Do you like soft and cuddly kittens and puppies? Do you like free deep tissue massages? Do you like free food and snacks? If you said yes to any of these questions, then you should take advantage of the stress free zone that Kentucky Wesleyan College is offering for finals week. It’s a time to kick-back and relax for an hour or more in order get away from the constant stress of final examinations. It’s an opportunity to focus solely on good vibrations, a place to recuperate with your fellow classmates, and to decompress after a long day of studying and exams.

Every semester Kentucky Wesleyan promotes a stress free zone where they bring in animals from the Owensboro community for students to interact with and play. Some animals come from local shelters while other animals come from Kentucky Wesleyan staff pet owners who take time out of their day to provide a friendly stress free atmosphere for students. In recent years, there have been animals such as puppies and kittens available for adoption. Personally, I feel that this is a great way to relieve stress and results in better test scores. There has been scientific research conducted that being around animals and petting them helps release stress and can be therapeutic to those involved. One year, the school also brought in exotic pets such as ferrets, raccoons, and even a sugar glider (flying squirrel).

How many places in Kentucky do you know of where you can get a free massage? Kentucky Wesleyan College is one place! The school usually brings between three and four professional massage therapists who offer much needed therapeutic massage relief. This is very popular among students, and the lines can be pretty lengthy. For future reference, I recommend you try to get there a little bit early and sign-up so that you do not have to wait long in a line to get your massage. If you have a special request, whether you have a kink in your neck or a pinch in your shoulder, you are more than welcome to share with the therapists and ask if they can do something about it for you. The massage ranges from about 10 to 15 minutes. If you are done with your session and decide you would like another massage, then you are more than welcome to sign up again and get back in line, over and over again.

Another opportunity for students in the stress free zone is the availability of a school nurse. The nurse offers physical and mental health assistance on anything the student may request. She would love to help you in any way, shape, or form. Another calming activity offered by the school involves the nurse, the student, and wax. Basically what will happen is that you will dip your hands in a warm calming wax, pull them out, and then let them sit there for a few minutes to dry. This is supposed to give you a warm positive feeling and calm your nerves and settle your thoughts. This too is therapeutic.

With Halloween being a month or more behind us, I am sure multiple people are running low on their candy supply. One of the best things the stress free zone offers is all of the different kinds of candy. In the past, candy has been placed on the tables around Rogers Hall. Even if you do not like puppies, kittens, free massages, or snacks, at least come for the free candy. Grab your friends and make your way to Rogers Hall today, the 7^th of December between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Not only will this help you release stress, but also it will help you get through the rest of week.