Hi Huron,
I hope you’re enjoying the last days of summer. I thought I’d write to you before the term starts in just one week! It’s an exciting time: some of you may be living away from home for the first time, others may be getting ready to move back to the city, and I am sure everyone is eager to meet new people and reunite with old friends. For an extrovert like me, September is definitely the best month of the year! But this year looks a little different than others, and I wanted to use this space to acknowledge and address the mixed emotions we’re feeling right now.
Let’s take a minute to talk about grief. Over the last year and a half, we’ve all experienced loss: be in the death of a loved one, the loss of physical and social contact with friends and family, the loss of a certain way of life, or the loss of our student experience. The pandemic, politics, and protests of the last year and a half have been draining for all of us. We have all been grieving, and there is no timeline on grief.
Similar to grief, healing and recovery looks different for everyone; and you may have mixed emotions about being “back to normal”. I know I do. Honestly, I don’t even know what ‘normal’ means anymore! I am happy to be back but also anxious about the fourth wave; I am excited to meet my friends but overwhelmed by the ever-evolving public health messaging. But I also know that I am not alone in feeling this way; that means, neither are you.
The world as we know it has shifted, and it’s okay to take some time to adjust to all the changes. Besides, university is hard enough without a global health crisis looming over our heads (and frankly, I will scream if I hear the word ‘pivot’ one more time!). So, take care of yourselves and the people around you. This definitely means setting personal boundaries, as well as respecting others’ by wearing masks, physical distancing, and limiting social engagements; it means cutting yourself and others some slack when you miss a deadline or don’t make it through your to-do list, and it also means standing-up for yourselves when those boundaries are violated. If something makes you uncomfortable, it’s possible others might feel similarly. Ask for help when you need it and demand better when you deserve it.
You are your best advocate.
Your student experience matters and we’re here to make sure you have the best one possible.
Stay safe and well. I hope to see you very soon!
