Just a few days ago, the sink was full of that one roommates' dishes, the mac and cheese was plentiful in the dining hall, and the cars honked their way down the street. Now the sink is empty, the mac and cheese is boxed, and the cars are parked. What do we do now?
Breathe.
What just happened was rough. There is no easy way to explain the difficult choices that were made. One minute we were scrambling to finish a paper in the library, the next minute we were scrambling to find the Zoom link before online class. For many of us, the transition involved packing up, traveling home, leaving jobs, leaving friends, and trying to figure out the next move. On top of this, the deadlines kept rolling in, the anxiety kept building, and the situation kept worsening.
You see, this transition is a tough one. We need each other now more than ever. Each of us has a unique circumstance, a unique story, a unique set of obstacles to face in the coming weeks. Many of us didn't have a chance to say goodbye to our best friends, our favorite professors, or to that one smiling security guard. It's tough. And yes, you are allowed to be upset. Yes, your emotions are valid.
Center yourself.
Everyone's circumstance is different. Acknowledge that. For some, college provides a safe space where they can express their identities freely, sleep in a comfortable bed, and eat a hot meal each day. Going home for one person might mean seeing their beloved dog and sleeping on their memory foam mattress,but for others, it might mean searching to find a meal, and staying away from their family to avoid ridicule.
Support one another.
Within seconds we can send a text, a photo, a call etc. Just because our friends aren't a ~quick pajama run down the hallway~ away, doesn't mean we can't keep in touch. (I celebrated my birthday on Zoom a few days ago...) We are so lucky to grow up in a time when technology is so prevalent. So please, take that second to check on your friend, that student in your project group, or your grandmother who lives towns away.
What a memory this will be.
Unfortunately, this is only the beginning of the uncertainty. Will we be able to study abroad? Will our internships be canceled? Will there be a graduation ceremony? With so much up in the air, it's easy to want to hunt down someone for the answers. However, it seems that we will need to embrace uncertainty for now. So rest assured knowing that if you're anxious about something, odds are so is everyone else. But Hey, remember all those times you worried and everything turned out fine? Well that just might be this. We'll figure this out. Just take a deep breath, center yourself, and focus on what is in your control. Before you know it, we'll be counting down and saying that 2021 will be "our year".
