Maurice Flowers Graduated Kum Lade in 2024 with a degree in fashion design and merchandising. He participated in school organizations such as fashion X-etcetera and has done an internship with a textile company. Maurice was the only man in the fashion merchandising major in his class and set his sights on doing big things with his degree, such as starting his own clothing brand, Clothes Cure Depression.
Q: What first inspired you to pursue Fasion Merchandising at A&T?
A: I wanted to go to A&T because it was an HBCU and I wanted to be around my people. I've always been into costume making and that got me into sewing. I also always liked sneakers and Jordan's which got me into streetwear like Supreme and Bape and so I put the love of sneakers, sewing, and clothes together because I loved both so much that I wanted to do it for a living and I wanted to make it my major neat had that major it's an HBCU with beautiful campus. I've heard good things and that is why I transferred there from Howard.
Q: Was there a specific moment when u knew you wanted to start your own clothing brand?
A: Not really, it's been a long time coming. It was more that I started seeing what other people were doing with fashion on social media and realized if other people can do it, I can do it too. Also, a lot of people around me who admired my fashion told me I should start a brand so I'm finally doing it because I love clothes and fashion and want to start my own brand but there was no specific moment.
Q: What was the biggest challenge in turning your brand from an idea to a reality?
A: Finding motivation to get started, because once I've gotten started I’ve been on it every day making content for the brand product for the brand or anything like that but taking the initiative to do the hard part and get started such as the business plan, LLC, website, and behind the scenes stuff was the hardest part so I had to get that out of the way.
Q: Do feel A&T properly prepared you to start your clothing business
A:Yes, for the most part.
Q: Why do feel for the most part, what tools could they have given you, how could they have better prepared you?
A: Its not that I feel they could have better prepared me, its just the additional research and initiate you need to start a brand is something they can't teach, so they prepared me as well as they could i just had to do additional work on my own.
Q: How do you stay innovative while stay Staying true to your creative identity?
A: I wrote a business plan that mapped out who i am as a brand, brand identity, values, and when I find myself loosing focus or can't find inspiration I go back to it remind myself what my brand is truly about and it helps me find my inspiration.
Time Well Spent: How Students Used Simple Hacks to Take Control of Their Day
By: Nyasia Bizzell
GREENSBORO, N.C., OCT 21, 2025 — College is the busiest time in a young person’s life. Students today are balancing class schedules, course work, internship applications, work, and social lives along with distractions from social media and other technology. With all these things on their plates, it can be hard to manage deadlines, and many students tend to procrastinate. North Carolina A&T’s students are no exception.
In response to this crisis, A&T Journalism Professor Kim Smith tasked students with completing an assignment that challenged them to put several time management hacks to the test. For the assignment, Smith asked students to try out two time management hacks from a list, use them for five days and then reflect on what they learned about themselves and time management and if they would continue using the hacks. The results speak for themselves.
Finding the time
“The goal was to introduce students to time management strategies so that they could learn ways to improve their use of time,” Smith said. “Time management is a critical issue that educators need to address. We see it daily in the classroom — students are distracted by life events and platforms like YouTube and Instagram, which makes it harder for them to complete work or meet deadlines. They need some guidance on how to make time more productive.”
Time management is an important soft skill that can help students into their adult lives, in raising families, and managing roles at work along with social and familial obligations.
One Block at a Time
One strategy that many students found helpful was time blocking, which is setting aside a particular time to complete certain tasks. Olivia Stokes, a student in the class, found time blocking helpful in an unexpected way. “Time Blocking helped me see where my time goes, even if I didn’t follow it exactly.” Stokes said.
The two minute rule was another popular strategy used by students, one that encourages students to take two minutes to complete small tasks right away rather than putting them off. “The 2-Minute Rule is a simple trick, but it made me feel way more productive,” Stokes said. “I’ve still got work to do, but I’m learning to take control of my time instead of letting it control me.”
Khea Simms also found success with the two-minute rule.
“With the 2-minute hack, I found a stronger sense of purpose in completing tasks because they became easier to start,” Simms said. “My time management improved tremendously.”
Lasting results
Many students felt the assignment benefited them and they would continue to use at least one of the time management hacks. Kyla Cooke saw phenomenal results from the assignment.
“Throughout this experience, I learned a lot about how I work best and what keeps me organized,” Cooke said. “Using time blocking and a calendar really helped me see how I spend my time each day and how much I can realistically get done. I learned that I work better when I have a clear plan laid out ahead of time instead of trying to do things last minute. It also helped me recognize the importance of balance making sure I leave room for both work and personal activities.”
Want to manage your time with these hacks?
Here is a list of the most popular time management strategies students used.
https://ncaandt-my.sharepoint.com/:w:/g/personal/nbizzell_ncat_edu/EbG7Rw6diH5Gn_d2xvxgqHwBcGK98wHV1y-wpYz9tjFlOw?e=bWAUYt
GREENSBORO, N.C., Dec 2, 2025- As Grocery and gas prices continue to rise, North Carolina A&T students say they're sacrificing meals, nights out, and core college experiences just to keep up with rent and other essential expenses. The Cost Of Living Off Capmus The financial strain is especially intense for students who no longer live on campus and must now manage full monthly expenses. Without meal plans, included housing or the walkable convienence that was available freshman year, many say they're making difficult trade-offs to get by. "During Fresman year when I lived on campus, I went to more parties and hung out with friends more outside of our rooms" Said junior Amaris Burleson. "Everything costs money to go out-from Ubers to the ticket itself- and it's just not in the budget anymore. " Students say these sacrifices often extend beyond social life. The steep increases in food and gas force many to step prematurely into the world of adulthood, where bills and necessities dictate nearly every decision. "I pay rent now," Burleson said. "I didn't think I would be doing that until my mid-20s, at least not until after I graduate." Due to the fact that housing is only garunteed to freshman, students lose key supports such as dining hall access, campus housing and the ability to walk to class. That shift often leads to higher expenses and fewer financial safety nets. Food Prices Risen Steadily According to CBS News, the cost of food has risen 18.2% since 2022, making groceries one of the biggest bugget difficulties for college students nationwide. National data reflects the same challenges. According to a survey reported by Ellucian.Com, "78% of college students say financial stress negatively affects their mental health. 61% report that financial strain hurts their academic performance. 57% say they’ve had to choose between college expenses and basic needs like food and clothing." Junior Jalen Cobb said the increases have cause him and many of his friends to cut back on essentials, not just extras. "Myself and a lot of my friends are forced to somethimes skip meals and just be hungry for a few hours to save money," Cobb said. "Or we're buying cheaper food that doesn't even hold us or stretching groceries way longer than we should." Cobb said even shopping less often hasn't eased the strain. "I go grocery shopping once every two to three weeks. On average I spend like $70 to $90 each trip If I'm being as budget friendly as possible," he said. Students Turn to Budgeting Strategies Paying rent for the first time has also forced Cobb into stricter budgeting. "I have to be better at allocating my money in the right way so I have enough for rent, goceries, and other things," he said. Financial experts say students aren't alone in trying to create workable solutions. Both Fidelity Investments and Husson University recommended strategies such as using meal plans, taking part-time jobs, buying used textbooks, relying on public transportation and keeping a detailed budget. Many A&T students, however, are already doing these things and still struggle to cover daily expenses. Cobb recommends the 70-20-10 method, where 70% of income goes toward living expenses like rent and bills, 20% toward groceries and other essentials, and 10% into savings. While the method helps prioritize necessities, it still leaves little room for extracurriculars or social activities. Fidelity also encourages students to open a high-yeild savings account if possible, so any money saved grows over time. Looking Ahead As expenses continue to rise, students say they hope for more support, from expanded campus resources to financial assistance options so they can focus on academics without sacrificing basic needs. For now, many A&T students say they're simply trying to hold on to the college experience while the cost of living threatens to shape it more than anything else.
Credits:
Created with images by Stillfx - "Clock and calendar" • Volodymyr Shevchuk - "stack of money"