Emily Young

As a parent during COVID-19, you never stop worrying. Are your teens washing their hands enough? Can you trust your college student not to attend that party? Practicing social distancing can be the difference between life and death. But it doesn’t come easily to young adults, who crave the very activities — from spring break to sporting events — that spread infection. That’s why it’s important to communicate health risks and social responsibility during a pandemic. We’ve got your back with A Parent's Guide: How to Talk to Students About Social Distancing and COVID-19.

You want to make a positive difference in your world. Who knew it would be as easy as putting a piece of fabric over your face? Wearing a mask might seem like no big deal, but it’s actually one of the simplest and most effective ways you can save lives. You’ve got questions about this hottest new piece of fashion. We’ve got answers. Let’s dive into why and how to wear face masks during COVID-19: a guide for college students.

Feeling stressed? You’re not alone. Students across the U.S. are wrestling with college decisions, taking classes, or preparing for entrance exams — all while living through the anxiety of a pandemic. We’re here to help. This week, try one of these 7 easy ways to reduce stress for college students.

If you’re going to attend college in fall 2020, you may spend at least part of your semester learning online. Many schools are embracing virtual instruction during the COVID-19 pandemic. (At USF, we plan to offer a mix of online classes, on-campus classes, and flexible hybrid classes.) We know you have a lot of questions, especially if you’ve never taken an online class before. Let’s take a look at the benefits of online learning from your future instructors.

2020: What a weird summer. Our typical August activities — pool parties, afternoon movies in air-conditioned theaters, cross-country trips — aren’t possible in a pandemic. Instead, we’re spending a lot more time at home. Does that mean our last few weeks of summer are ruined? Not at all. It just means our entertainment has to get more creative. Check out our list of eight ways to have summer break fun while social distancing. 

You versus Life.

Hello, Quarantined Class of 2020: You’re living through a bizarre time. Like many of the nearly 4 million high school seniors in America, you’ve said goodbye to commencement ceremonies, proms, senior parties, sporting events, and end-of-year trips. Is it a huge bummer? Yes. But with a little creativity, you can still make the end of your senior year unforgettable. We’ll show you how to connect with friends, acknowledge your accomplishment, and throw an awesome graduation party — all while safely social distancing. Here’s how to celebrate your virtual high school graduation during the coronavirus crisis.

Can you actually enjoy your next study session? Yes. Although homework is never going to be your favorite activity (unless you’re Hermione Granger), you can transform your experience with a few simple tips. Here are nine fun ways to make studying fun. 

Your college journey is going to be a blast. As an out-of-state student, you’ll experience new adventures far from your hometown — an idea that probably excites and overwhelms you. How do you get ready for life in another state? Start with our five tips on how to prepare for an out-of-state college.

You’re thinking about going to therapy, but you’re not sure how to find a good therapist. Do you rub a magic bottle until someone grants you three mental-health wishes? Do you stay at home until a gray-bearded mentor knocks on your door and invites you on a quest to enlightenment? Do you (and this seems most mysterious of all) wade through your insurance website until you find a doctor covered by your plan? It’s enough to make you pull the covers over your head. Don’t worry: We’re here to demystify the process. In recognition of World Mental Health Day, we're sharing tips on how to find a mental health counselor and what to expect from therapy.

The brain deserves our attention. It may only weigh about three pounds, but it’s been called the most complex object in the universe. The fact that you are able to read these words at all is thanks to your brain, with its network of 86 billion neurons. It’s so intricate, we still don’t fully understand how it all works. And yet, sometimes we feel ashamed when this organ’s complicated functioning misfires. We mistakenly think that nobody else gets depressed, anxious, or sad, and we ignore our symptoms instead of telling anyone how we feel.

Can reading Harry Potter prepare you for freshman year? Yes, Potterheads, you’ll be happy to know that you can count Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as part of your college prep. Studies have shown that reading fiction changes your brain in a positive way. Novels sweep you into new experiences, broaden your worldview, and increase your ability to empathize, making you a stronger college applicant.

Social networking platforms like Instagram and Snapchat are a huge part of our lives. When used in a healthy way, social media links us to a global community, invites us to explore different worldviews, and encourages us to express ourselves — all with the tap of a finger. But it also comes with surprising risks.

Congratulations. You’re in the spring of your senior year, which means you’re almost done with high school. Be proud of this accomplishment, celebrate it — and prepare for a busy semester. Before you don that cap and gown, you’ve still got plenty of academic and emotional challenges left to tackle. We’re here to help. Here are six tips to help you finish senior year strong (including how to fight off senioritis).