UPbeat_2022_people.qxp_Layout 1 4/6/22 12:10 PM Page 1
PEOPLE
‘Lego’ of stress Starting college away from the familiar and safe environment of home for the first time can be stressful. Humble junior Shyra White found a way to handle her stress one block at a time with Legos. Suffering from stress and panic attacks, Shyra’s cousin suggested Legos as a way to cope. “Honestly, my cousin was doing it, and he was like, ‘You should try it, it’s cool. It helps with like anxiety and stuff. Like gets your mind off of it,’” says Shyra, who is colorblind. “So, I tried it, and ever since I started, I haven’t stopped.” The public relations major’s Lego structures have been a great pressure relief, “I feel happy. There’s not a care in the world for me when I’m building.” Her family has also been the beneficiaries of Shyra’s hobby. Her first project was a football stadium for her dad. Her brother received a football she built, and her sister was the recipient of a 3,000-piece R2D2. Her latest project is a 11,000-piece world map which is about 25 percent complete. “The map I’ll probably keep for myself because it just looks really cool,” laughs Shyra. Story and photo by Ginger Kovar PAGE 4 • SPRING 2022
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