By Sean Robinson
Campus Health student leader
Imagine this: You're at a GCU basketball game and strike up a good conversation with a neighbor.
You're deciding who will win Lip Sync this year or how far GCU will advance in March Madness. It's loud at the game, so you decide to continue this conversation at Qdoba.
After talking long enough, your mouth feels dry, and you have a sip of your friend's water. The next morning, waking up early for your 7 a.m. meeting, you wake up with the worst sore throat ever. It turns out that the small sip of water was all it took to get strep throat.
This scenario demonstrates why hygiene is important – it makes you healthy, helps you build confidence and shows respect to those around you.
Good hygiene involves doing a little bit more than refraining from sharing drinks.
Washing your hands frequently, especially before meals or after handling common items, is perhaps the most effective way to combat germs. Bacteria can be prevented with good oral hygiene, such as brushing and flossing daily; this prevents not only cavities and bad breath but also contributes to overall health.
Keeping your fingernails short and clean prevents the spread of germs. Sneezing or coughing into your elbow or a tissue keeps people from catching your germs and becoming sick, while frequent cleaning of common objects, such as keyboards, phones and remotes, prevents germs from spreading within a friend’s or roommate’s environment.
Even frequent washing of your clothing and workout attire helps prevent the rapid build-up of germs from sweat produced from walking in the sun.
These actions in themselves are simple, but when combined, it can keep you and those around you healthy.
Nobody likes to be sick, and good hygiene is a way to avoid it. By washing your hands frequently, brushing your teeth, keeping your fingernails clean, covering your lips while sneezing or coughing, dressing in clean clothing and treating common spaces with respect, you protect yourself and also your coworkers, roommates, family and friends.
Practicing good hygiene today will work to provide a healthy, confident, and successful school year at GCU.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2024). About handwashing. Clean Hands. https://www.cdc.gov/clean-hands/about/index.html
Haupt, A. (2025). How College Students Can Avoid Getting Sick. US News & World Report; U.S. News & World Report. https://health.usnews.com/health-news/health-wellness/slideshows/how-college-students-can-avoid-getting-sick?slide=5
