Head Coach Brady Sallee said it is "hard to compare" the two groups. The head coach said last year's team was more experienced and a lot of the coaching he had to do geared more towards game management. With the current Cardinals, Sallee said he has had to "coach every dribble" because many players are playing together for the first time.

The head coach said he has had a lot of fun with it and, despite the differences in the two teams' layouts, sees a lot of common ground.

"I think the commonality with both teams is high character kids, really good kids," Sallee said. "[They take] a lot of pride in wearing the Ball State brand."

Last season's Cardinals were highlighted by talented guard play, headlined by star guard Ally Becki, who won multiple awards for Ball State. The team's leading scorer was forward Alex Richard, who averaged just north of 16 points per game.

The blueprint stayed the same from last season for the current Cardinals, as transfer junior guard Karsyn Norman and senior forward Bree Salenbien have made an immediate impact on the court, similar to Becki and Richard.

Norman leads the team in assists with nearly five a game, while Salenbien leads the team in points at just above 15 points per game.

The early success of a team composed of multiple freshmen and transfer players is traditionally unorthodox. But to Norman, the team's success is not entirely surprising by how fast they have meshed together.

"I feel like our chemistry in the locker room is outstanding, compared to what I'm coming from or [where] I've been in high school," Norman said.

Senior center Tessa Towers has spent time on both teams. Towers played a backup role last year and has stepped into a starting role this year, where she has excelled.

The senior center said she has noticed many differences between the two teams she has been on. But she also noted a major similarity between the two teams: they both want to win.

"We all have that drive to win, no matter what it takes to get there," Towers said. "I feel like that's a similar mentality as last year's team."

The 2025-26 Cardinals have started off conference play with five wins, with two coming on the road and three coming at Worthen Arena in front of the Cardinal faithful.

The team has won the five conference games by an average of 19.4 points, topping last year's team, which won its first five conference games by an average of 17.4 points.

Looking forward to the Cardinals, who will go on the road to play Western Michigan Jan. 17 and then return to Worthen Arena to take on the University of Massachusetts (UMass). The two teams sit right behind the Cardinals in the MAC standings.

Western Michigan is not in the top five in any major MAC statistic, but the Broncos do pose a threat with the depth of their roster. The Cardinals' biggest challenge over the next couple of games will be their clash with UMass.

The Cardinals lead the MAC in total offense, field goal percentage, rebounds per game and points differential. The threat to the Cardinals is that UMass leads the conference in total defense, allowing only 56.7 points per game.

An issue for the Cardinals in an otherwise successful early conference slate has been their turnover rate. Ball State has averaged 16.8 turnovers a game in conference play. Sallee said that a major focus in practices leading up to the next couple of games will be avoiding turnovers.

"We're turning it over way too much; we can't always rely on 50 percent shooting," he said. "Those games where we don't [shoot 50 percent], we're going to have to take care of the ball at a high level."

Another point of emphasis for Sallee in the upcoming practices will be end-of-game situations. In a close win against Toledo on Jan. 7, the Cardinals nearly watched a ten-point lead evaporate in the final couple of minutes.

"We've got some time here to work on what we want to look like in the end-of-game situations and be a little bit more sure of ourselves in those moments," Sallee said.

Contact Kyle Stout with questions via email at kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn.

Although the second-floor workout room is no longer crowded with people fighting to maintain their 2026 New Year's resolutions, echoes of Phillips and Lopiccolo's friendly banter while catching up over the holidays and their gentle encouragement during various exercises bounce off the walls.

Phillips, a personal trainer at the YMCA, has always had a passion for health and fitness, working out frequently as a high school student. While he is "not sure why" the job called to him, he continues to be grateful for the opportunity to "pour into others" physically, mentally and emotionally throughout the workweek.

"I felt the Lord had placed upon my heart to pursue this," Phillips said.

Muncie YMCA's Wellness Program Director, Julia Murillo, said that during the hiring process, she looks for individuals who strive to build relationships with and listen to clients. Phillips' can-do attitude made him the ideal hire.

"He is always willing to learn, and I think that is crucial for a personal trainer to constantly be researching [a client's needs] … He has my full trust [because] I know that he keeps people on their feet, is creative and always has the client's best interest at heart," Murillo said.

As a non-profit, she acknowledged that the organization cannot offer its employees a very lucrative paycheck. However, money seems to be the last thing on Phillips' mind when working with clients.

"I like helping people…" he said. "[Personal training] is just a way that I can kind of serve others in a way that I really enjoy, and it doesn't feel like a job."

A large percentage of Phillips' clientele are older adults living with chronic pain.

"It kind of just happened to be that they were most of the people that I was getting as clients, but the more I [worked with them], the more I recognized, 'These people are the ones who do, honestly, need [physical strengthening] the most,'" Phillips recalled.

In April 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) published research collected from 2013 through 2023, concluding that 93 percent of adults aged 65 and older live with chronic pain.

Research shows this can make it difficult to accomplish routine or mundane tasks, such as getting out of bed, off the toilet or up from a fall, without institutional care, in-home caregivers or other long-term services and supports.

Bearing that "really high percentage" in mind, he said, "My goal is to help keep [my clients] able to be independent. The sooner that they're unable to use the bathroom or get out of their bed without help, the sooner that they lose, basically, their life. And so, if I can help prevent that, or slow down that from happening, I can see the benefits a lot quicker, so I know I'm actually helping them," Phillips said.

Lopiccolo has been using her weekly sessions with Phillips over the past year to recover from knee surgery and has "absolutely" seen herself become more capable as a result of her workout regimen.

[Phillips] knows how to give you a workout that works your whole body, and I'm not destroyed with pain," she said.

While each client's workout routine is ultimately tailored to them, Phillips tends to focus on strength training with all his clients.

"Something like a circuit workout, where [clients] are just doing a whole bunch of different things that aren't very intense [and] it just makes them tired, I'm not a fan of that, even for my younger clients. I think the goal for anyone should be to get them stronger and have more flexibility and mobility," he said.

Lopiccolo said she enjoys the strength-training workouts as an opportunity to familiarize herself with the varied equipment throughout the YMCA, rather than feeling intimidated by the workout machinery.

"I feel like, when I'm with [Phillips] and all the equipment that we use, I feel like my whole body is being worked out, and not all the [trainers] are like that," she said, describing how her previous trainer had her stick to floor-based exercises, like planks or sit-ups, "but nothing with the equipment."

"As a member of the YMCA, I'm glad I can use the equipment as far as a workout," Lopiccolo said.

Phillips works with his clients an average of twice a week. During sessions, he said he strives to ensure clients understand the mechanics behind the movement to help prepare their bodies.

Once they understand, "I really try to push them as if they were as young and in their prime as I am… I try to treat them no differently, because I think they're just as capable. They just might not be as strong," Phillips said.

He does not have a "one size fits all" approach to coaching. While some clients prefer to be taught through tough love, others prefer words of affirmation to be mixed into their workout regimen. Phillips said that above all, empathy is at the heart of his work.

His empathetic leadership, in turn, has taught him the value of collaboration with his clients.

"The easiest thing for me is just being content with not being able to get [a client] to be at a certain level [of capability] by the time I want them to, but when their bodies can physically do it…It's usually right in the middle spot where we'll actually get them there," Phillips said, adding that small victories mean more to him long-term, because small successes keep clients motivated to obtain bigger fitness goals.

Outside of the gym, Phillips considers himself "a pretty basic person."

While he said he loves the gym and does not tire from it often, when he does, the devout Christian said he looks to spend time connecting spiritually with Jesus or in the community he considers himself "blessed to have."

"A good principle to live by," Phillips advised, "is, 'Yes, we should be serving others, but if your cup is empty, you can't pour out effectively to others.'''

However, the energy Phillips is able to pour into his clients is not unnoticed by them.

"He has pushed me a little bit. With my knee, I'm not strong enough sometimes to [climb] stairs - but [Phillips] makes me do a stairmaster exercise - so I think the machines here made me a little bit healthier and my knee a little bit more mobile," Lopiccolo said. "I would encourage people to give it a try, have a personal trainer take you through everything, see if it's feasible to you [and] what you can accomplish."

Contact Katherine Hill via email at katherine.hill@bsu.edu.

MLK Breakfast 2026

You are invited to the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Breakfast, co-sponsored by Ball State and the Collective Coalition of Concerned Clergy. The breakfast is open to everyone and will be held at Ball State's L.A. Pittenger Student Center. Doors open at 8:30 a.m., and breakfast will be served at 9 a.m. The speaker will be Bishop Keith O'Neal. Registration is not required.

Work one-on-one with a professor or professional staff and earn a stipend

This program for undergraduates offers the opportunity to work with a professor or professional staff mentor on research or a creative project for five hours a week. Students can learn more about their field, gain research experience, make professional connections and receive one-on-one academic and career advice. Participants will earn a $750 stipend. Applicants must be in their first or second year with no prior research experience.

Your Culinary Adventure Awaits you in Allegre, Applied Technology Building AT 104- Espresso Bar, Breakfast, and Lunch

The Allegre is open for the Spring Semester! Enjoy meals prepared by Ball State students. Breakfast and the espresso bar are open from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and lunch is available from 11:15 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. While you're visiting make sure to pick up a gift card for friends and family, so they can enjoy the gift of flavor too!

For more information, go toBall State's Communication Center.

There's no doubt that 2025 was a massive year of hits in the film industry. From Sinners to Marty Supreme, there was so much released in one year that cannot go undiscussed. Only getting to see about 20 of the hundreds of films released in 2025, here are my opinions on the best, the worst, and some honorable mentions.

Honorable Mentions

It was hard picking just three films to top my 2025 list, as there were so many interesting contenders, but before getting to the top three, some honorable mentions are deserved.

While no superhero films topped my list this year, 2025 gave a resurgence of the genre with Thunderbolts* and Superman being clear standouts. In this post-infinity saga era, Marvel Studios has been struggling to find its voice, but Thunderbolts* brings back that feeling of watching a phase two movie with its digestible story and great cast chemistry. Superman also brought back hope through David Corenswet's charming performance of Clark Kent. James Gunn's influence on this film was perfect for this new adaptation of the iconic character, bringing bright coloring and fun to superhero movies.

The Bottom Three

The Minecraft Movie was the worst way to translate Minecraft into a film. It seems as though nothing in the project was taken seriously, and there were no intentions of making a good movie. It's no shock that they geared the film towards kids, as it has a huge player base of younger audiences; however, there was no intention to please the older audience that grew up on the original sandbox game. It was just an hour and a half of Jack Black being himself in a poorly CGI Minecraft world. I went into the film with low expectations, but nothing could have prepared me for the actual film.

For most of the year, the film I was most disappointed in was Materialists because of its subpar acting and horrible pacing. However, after finally getting the chance to watch Honey Don't!, it quickly dethronedMaterialistsfor me. Ironically, Chris Evans stars in both films, but his acting wasn't the issue; the plot of Honey Don't! was almost unfollowable. Every scene introduced something new to the story, but nothing was ever completely resolved by the end. I was really interested in this film when the previews first dropped, but was left extremely unsatisfied. With such a short runtime, all of the characters felt half-baked, never fully knowing anyone the entire film. Both films had interesting marketing, yet dropped the ball with their story.

The Top Three

There is simply no universe where Sinners does not take the top spot of my top three films. Starting the first half of the year watching pointless live-action remakes of animated movies, seeing such a beautiful original story like Sinners was breathtaking. From the minute the film started to the final scene of Sammy (Buddy Guy)in the bar, talking to Stack (Michael B. Jordan) and Mary (Hailee Steinfeld), I was completely lost in the screen. Not only is the music perfect, but the use of auditory storytelling adds another layer to the film. When Delta Slim (Delroy Lindo) recounts a story of him and his friends getting arrested-and one even getting killed-instead of showing the scene to the audience, they only use audio to tell the story, including shouting and gunshots. Moreover, when Delta Slim cannot finish the story, he hums to calm himself down. It's so brilliant. Furthermore, "I Lied to You" combining multiple genres of music rooted in Black culture, as well as the stunning performance of "Rocky Road to Dublin," shows how much care and research was put into correctly portraying multiple cultures, making the film all the more special. Sinners no doubt stay in my top film list for a long time.

My second favorite film of the year was the third installment of the Knives Out series, Wake Up Dead Man. My previous review for the film goes into detail as to why I enjoyed it so much, but with every rewatch, it gets better. The beauty in the Knives Out series is the amount of details picked up after the initial watch, making it feel like a brand new film that you can pick apart. Although some of the acting is below average, the use of religion as a metaphor for power in the wrong hands makes up for the inconsistencies. Reviving the entire mystery genre as a whole, I can't wait to see where Rian Johnson takes the series.

The last film on my list is Eternity. This film had such an interesting concept that I felt as though I couldn't miss seeing it in theaters. I was absolutely blown away by how much I enjoyed the film. With such a heavy question as the film presents, most of the film was very light and funny. Elizabeth Olsen and Miles Teller give impressive performances, as both their characters are old people within a younger body. I would see the young actors on screen, but their mannerisms and tone mirrored the older generation perfectly; it was very fun to watch. The plot seems pretty straightforward for the most part, making me think I know exactly where it would go, but I was pretty surprised by how many times I was thrown for a loop within the end of the second and beginning of the third act. Eternity is very charming, and it was a great film for the holiday season.

Anticipated Films for 2026

After such success in the film industry in 2025, this upcoming year has a lot to live up to, but there are a few projects set to release in 2026 that give me hope. Massive superhero films like Spider-Man: Brand New Day and Avengers: Doomsday are exciting to look forward to. Other big-name films like Steven Spielberg's Disclosure Day, Project Hail Mary, and The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping are high up on my anticipated film list, but even smaller projects like The Drama and How to Make a Killing make 2026 seem like a pretty stacked year for promising films. I expect to visit the movie theaters quite a few times this year.

Sources: IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, Minecraft, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb,IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, Spotify, Spotify, IMDb, IMDb, Byte, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb

Contact Sam Jasionowski with comments at samantha.jasionowski@bsu.edu or on Instagram @s.jasionowski.

This season, the now-senior center has appeared in all 16 games for the number one seed in the Mid-American Conference (MAC) and is averaging 13.8 points per game on 56.2 percent from the field, along with 8.6 rebounds per game.

Towers is third in the MAC in rebounds per game and is one of the big reasons for the Cardinals' prolific start to the season. Head Coach Brady Sallee said that seeing Towers grow in the past two years has been "therapeutic" to him.

The head coach said that sometimes he can get caught up in wins and lose sight of what truly satisfies him as a coach: seeing players develop.

"As she's gone through this, and you've seen the player she is right now, it just reminds me of the importance of what we do and keeping perspective in what we do," Sallee said.

Towers is from Batavia, Illinois, where she played high school basketball at Batavia High School. She committed to the University of Wisconsin out of high school, where she spent the first two years of her collegiate career.

According to a January 2025 Associated Press article, Towers allegedly endured mistreatment from former Wisconsin head coach Marisa Moseley and her staff that "completely ruined" her freshman season.

Sallee said he recognized what Towers went through at Wisconsin, and he saw Towers work really hard as soon as she arrived at Ball State to get to where she is today.

"When she came to us, she had a really, really tough experience at Wisconsin," Sallee said. "Sometimes when that love of the game's taken away a little bit, it's hard to find the motivation."

Towers said that from last season to this season, she has experienced significant growth in her mental confidence. The senior said she realized her role on the team.

"Being able to push through and also realizing that I am kind of needed on the team," Towers said. "And then having that confidence to be able to go and show out and help the team in multiple ways."

The newfound confidence that Towers has found over the past season has been evident in the Cardinals' early-season success. Sallee said there is a direct correlation between the team's offensive uptick and Towers' production.

"We're playing through her," Sallee said. "We're taking advantage of the other team's effort they have to put into stopping her, and then that's allowing us to play off of her."

Towers said that her ability to draw the defense in and kick the ball out to shooters has made her very comfortable on the team. The senior said that her play, along with her confidence in her teammates, will make the Cardinals very hard to beat.

"Once we are able to fully get to our potential, I think we're going to be unstoppable," Towers said.

Senior forward Bree Salenbien said Towers' play is a product of the Cardinals' unselfish play as a whole.

"Tessa [Towers] is drawing so many people right now, it's kind of making it easier on us to get her the ball and she can kick it out," Salenbien said.

Although Towers' 2025-26 season has had a major uptick in production and time on the court, the senior center's efforts to get on the court stretch back to last season, when she played behind Cardinals' star forward Alex Richard.

Richard averaged just over 16 points per game for the 2024-25 Cardinals, and played a very similar role in last year's team to the role Towers plays this year. Towers said that Richards was someone she looked up to last season and has learned a lot from.

"I looked up to her a lot, trying to learn how she played and playing to her system," Towers said. "I wanted to be where she was."

With Richards' departure from the program, that left a void to fill at the center position for the Cardinals. Towers said the things she learned from Richards set her up well to fill that positional need.

The senior center also said she realized the impact she could have on the Cardinals "right after last season." Towers said she knew there would be players who had to step up after so many players on last year's team transferred or graduated.

"I just kind of felt like right from the beginning, right when preseason started in the summer, that I could be that person, and that's all I wanted was to be that person," Towers said. "Who could bring a big impact to the team while also being a leader?"

With Towers' bigger role on the team this season, she has jumped up to just over 21 minutes per game, which is 17 minutes per game more than in her junior campaign. Towers credits her offseason physicality work to where she is now, being second on the team in minutes played.

The senior said she feels "much more mobile" now than she did last season, and that it has shown in how much longer she is able to play at a time.

"Just being able to get up and down, just having that endurance to be able to go for longer periods of time," Towers said. "Before, I could only play about two minutes, and now I can go for like five before needing a break."

Not only does Towers play a big role on the court, but she is also one of two seniors on the team, which set her up for a newfound leadership role. Towers said she realized many younger players on the team now look up to her for guidance.

"I feel like that [leadership] role has kind of helped me, and is also helping the team as well," Towers said. "We definitely are so much closer this year."

Towers has been through a lot in her collegiate basketball career. The center went through uncertainty and tough times at Wisconsin, to not exactly knowing her role at Ball State her junior year, to now becoming one of the best players on a Ball State team hungry to repeat as MAC champions.

As Towers continues her senior season for the Cardinals, her legacy will be left behind for many future Cardinals to look to. Towers wants to look back on her time and remember one thing: that she did not give up.

"No matter what, just trust the process," Towers said. "Just kind of trusting and being able to push through anything. Don't stop fighting for what you want."

Contact Kyle Stout with questions via email at kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn.

"It has been my honor and joy to represent the people of Indiana House District 34 for the past thirteen years," Errington said via Facebook.

2026 will be Errington's last year in the Indiana General Assembly, and she will not be filing to run for re-election in 2026. In her Facebook post, she explains that it is "time to pass the torch," referring to her endorsement of Gullion.

In a Jan. 12 press statement, Errington said her experience working in the statehouse has been "anything but ordinary," from her time as a state senator to her time as a state representative.

"I've had the privilege of meeting incredible people, working on meaningful initiatives and, most importantly, being a strong voice for Muncie and our community at the statehouse," Errington said.

A lifetime of service

Errington began her career in 1970 as a Spanish instructor at Ball State University, alongside her husband, Paul, who was a physics professor. During that time, Errington said many issues were brought to her attention from the Muncie community that she wanted to help change, such as reproductive rights and equal rights for women.

She got involved with Planned Parenthood, a nonprofit organization that provides sexual health care in the United States, according to its website, and was a part of its staff for 17 years. Errington's involvement with Planned Parenthood, she said, is what sparked her interest in politics.

Errington served on the Delaware County Council and in the Indiana State Senate for four years before being elected to the Indiana House of Representatives in 2012. She explained how passionate she was about several "issues that the state addresses," such as gun violence and voting rights, which pushed her to run for state representative.

Over the course of her career, Errington proposed bills focused on issues raised by her constituents. One bill in particular is House Bill 1297, which created a voluntary Yellow Dot Motor Vehicle Medical Information Program aimed at "providing first responders with crucial medical information during automobile accidents," according to the Indiana House Democratic Caucus.

The bill was authored by Errington and co-authored by Rep. Jim Pressel (R-District 20), Rep. Earl Harris Jr. (D-District 2) and Rep. Michael Karickhoff (R-District 30) and passed unanimously out of the Senate Homeland Security and Transportation Committee.

Errington filed the bill after a constituent with Parkinson's disease approached her about the Yellow Dot Program, which was already law in Arizona, where the constituent resided during the winter.

"He and his wife asked me if I would try to get it to become a law in Indiana. So I did," Errington said.

Along with House Bill 1297, Errington also initiated legislative action for House Bill 1079, which states, "A person commits rape if the person engages in sexual activity with another person and the person disregards the other person's attempts to refuse the person's acts."

House Bill 1079 was authored by former Rep. Sharon Negele (R-District 13), with Errington as a co-author, along with former Rep. Donna Schaibley (R-District 24) and Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-District 98). The bill was signed into law March 11, 2022.

Looking for the next representative

Errington looked for "quite a long time" to find someone to take her place to run in the midterm elections before she found Gullion, who Errington said stood out to her because of her experience on the Muncie City Council. Along with her experience, Errington said Gullion and she share similar values regarding equality and reproductive rights, which convinced Errington to endorse her.

"I think those are all things that I felt would be good for the district in the state," Errington said.

Running to be Indiana's state representative has been a "big interest" for Gullion, but she had not thought of it prior to running for Muncie City Council. She explained that multiple people approached her about possibly running for state representative, which prompted Gullion to notice the differences between what policymakers can do at the "city level" and at the "state level."

"I complain about a lot of things," Gullion said. "So maybe it's time for me to step up and try to do something."

Gullion recalled getting endorsed by Errington as an "honor," both personally and professionally.

The two women have known each other for a while, having first met when Gullion volunteered for Errington's 2020 campaign.

Gullion said she has "always" supported Errington, and both of them have respect for the other. Personally, she explained that she appreciates being endorsed as Errington's friend, but professionally, she thinks it will be "very positive" for her upcoming campaign.

"[Errington is] beloved in District 34 and has been for a while. I think that helps me in my campaign," Gullion said.

Gullion filed for Indiana state representative Jan. 7, the first day a candidate can file for the general election. So far, she has begun developing her committee, with Errington as the group's chair. Gullion also has a treasurer "lined up," with the team officially being set in motion.

During her campaign, Gullion wants to focus on affordability in Indiana, as Errington explained that both she and Gullion hear about it frequently from the community.

"We've been under Republican majorities for 20 years," Errington said. "So the laws that we have, that have been passed in the last 15-20 years, reflect Republican priorities."

Once the weather improves, Gullion also wants to be able to "walk door to door" after she acquires a campaign manager. She explained that walking door to door is how she won her last campaign as a councilperson.

"When you're willing to go and talk to people and listen to people [for] what they really want, I think that's what a campaign should do," Gullion said.

Past the politics

While Errington is not running for reelection as state representative, she did file for precinct committee person Jan. 9, along with being chair for Gullion's campaign. Errington said the precinct committee person is involved in educating people about registering to vote and updating their registrations.

She also said she is still involved with campaigning and the political process.

"I think it's something that's very interesting to me, and I want to continue to do it, but in a different way," she said.

While reflecting on her career, Errington said she hopes she is remembered by Muncie residents and her constituents as someone who "listened to them," and "always had an open door."

"I hope they feel that I help[ed] if they were having problems with [a] state agency, that I was willing to go to bat for them and to help them get through the bureaucratic red tape that might be holding them back," Errington said.

Contact Linnea Sundquist via email at linnea.sundquist@bsu.edu.

Ball State took down Buffalo 103-61.

Ball State took down Buffalo 103-61.

The team's fifth MAC win has given the Cardinals a feat that only a few other Ball State teams have accomplished. A perfect 5-0 start in conference play.

This is the third straight season that Head Coach Brady Sallee has led his team to this accomplishment, and he said the team has bought in early which has been a big reason for their success.

"This group is starting to game plan really well," Sallee said. "They're starting to understand the different things that we want to do from game to game."

The Cardinals got off to a hot start through one quarter of play. Ball State jumped out to an early ten-point lead after one quarter of play. The team totaled four steals in the first quarter, forcing the Bulls to turn the ball over nine times in the early window.

Senior center Tessa Towers said the early turnovers set the tone early for the Cardinals defensively.

"Our guards were really active coming out in the first half," Towers said. "It was our tempo of the game, this is what we wanted to do, and we went out there and did it."

Offensive success came easily for the Cardinals in the game, as the team shot 56 percent from the field and 47 percent from behind the arc. The team recorded more rebounds, assists, forced turnovers and shot a better percent from the field than Buffalo.

"Passing it up, getting quick layups, it makes the energy go higher," Towers said.

With Ball State holding a significant lead the entire way, Sallee was able to put out a slew of different lineups, and a lot of Cardinals were able to see extended time on the court.

Twelve different Ball State players scored, and nine players played 13 minutes or more. A highlight of those players was freshman forward Alba Caballero, who finished the night with eight points and 11 rebounds off the bench.

Sallee said he has seen Caballero come out and play the way she does because of how she practices.

"She's a heck of a player," Sallee said. "You're starting to see the fruits of the labor a little bit."

Turnovers have been an issue for the Cardinals entering the game, as they averaged just under 19 turnovers per game in their first four conference games. But against Buffalo, Ball State only turned the ball over 12 times, which Sallee said the Cardinals need to keep replicating moving forward.

"It's a game of possessions, and when you give them away, you make it really hard on yourself," Sallee said. "This is the step we have to take."

Another bright spot for Ball State on the night was the play of Aniss Tagayi. The freshman forward was the biggest contributor to the Cardinals' ability to force turnovers, as she recorded four steals and a block.

Tagayi finished with 13 points and four assists on the night. Sallee said she has been working really hard to be able to have performances like this.

"She's so willing to do all the stuff that sometimes doesn't show up here, but today it did," Sallee said. "I'm really happy for her."

Looking forward, the Cardinals will go on the road this weekend to take on the Western Michigan Broncos on Jan. 17 at 1 p.m.

Contact Kyle Stout with questions via email at kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn.

Phenis, a first-year graduate student, graduated from Ball State University with a bachelor's degree in teaching and a concentration in history and political science. He currently has an assistantship with Ball State's Office of Student Life.

Phenis was a part of SGA as a senator for all four undergraduate years. During his time in the student senate, he held various on and off-campus chair positions.

"My senior year, I was on the cabinet as the university governance representative, so I went to the big university meetings once a month. I've been involved in SGA a lot, so kind of coming into this now, I was offered this opportunity to be the elections board commissioner," Phenis said.

Phenis said he wants to make the executive board elections for next school year as smooth as possible, adding that not being involved with SGA for a semester and not personally knowing who is running for elections will give him an unbiased view.

He was approved to be the Election Board commissioner with 24 yays, zero nays and one abstention.

After Phenis was approved by the senate, they reviewed another application from Jennifer Goose, who is running for Election Board sheriff.

Goose is a graduate student with a bachelor's degree in public health and is currently earning a master's in science, concentrating in political science and emerging media design and development. She was also a part of the Residents Hall Association during her time at Ball State.

"I was also in our current conference scene, where I was our social education chair," Goose said.

Goose was approved to be the Election Board sheriff with 24 yays, zero nays and one abstention.

After SGA finished with election board applicants, the meeting proceeded to executive reports, starting with President Chelsea Murdock with the state of the student body.

"Our executive board momentum set out to achieve approximately 30 individual goals within five platform points that we hope will fit in our student body. All these were done to build momentum within that body, and to do so in tangible ways," Murdock said.

Murdock spoke of the initiatives the SGA executive board has been focused on and has accomplished so far this school year, such as the Red Zone program to help bring awareness to sexual assault on college campuses, implementing a mobile blue light on MyBallState to replicate the blue lights scattered around campus emergency services and the new Be Connected app for students to get involved in organizations and events around campus.

Murdock had also announced that with elections coming up soon to determine positions for next school year's executive board, she and Vice President Shaina Miller will be leaving their positions. Murdock will be accepting a job at Ball State University next year, and Miller will be graduating.

SGA will meet again Jan. 21 at their regular location in Cardinal Hall B in the L.A. Pittenger Student Center at 3:15 p.m.

Contact Landon Jones via email at landon.jones2@bsu.edu.

Snow showers are expected to continue across Delaware County, according to the NWS. Periods of moderate snow are now possible through midnight.

Total snowfall is expected to range from 1 to 2 inches in Delaware County, with higher amounts possible farther north. Wind gusts of 30 to 35 mph may cause blowing snow and reduced visibility, especially on open roads. Winds are expected to drop below 30 mph by midnight.

The NWS is still warning that travel conditions may change quickly overnight. Drivers are urged to slow down, allow extra time to reach their destination and avoid crowding snowplows.

#######

UPDATE: Jan. 14, 4 p.m.

Delaware County is still expecting snow and strong winds tonight, according to the NWS. Snowfall could now total 1 to 4 inches, with the highest amounts in northern areas. Wind gusts may reach up 30 to 35 mph, causing blowing snow. Overnight wind chills could drop to -5°F.

Snow showers will slow down by midnight, and winds are expected to diminish to under 30 mph by then, as well.

The NWS is still warning that roads may be slick, and conditions can change quickly, so it's advised to slow down and give snowplows room when driving.

#######

According to the National Weather Service (NWS), Delaware County can expect snowy and windy conditions through tonight and into the weekend.

A band of moderate to heavy snow moved through the area Wednesday afternoon, with up to 1 inch of snow possible. Additional light snow is expected overnight. Wind gusts today may also reach up to 40 miles per hour, which could make driving more difficult.

The NWS said scattered snow showers will continue this afternoon. These showers may briefly reduce visibility while driving to about a mile. Drivers are urged to slow down, allow extra travel time and avoid crowding snowplows.

Looking ahead, there are chances for light snow from Thursday night through Saturday night, with minor accumulations possible. Much colder air is expected late in the weekend, with wind chills potentially dropping as low as 10 degrees below zero from Sunday night into Tuesday.

This brief will be updated with more information as we have it.

Contact the Daily News via email ateditor@bsudailynews.com.

Tonight: The snow dies down in the early evening hours but the possibility of a light snow shower or flurries cannot be ruled out. Cloud cover persists throughout the night with winds coming from the northwest at 15 mph and gusting up to 30. Lows will dip into the teens, making for a chilly winter night.

Tomorrow: The snow will move out but clouds persist throughout the morning. Sunshine will break through by the afternoon with a proper mix of sun and clouds. High temperatures will not break 30 degrees, sticking in the mid-20s throughout the day. Winds will thankfully start to calm down with gusts of 25 mph possible throughout the day.

Seven-Day Forecast: Snow chances return Friday but the chances of accumulation are minimal. Temperatures slide down well below the average of 36 degrees throughout the week. Overnight lows will be dangerously cold with some nights settling into the single digits. A mix of sunshine and clouds will be prominent throughout the end of the weekend and first half of next week. Make sure to bundle up as you head outside because these winter conditions are not going anywhere as temperature outlooks show us remaining below average.

-Chief Weather Forecaster Joseph Sawicki

Follow us on Twitter @NLIWeather for breaking weather updates.

NewsLink Indiana is a proud Ambassador for the NOAA Weather-Ready Nation program.

For more information about the Weather-Ready Nation program please click HERE

In this episode of 9-1-1 What's Your Hot Take, Sam and Willow discuss the events of season 9 episode 7 of 9-1-1.

Music track: Talk by Chill Pulse

Source:https://freetouse.com/music

Copyright Free Music for Videos

Hosted by: Sam Jasionowski and Willow Emig

Edited by: Sam Jasionowski

Graphic by: Willow Emig

The Cardinals (4-13, 0-5) fell to Akron (13-4, 4-1), 87-77.

The team's first four minutes of play against Akron did not go as planned for the Cardinals.

The Zips sprinted out to an early 14-2 lead. The Cardinals missed five shots from the field before junior guard Armoni Zeigler laid the ball in at about the 17-minute mark.

But even with Ball State's sluggish start to the game, Zeigler along with senior guard Elmore James IV gave the team life. After the Cardinals' start landed them in an early 12-point hole, the two Cardinals' guards combined for 25 points to knot the game up at 28 apiece.

Despite Zeigler and James' efforts to get the Cardinals back in the game, the Zips would proceed to go on a 25-7 scoring run that bled into the second half. Once Akron reached their largest lead of the game of 22 points, the Cardinals struggled to ever bring that lead back down.

Zeigler ended the game with a season high of 30 points on 11-18 from the field. Lewis said Zeigler was aggressive from the start of the game and that he was "very pleased" with the guard's play.

"I thought he did a really good job of playing under control," Lewis said.

A positive for the Cardinals was their ball security. In past games, Lewis has talked about times when the team was dealing with communication issues, but outside of Zeigler's six turnovers, the team only turned the ball over four times.

The head coach said he is seeing growth in that area within the team.

"We are growing, we're making less and less mental mistakes," Lewis said. "Our communication is continuing to get better, which is helping."

The Cardinals are still dealing with a slew of injuries, as junior forward Kayden Fish, junior guard Joey Hart and senior guard Juwan Maxey are still missing time nursing injuries. Other Cardinals' players have had to play more minutes in recent games, like junior forward Mason Jones and Zeigler, who both played over 35 minutes in tonight's contest.

"Those guys are battling, they're warriors," Lewis said. "I really appreciate this group overall just showing up every day and working and getting better."

Lewis said in recent games, the team has been making fewer mental mistakes and has been attacking with more purpose. The team shot 48 percent from the field against Akron, which is one percent below their season high in MAC play.

"I just thought we played with a real purpose tonight," Lewis said.

Ball State's loss gave them an 0-5 start to MACplay and moved them to the bottom of the league standings.

Despite the early conference play struggles, Lewis was pleased with the team's play and said he thought it was one of the best games the team has played all year.

"I was really proud of how they competed," Lewis said. "The result is the result."

The team is still searching for their first conference win as the Cardinals will host the Ohio Bobcats at Worthen Arena on Jan. 16, another team that is near the top of the MAC standings.

Contact Kyle Stout with questions via email at kyle.stout@bsu.edu or on X @kylestoutdailyn.

This article is republished as part of a collaborative content-sharing agreement between Ball State Unified Media andIndiana Capital Chronicle,established to expand access to high-quality journalism and to better inform and serve the public through trusted, in-depth reporting.

The Indiana Capital Chronicle will be providing weekly updates of the Republican and Democratic candidate filings for Indiana's congressional and legislative seats going into the May 5 primary.

All nine U.S. House and 100 Indiana House seats are up for election this year, along with half of the 50 Indiana Senate seats.

The candidate filing period opened on Jan. 7 and ends at noon Feb. 6.

(This listing is based on Indiana Election Division reports posted as of Friday afternoon.)

U.S. House

State Senate

State House of Representatives

According to a Jan. 12 press release from WaTasha Barnes Griffin, the CEO of Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA) of Central Indiana, "The Muncie community will come together on Monday, January 19, 2026, to honor the life, legacy and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. through a full day of commemorative events centered on reflection, service, youth empowerment and worship."

Below is a detailed calendar of events to take place in the community that day:

Precious Hearts Development Center at:jaynieyoung@sbcglobal.netor call 765-287-8785.

Pre-registration is required. Contact Dorica Watson at:june19muncie@gmail.com.

I came to love Indiana native artist In Distance, or Indy, from his debut singles "September" and "4th." His new EP, Yike, takes the sound and themes I came to love with singles like these and puts a new spin on them, pairing downtrodden lyrical themes with upbeat instrumentals that make me want to dance around.

Progression and Instrumentals

The first track, "Calls," is a perfect tone-setter for this EP. Starting on a slower pace helps the listener get a sense of Indy's lyrical voice and tone. It feels like it's picking up not where his last album, Lunar, left off, but rather where his second single, "4th," left off, starting half an octave higher than the 2024 release.

Immediately following, we get a moment of silence before a direct signal that things are picking up instrumentally from here. "I'll Bring You Down With Me" feels like how Indy would answer the call from the previous song-if it were returned-but deep down, he knows it won't be. Overall, it fits really well with its place in the EP and serves its purpose. That being said, I think it's my least favorite track. It sounds too bland, and it's missing the personality and passion that In Distance brings to the rest of the EP.

The third track picks up the "Slack" from the previous song. I really appreciate its apathetic nature, and it almost feels passive-aggressive. It builds on my favorite thing about "I'll Bring You Down With Me," the chord progression. Again, making a similar sound to the previous one, but making "Slack" tackle the same feelings with a lot more apathy.

The last two tracks, "Killing Me" and "Obviously (Before I Go)," are classic In Distance hits. They both really build off everything I love about the "Illiterate" single from last year. They both have the energy I need to dance around my room, but the theme that reminds us that Indy himself is in pain. The riff in the instrumental bridge before the last chorus of "Killing Me" makes me want to jump up and down with joy every time I hear its contagious energy.

Lyrics

As a perfect opposite to the more upbeat tone of the instrumentals, the overall lyrical tone of this EP is one of grief and sadness, just like in the Lunar album. However, In Distance has clearly improved as a poet and a lyricist since then.

My favorite song of the EP, "Killing Me," is lyrical gold. It describes heartbreak in the dead of winter, saying, "I'm too quick to it, finding all the little things, and dissembling." He describes the time of year, and mourns the summer saying, "sun setting just around six again, I miss it when nine o'clock was golden." It's a very lonely song, describing that even while around people, he struggles to fit in, "I'm trying my best, I want connection but I don't get it." He is so sad with these lyrics, the chorus, "it's killing me, something I don't wanna see, is my heart beating" describes a pain so severe it penetrates both the apathy of the rest of the songs in the EP, and the upbeat instrumentals of the song. He wants so badly for the ecstasy described in the instrumentals, but as described in the lyrics, he feels "incapable of ecstasy."

"Calls" starts off with the lyric "stuck and in my bed again," which feels a lot like the "4th" single, which starts with the lyrics, "stuck in this fuzzy little haze." Both songs go on to parallel each other with "Calls" saying, "I need someone to get me out of it," and "4th" saying, "haven't heard from anyone in days, except for you and a mirror." These parallels make it seem like the two songs are talking directly to each other. The version of Indy from "Calls" wants to hear the voice of the person he speaks about in "4th." Now, he's alone and needs someone to talk to, hence the chorus "Pick up your calls, I've answered every one of them."

The next track, "I'll Bring You Down With Me," is a description of Indy's relationship with this person. He feels very turned around, asking, "Is this too much, or not enough for you?" The whole track is him contemplating first what he should've, could've, and would've said while this person was still in his life, and second what he would even say if he could talk to this person again. He does admit, "it's all my fault, I should've seen it coming, but even hindsight ain't 20/20 vision."

These first two contemplative songs leave the last three wanting to break out of the sadness, "Slack" opening with the lyric, "I need to relax." This song goes on to say, he tried, he failed, and everything is fine now. He ends the EP by saying, "Before I go, I'll let you know how I've been feeling, it's all for show." "Obviously (Before I Go)"breaks the fourth wall and talks directly to the listener. When listening to In Distance, you can tell that a lot of his music is very personal, yet he still has walls up as a performer. He calls out this paradox of wearing your heart on your sleeve on stage, but for the entertainment of the crowd, saying, "She knows what I'm thinking, and he does too; they know what I'm thinking, and he does too."

Final Thoughts

Overall, Yikehas been on repeat for me since its release on Jan. 2, and it was an amazing EP to start the new year. Hearing the way In Distance matures as both a musician and a lyricist has been such a joy since his debut in 2023, and I'm looking forward to seeing what he does with this sound in the years to come.

Sources: AppleMusic,AppleMusic, AppleMusic, AppleMusic, AppleMusic, AppleMusic,AppleMusic, AppleMusic, AppleMusic, AppleMusic

Images:AppleMusic, Instagram,Instagram

For the second year in a row, Nikki Glaser hosted the award show and was just as entertaining as the previous year. Her opening monologue poked fun at multiple celebrities in the audience, including an edgy joke to Leonardo DiCaprio about his dating life. Heated Rivalry stars Hudson Williams and Connor Storrie made their award show debut, announcing best supporting actress. Storrie, coming out full of nerves, matched with Williams' smooth confidence made for an entertaining encounter.

Timothée Chalamet is taking home his first Golden Globe for best male actor in a musical or comedy feature film for his performance as Marty Mauser in Marty Supreme. After years of sitting through the award show cycle, Chalamet underlined the importance of finally winning the award.

One Battle After Another swept the award show with four wins for the night. Paul Thomas Anderson took home a couple of awards for Best Screenplay and Best Director. Teyana Taylor won her first award for best supporting actress with a heartfelt speech saying, "to my brown sisters and little brown girls watching tonight, our softness is not a liability. Our depth is not too much. Our light does not need permission to shine. We belong in every room we walk into. Our voices matter, and our dreams deserve space." Being nominated in the same categories, Sinners took home two awards: Best Original Score and the Box Office Achievement award.

Adolescence also swept within the television category, winning four awards. The UK-based show allowed actors Owen Cooper, Steven Graham, and Erin Doherty to win their first Golden Globes, as well as winning for best limited or anthology series. The Pitt followed behind, winning two awards. Noah Wyle won for Male Actor in Drama Series, and the show itself won Best Drama Series.

The biggest awards of the night went to an array of films. Jessie Buckley and Wagner Moura won for Best Actors in a Drama film for Hamnet and The Secret Agent, both becoming first-time winners. Best Comedy or Musical Film went to One Battle After Another and Best Drama Film went to Hamnet.

With the Oscars and other award shows on the way, the Golden Globes set a precedent for what's to come for the rest of the award season.

Sources: IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb, IMDb

Photos: Golden Globes Media Kit

Contact Sam Jasionowski with comments at samantha.jasionowski@bsu.edu or @s.jasionowski on Instagram.

Muncie Resists, a local group dedicated to opposing President Donald Trump's "Make America Great Again" (MAGA) movement, is focused on promoting democracy, advocacy and education within the Muncie community. In collaboration with other progressive groups such as MoveOn, they hosted the event to increase visibility for Muncie and Delaware County, according to its website.

Chair of Muncie Resists Sarah Vitale said, "We have people who share our values, who want to say that immigrants are welcome here, [who] do not approve of law enforcement officers using their power in illegal and violent ways."

Vitale also spoke out about her hopes for the potential outcomes of these protests against ICE.

RELATED: Protesters gather in front of Muncie City Hall, condemning the U.S. government

"We want to show the message to people who disagree with us, and we hope we can convince them that immigrants are welcome here. They are wonderful and essential parts to our community, and we want to make sure law enforcement follows the rules," she said.

Since so many people drove past the protest and honked their horns, Vitale said she wants everyone to know they can find allies within Muncie Resist who share their values, and that anyone can show up to the organization's events.

Several other protesters shared a similar sentiment, emphasizing their opposition to the Trump administration's policy of sending out ICE agents, and explaining that they "want justice."

Vice Chair of Muncie Resists Mary Moore said, "We want justice when they do break the law in their jobs."

Many of the protesters in attendance were also there because of the death of Good.

"The nation is mourning the loss of Renee Good. She should not have died, and we do not want more loss of life," Moore said. "A lot of people are feeling very helpless and want to make a clear stand that they think that the shooting of her was unlawful."

George Wolfe, former director of the Center for Peace and Conflict Studies at Ball State University, also spoke out against ICE during the protest.

"The problem is they are detaining American citizens. We are no longer living in the land of the free when that happens. People are being arrested without being told why. People are being arrested, and they are not being given their rights," Wolfe said.

Wolfe also spoke out about his opinion on the long-term goals of these protests.

"We need to outnumber them. We need to drive them out, and we have to do it through non-violence. Otherwise, we will become just like our enemies."

With over 200 people in attendance, Muncie Resists was happy with the turnout.

"We thought people, despite it being so incredibly cold, were willing to stand on a sidewalk in the middle of a freezing day just to take a stand against ICE and for justice," Moore said.

Contact Jayden Vaughn via email at jayden.vaughn@bsu.edu.

Court documents reveal the reason for the invasion was to capture Maduro and his wife in order to put him on trial for alleged Narco-Terrorism, drug trafficking and weapons charges.

Protesters came to city hall Saturday with signs, repeating various chants such as, "Keep your hands off of Venezuela," "No more bombing their abuelas," and "Biggest threat in the world today, Donald Trump in the U.S.A." to express their opinions of the situation, with many voicing frustration regarding the U.S. government's decision to enter another country.

One of the protesters who spoke to the crowd was Tanya Pearson, an assistant teaching professor of women's and gender studies at Ball State.

Pearson is currently running for Indiana State Senate District 26 as an independent candidate.

"America has a history of destabilizing and overthrowing socialist projects and governments. Our government has never been concerned with democracy or human rights. It is only concerned with power and control in the name of capital," Pearson said.

Parallels were also drawn amongst the crowd to previous conflicts involving the U.S., such as the Persian Gulf War, the Vietnam War and the War on Terror.

"The Reagan 'regime' asserted dominance in El Salvador for military spending and training in Nicaragua when the Reagan administration illegally sold weapons to Iran to fund the anti-communist rebels. In Chile in 1973, when socialist president Salvi Oriente was imposed and replaced with a dictator, the United States has strangled Cuba and Venezuela, among others, with sanctions for decades. United States foreign policy is imperialism," Pearson said.

Pearson was referring to the Iran-Contra Affair in 1985, when Iran and Iraq were at war and Iran secretly obtained weapons from the United States. She also referred to the 1973 Chile Coup, ​when the U.S. supported efforts to destabilize socialist president Salvador Allende, who was overthrown and replaced by Chilean general Augusto Pinochet.

Ryan Mills, a long-time member of the Black Alliance for Peace (BAP), PSL and the National Black Radical Organizing Conference (NBROC), gave a speech during the protest, as well. Mills took to the steps to condemn the U.S.'s actions.

"Black philosophy strongly condemns the international law of the Neo fascist U.S., the violent aggression and the blatant attacks on the people-centered human rights of Venezuelans, and the violations of Venezuelan sovereignty," Mills said. "The objective of the attack is none other, to seize Venezuela's strategic resources, particularly its oil and minerals, to break the nation's political independence by force."

A Muncie local who is active in political organizations, Joseph Souza, reinforced Mills' message, stating that many groups won't stop as long as injustice persists, not just in Muncie but across the world.

"Moments like this require the utmost importance and solidarity. It requires us to listen closely to those in the movement who have been organizing for decades, not just in this city, but all across the world. Ryan Mills has been living in this city as a working-class hero … not just representative of his organization, but over 100 organizations across the United States," Souza said.

The rally lasted about two hours outside city hall, with people chanting and waving flags, including a Palestinian flag and two plain red ones symbolizing left-leaning ideologies such as socialism, to show their support for Venezuela and many other countries in political discourse. Cars drove by, honking in support, while others drove by, shouting in disagreement with the protestors.

The protest ended just as it had started, with protesters chanting their frustrations with the government while expressing support for the people of Venezuela.

Contact Landon Jones via email at landon.jones2@bsu.edu.

My alarm goes off before the sun rises. Before my feet even hit the floor, I scroll through my phone. Work shifts, class deadlines, unread emails and the quiet anxiety of everything I have not yet done all pile up at once.

The day feels heavy before it even begins, but I take a deep breath, smile and keep going. That is what strength looks like, right?

Somewhere along the way, being strong stopped feeling empowering and started feeling exhausting. Strength became something that was expected of me, not something I chose. It stopped feeling like a badge of honor and became a responsibility I could never put down.

There was no clear moment when this shift happened. It built slowly, through long nights, early mornings and the constant pressure to prove I could handle it all. I learned how to minimize my own feelings, push discomfort aside and convince myself that rest could wait.

In the Hispanic community, strength is deeply valued. I grew up watching the women around me juggle responsibilities without complaint. My mom worked long hours, handled stress quietly and still found ways to show up for others.

That kind of strength was never announced or celebrated - it was expected. It lived in routine, in sacrifice and in the unspoken understanding that you do what needs to be done and can figure out the rest later. Watching that shaped how I understood resilience. I did not learn how to talk about exhaustion or fear; I learned how to work through it. Strength was not something you questioned - it was something you embodied.

For a long time, I admired that kind of strength. I still do. It represents sacrifice, love and resilience. It reflects survival in a world that has not always been kind or fair. But as I have grown older, I have started to understand that there is another side to that strength that we do not talk about enough. One that comes with emotional cost.

When strength is treated as a requirement instead of a choice, it can start to feel like a cage.

Being a Latina student balancing school, work and family expectations, I have learned how to hold everything together even when I feel like I am unraveling. I have said "I am fine" more times than I can count. I have ignored exhaustion, brushed off stress and told myself I would rest later. After the deadline. After the shift. After everything else was done.

But later rarely comes.

Instead, the exhaustion builds slowly and quietly. Emotionally, mentally and physically. You start running on autopilot. Even moments that should feel fulfilling can feel heavy. Strength, in that sense, becomes survival.

Surviving is not the same as living.

There are unspoken rules that come with being a strong woman.

"You do not fall apart. You do not complain. You do not let people see you struggle."

Vulnerability feels like failure. Rest feels undeserved. Asking for help feels like weakness. These ideas become so deeply internalized that even when no one is explicitly telling us to keep going, we pressure ourselves to do so.

Studies published in Nursing Clinics of North America show that women experience anxiety and depression at significantly higher rates than men. The research also highlights how social expectations, emotional labor and caregiving roles contribute to increased stress in women.

Reading that research for the first time felt uncomfortably familiar. That realization hit me hard because it explained so much of what I had been feeling but could not always put into words. It explained why I felt guilty resting, why opening up made me feel uneasy and why slowing down felt like I was doing something wrong - even when I desperately needed it.

I did not realize how much I was carrying until my body and mind started pushing back. I had trouble sleeping, felt emotionally numb and was crying over small things because the bigger emotions had nowhere to go.

I thought something was wrong with me. In reality, I was just tired of always being strong. I was tired of pretending I was okay.

The National Institute of Mental Health emphasizes that emotional well-being is just as important as physical health. Their research shows that ignoring stress does not make it disappear. Instead, tension builds and compounds over time. Chronic stress can affect concentration, mood, energy levels and overall quality of life.

These effects can interfere with daily functioning, academic performance and relationships. This reinforces the idea that constantly pushing through exhaustion does more harm than good, even though many of us are taught to see rest as optional.

We live in a culture that glorifies being busy. Being tired becomes a personality trait. Healing, on the other hand, is rarely applauded.

Healing requires slowing down. It requires honesty, not just with others, but with yourself. It asks us to sit with discomfort rather than run from it. For people who have been taught that their value lies in productivity and resilience, that can feel terrifying. Slowing down can feel like failing.

I am still learning how to let myself feel without judgment. Healing does not mean I am giving up strength. It means I am redefining it.

I have realized that so many women around me are carrying the same invisible weight. We do not talk about this enough, especially in communities where resilience has always been necessary for survival. Strength gets passed down like wisdom, but sometimes it comes with silence attached. And that silence can be isolating. It teaches us to endure rather than heal.

Healing challenges that silence.

It makes room for honesty, boundaries and humanity. It reminds us that worth is not measured by how much we can endure.

Healing is not linear. Some days I still fall back into old habits, but now, I try to check in with myself more honestly. I try to recognize when I am overwhelmed instead of pretending I am not.

That awareness, even when it is uncomfortable, feels like progress. Healing does not erase struggle, but it allows me to respond to it with care rather than self-criticism.

I attempt to keep in mind that slowing down does not mean failing. There is something powerful about choosing to heal in a world that constantly demands more from you.

But we deserve to be seen as more than strong. We deserve to be seen as human.

Maybe that balance between strength and softness is what real resilience looks like.

Contact Cristal Mariano via email at cmarianovargas@bsu.edu.