — One of the great postseason runs in men’s college basketball history keeps on going. Next up for the NC State show? The Final Four. 

For the first time since 1983 — the year they won it all with Jim Valvano running around The Pit in New Mexico hugging anyone he could find — NC State is back on the sport’s biggest stage. 

And to make it even sweeter, the Wolfpack beat rival Duke to get there on Sunday in an all-ACC matchup, dominating the second half of the South Regional final to mint a 76-64 victory that will live forever in NC State lore. 

NC State, a team that finished 10th in the ACC regular season and stood at 17-14 when the conference tournament began, has now rattled off nine straight wins and will face No. 1 seed Purdue on Saturday in Glendale, Arizona, for a spot in the national championship game. They’re the sixth team in tournament history to reach the Final Four as a No. 11 seed.

And the main reason the Wolfpack have been transformed over the past three weeks? It’s DJ Burns, Jr., the charismatic 6-foot-9 center with a feathery touch and passing skills that do not seem possible for someone carrying well over 300 pounds (he’s officially listed at 275).

With Duke choosing to use just only defender most of the time to guard him — just as they did in two earlier meetings this season — Burns ate the Blue Devils' defense alive with 29 points on 13-of-19 shots. 

NC State also got timely outside shooting from senior guard DJ Horne, who scored 18 and sparked second half in which the Wolfpack made 19-of-26 shots. 

Duke, meanwhile, could never get settled on offense, shooting 32 percent overall and 5-of-20 from the 3-point line. The Blue Devils got poor games from sophomore big man Kyle Filipowski (11 points on 3-of-12 shooting) and sophomore guard Tyrese Proctor (0 points, 0-for-9) and simply could not mount a response once NC State began to get its second-half rhythm. 

NC State seemed to be in foul trouble early in the second half when Burns picked up his third with 15:11 remaining and Mohamed Diarra, its other big man, was called for his fourth with 12:41 left. 

But NC State coach Kevin Keatts managed to nurse his rotation just enough to keep Burns on the floor most of the time, and it paid off with easy looks at the rim out of their halfcourt sets. 

The first half finished with both teams struggling to unlock their offense. NC State made just 9-of-34 field goals, struggling both from the 3-point line (1-of-7) and finishing at the rim where they continually ran into a wall of resistance.

Duke also shot poorly (8-of-26) and committed five turnovers but managed to get to the foul line with more frequency, making all nine to account for their 27-21 lead.  

But Duke’s lead was a mirage: Possession by possession, NC State was sharper, more aggressive and never looked back once Horne gave the Wolfpack a 40-38 lead on a runner with 11:39 left. 

NC State is making its fourth trip to the Final Four in school history. It won the national championship in 1974 and 1983, the latter of which is considered one of the great longshot runs in tournament history as a No. 6 seed.

Kohl’s Senior Manager of Technical Services Reflects on Morgridge Center’s Role in Professional Journey

What first drew Sydney Onesti to the Morgridge Center? Put simply: she was looking for a college job related to her industrial engineering degree. However, after working as the transportation intern at the Morgridge Center for two years and loving the environment of the center, Onesti’s position “ended up being the best of both worlds.”

 “My role at the Morgridge Center ended up being the best of both worlds, like it was better than I was even expecting for so many reasons,” she says.

Onesti currently works as senior manager of Technical Services at Kohl’s. Onesti graduated from the University of Wisconsin–Madison in 2020 with a degree in industrial engineering and worked as a transportation intern at the Morgridge Center from 2018-20. 

As a transportation intern at the Morgridge Center, Onesti coordinated transportation to connect volunteers with their community partner site. In this position, Onesti was able to further the Morgridge Center’s mission by working on the administrative end of the center, rather than being directly involved with volunteering. She has always enjoyed seeing the real time impacts of her work, she says, and experienced this benefit as a transportation intern.

“I’d be walking to classes in college, and I’d see someone hopping in a Union Cab, and they could be going to their volunteer community site,” Onesti says. “And that was really cool to see that I might have had a little part in that.”

Through her role at the Morgridge Center, Onesti learned valuable skills like time management and effective communication. When students would come to the center with transportation issues, Onesti gained experience with constructive criticism through addressing these issues and adjusting the program to run more smoothly and efficiently. This process of incorporating feedback is especially relevant in her career in industrial engineering, she says.

After Onesti started working at the Morgridge Center, she began strongly recommending the Morgridge Center internships to all her friends because of the outstanding environment at the center. From bonding with interns over hard days at school to winning the “Best Cornbread” award at the Annual Morgridge Center Chili Cook Off – despite making the cornbread from a box, she admits, four years later – Onesti thoroughly enjoyed her time at the Morgridge Center. 

“I would tell all my friends, or anyone who would listen, ‘you need to apply here right now,’” Onesti says. “Just because of the role and the experience you get, but also the community that is there. Everyone was so supportive, and just genuinely good people. It was such a great environment to be around day in and day out.”

While Onesti’s current position at Kohl’s doesn’t directly interact with public service, corporate social responsibility plays a role as she helps promote sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, as well as ethical work practices in the company. The Kohl’s company also offers a corporate volunteering program , encouraging staff to give back to the community. 

Onesti says an engineering education can bring a unique problem solving and analytical lens to addressing big social problems, an example of the diverse variety of connections between professional fields and public service. 

Nearly four years into her career journey at Kohl’s, Onesti knows her position at the Morgridge Center played a role in her professional path. Onesti credits the Morgridge Center for helping her build critical professional skills and create a competitive resume, she says, and deeply appreciates her time at the center. 

“The world can be a heavy and scary place sometimes, and it’s just extremely comforting to know that there’s places like the Morgridge Center that bring light and action for public good in our community,” Onesti says. “I think it’s just a really special place, and I’m glad that I was able to be a part of it while I was at UW–Madison.”

Nevada Today

Faces of the pack: viktor cruz-calderon, a journey filled with happy mistakes and new adventures, gilman scholarship recipient viktor cruz-calderon takes on spain.

Out on his own for the first time, Viktor Cruz-Calderon takes on Spain after receiving the Gilman Scholarship last fall. Viktor is a double major, pursuing both neuroscience and Spanish at the University of Nevada, Reno. After almost four years of studying at the University, he is now currently studying abroad in Alicante, Spain through the University Studies Abroad Consortium (USAC) for the semester in hopes to not only further his studies within his two majors, but also to step away from his comfort zone in Nevada and learn more about himself. This soul-searching journey would not have been possible without one “happy mistake” that occurred years prior. 

“I like to call the University of Nevada, Reno my happy mistake,” Viktor said. “I was recruited to play soccer at UCLA, but I ended up tearing my ACL and losing my scholarship.”

He decided instead to stay home and attend the University of Nevada, Reno, where to his surprise, he was able to maintain strong relationships with old friends as well as meet new people on campus. 

“Not being able to make new friends was my main worry,” he explained. “If I went to the University of Nevada, Reno I would know everybody, but that could not be further from the truth. It was the right fit for me and I would not trade it for anything.”

Early last fall, Viktor decided to apply for the Gilman Scholarship in hopes of receiving financial assistance for studying abroad in Spain in the spring of 2024. It was not an easy feat. It was not until Jason Ludden, Ph.D., director of the Office of Undergraduate Fellowships (OUF) at the University of Nevada, Reno, assisted Viktor in the application process that he became fully committed to applying for the scholarship.

“He was instrumental in the process,” Viktor said. “The Gilman Scholarship felt unattainable for me because I knew it was really big and very competitive. But after talking to Jason, he worked with me in writing my essays and getting towards the final product.” 

The Honors College provides countless opportunities for students, whether that be through research, study abroad, or financial assistance. It provides an immense support system and a dedicated community to those who seek it. This college can play a pivotal role in student success, and each individual staff member makes it their goal to assist and support students in their journey toward success.

“I think the most beneficial part of this program at the Honors College is that you can get out of it what you put in it,” Viktor explained. “I did not have to go to Jason for my Gilman Scholarship essay, I could have done it on my own. Would I have gotten the scholarship? I have no idea, but I can for sure attest to the fact that Jason was a huge part of it.”

Not long after submitting his application he received the scholarship award and began preparing for his semester-long adventure in Spain. 

There are several steps students must take to complete the Gilman Scholarship. On top of school, volunteering and working, it can be extremely overwhelming to apply, and that does not mean students should try to do it alone. 

“Go to as many people as you can for help,” Viktor advises. “Before I wrote anything for my essays, I talked to Jason and he asked me a lot of questions that I had not really thought of myself. Then I went to the writing center plenty of times to get my application proofread, and every time you think it is perfect, there is always something you can fix.”

Along with his schooling and before traveling to Spain, Viktor participated in undergraduate research where he contributed as a marketing and outreach coordinator. He wanted to promote the programs and research opportunities offered for undergraduates at the University as well as help students in finding faculty members to do research with. Viktor hopes to continue to contribute to this program after studying abroad. But now, his biggest goal is to focus on himself and enjoy the adventure away from home. 

“For the longest time, it felt like I was being pulled in a million different directions all the time,” he said. “I had to do well in school, keep up with my two or three jobs, I had to volunteer, and I had to be an excellent brother or friend. But [in Spain], there is a chance to really get to know myself and find out who I am as a person.” 

One of his favorite moments so far in Spain— especially being on the coast—is going to the beach and walking along trails of rocks that lead out to the sea. He also is thoroughly enjoying his Mediterranean cuisine class where he recently learned how to make a traditional Spanish dish, paella. 

“[Studying abroad] is like putting a pause on my life, stepping aside, and getting to experience something new. Then I can pick up right where I left off when I get back.”

Impact & Student Success

The University of Nevada, Reno Orvis School of Nursing ranks as top nursing program in the country

2023 National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX®) nursing graduate passing rates place the University at the top of the charts in the state and country

Researchers and students gain new insights and make new connections in Panama

Student participants join researchers to support international conservation efforts

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Two high school graduates had the research experience of a lifetime

University Professor Deborah Boehm and team contribute to a guide for preparing publicly engaged scholars

“Build Bridges, Not Walls” encourages meaningful community engagement

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Earth Month events focus on increasing campus sustainably, gardening, thrifting and more

Campus community asked to take the pledge to Make Silver and Blue the New Green

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An 82-year-old woman who runs half-marathons shares 3 simple habits that transformed her heart health

• A woman who started running half-marathons in her 70s said the exercise has improved her heart health.
• She walks 8 miles daily, and takes pictures along the way to share with family. 
• Her routine, including lifting weights and mobility exercise, is perfect for longevity, science suggests.

Getting older doesn't have to mean slowing down. Just ask Wilma King, who started running half-marathons in her 70s.

King completed her first race in 2014 alongside her daughter Andrea as well as her sister, brother-in-law, and their daughter, all of whom had run the event before.

"It just looked like they were having too much fun and I wanted to join in," she told Business Insider.

Now 82, King said she walks eight miles every morning to keep her heart healthy and to stay mentally sharp .

The walking, along with other habits like keeping in touch with family and working out to keep her joints healthy , has helped keep her energized and alert, though she can't imagine doing anything else.

"I don't have a secret," she said. "This seems normal and natural to me, and I just simply don't think about it."

Experts and research suggest you can improve your health by following her lead, even if you don't put in as many miles.

Walking every morning is part of her daily routine

King said she's always had a fairly active lifestyle and has enjoyed bicycling with her family as soon as her daughter was old enough to be brought along in a carrier seat.

In 2014, however, King was diagnosed with pericarditis (chest pain and irritation of the tissue surrounding the heart), pleurisy, and a valve problem. She was determined to do everything she could to stay healthy and took up a regular walking schedule, starting a little at a time.

"It was an effort basically to get out of the house and then to the corner," she said. "I wanted to get back to the way I had been before because those illnesses took a lot out of me."

King started by just walking down the block and back and gradually went further and further as her stamina increased .

"I don't even know why I started doing eight miles, but that's the routine," she said. "And then from the walking, I started running more."

Now, her main form of exercise is long daily walks, totaling 200 miles a month (although experts say most people can benefit from just an extra 500 to 1000 steps a day , especially at first).

"It's good as far as staying alert and certainly my heart function has improved. And then it's good for my mental health," she said.

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For her first half-marathon, she used a running plan (she doesn't remember which) to work her way up to longer distances.

She's completed the annual Rock 'n' Roll Washington DC half marathon every year since and has no plans to stop any time soon.

"I'm slower now than I was at one point, but I'm 82, so what can I say?" King said. "I'll do it as long as I can."

King said she suspects the family tradition is also a sneaky way for her daughter to check in on her health over time.

"I think for her it's almost like a cognitive test 'I want to see how mom is moving. I want to see if she's paying attention and things like that.' It's a nice one-on-one, but I think she's watching me to see exactly what I do and how I do it," she said.

And if finishing 12 miles isn't enough of a sign she's aging gracefully, her daughter is " too polite to tell me," King said with a laugh.

Sharing pictures of her walks with friends and family to stay social

King said her morning routine also involves connecting with loved ones as part of her daily stroll — she takes pictures along the route with her phone to pass along as a little check-in.

"I walk for heart health, plus I entertain myself. I have some daily contacts and I send like a 'hello, how are you message' along with the photograph," she said.

There's good science to suggest that King has the right idea since being social can boost both longevity and your motivation to keep exercising .

People in Blue Zones, areas of the world with high concentrations of people who live to 100 , are known for having strong habits of building social connections which is beneficial for both mental and physical health.

Weight lifting and mobility exercises to prevent injury

King doesn't just walk to stay active but does some stretching and mobility exercises like deep knee bends to help protect her joints. Being able to prevent injury by staying mobile is key to longevity , a personal trainer previously told BI.

King also taps into one of the best anti-aging exercises we know of just by working out from home.

"It's not much to talk about. I have some six-pound weights and I lift those up, down, side-to-side and swing them back and forth and all of that. Nothing real special," she said.

Even without any fancy weightlifting techniques, strength training is consistently linked to living a longer, healthier life.

For King, the combination of vibrant social life, long walks, and other workouts is paying off, as she's noticed more serious health declines among peers in her age group who don't have a similar routine.

"I think of myself as one of the lucky ones. So far so good," she said.

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