def string_to_list(s, append=""):
    """
    This function is used to store lists of strings in SQLDB because it cannot store a list, it is stored as a single string
    Args:
        str: takes the list of responses as a whole string
        append: text that you want to add to the list of strings

    Returns: a list of strings

    """
    str_list = s.split(":.:.:")
    if str_list[-1] == "":
        str_list.pop()
    if append != "":
        str_list.append(append)
    return str_list