“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.
“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the Ring
It would seem that the world is content to trudge along despite the many changes and challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has wrought, and we’ve found ourselves coming together again for the Fall semester at Rutgers University—Camden.
This semester brings an incredibly new and at times frightening experience to our undergraduate and graduate students alike. Lectures and class meetings, organization and club events, even wellness appointments and academic counseling sessions: all of the above and more have been transitioned to a virtual setting, and both students and faculty alike are determined to adjust. Meanwhile, we have officially hit the six month mark of a global crisis, and with such a burdening anniversary upon us, it makes perfect sense for each of us to feel…a little tired. Perhaps, burnt out. Even possibly, a bit hopeless.
But as authors and poets much wiser than myself have said, “this too shall pass” — and until it does, although it may feel impossible, it is within our power to take care of ourselves and each other.
Together Again
I know that it may feel as if we could not possibly be farther apart. Especially for graduate students, who juggle a multitude of responsibilities outside of the academic sphere even during a traditional semester. Right now, the obligations to coursework may seem to be more of a chore than a connecting force between ourselves and our community, especially for those who are facing unexpected hardships as a result of the pandemic. Additionally, those opportunities to come together during lecture, during special events, and even during hard-earned downtime at home and on campus are now available remotely, in a form that may still seem terribly isolating.
Yet, it is ever more important now as we face the burgeoning stresses of a semester under duress to maintain our community connections. When times are difficult, we look for support from our closest family and friends, and from those who share in our passions, our ethics, and our visions of the future. Navigating a virtual academic, professional, and social environment may be daunting and unfamiliar, but you may be surprised by the relationships and networks you can build using such innovating and versatile tools.
I don’t believe that I am wrong in assuming a vast majority of our graduates have grown alongside the evolution of modern technology. Our experiences with virtual worlds may have started in our childhoods, with sites such as NeoPets and Gaia online, or perhaps with sorely missed LiveJournal as we got a bit older. Our favourite sites were essentially message boards and chat rooms, dressed up in finery and sporting hundreds upon thousands of individuals, each with full and exciting lives beyond the screen. While the sites we utilize may be different, the spirit is the same: when we feel so very far apart from others, we need only reach for the web. Even from counties or states or countries apart, we are still individuals coming together to learn, to share, and to engage with our community.
Our Time Apart
One of the downsides to navigating a virtual social environment for the majority of our day-to-day lives, however, is the very high possibility of neglecting the world around us. This is made even easier by the pressure of the reality we face: with the news trending negative and the pandemic marching onwards, our time online can sooner become a trap more so than an escape. While we cannot brush aside our responsibilities that have moved remote, such as working from home or, of course, attending to our academic needs, it is still important to see to our wellbeing.
Humans have several basic needs: food, water, rest, shelter. But, just as important, we have need of things like stability, safety, intimacy, sunlight and fresh air. The climate we must navigate for the unforeseeable future may be overwhelming, but the world itself — the trees, the soil, the breeze that pushes the clouds along a heavy autumn sky — remains. When activities such as visiting a local bar or bookshop feel unsafe, the simplest plans we can make instead are to walk. To garden. To clean while the sun is hung high and the windows are open just enough to let the chill inside and allow the dust to flee. When we are tired and alone and burnt to the quick, it can save us to romanticize the simple things.
This is especially true when we have deadlines and midterms and weighted exams looming. The variance of our stressors can feel like an attack from all sides. So take a moment, between studying and reading, to remember why you are putting in the effort. Imagine the future you are hoping to build for yourself, think of the pride and the joy you will feel in the wake of your accomplishments, and appreciate the opportunities you are still able to grasp. Take a deep breath and be glad that you can.
Thoughts and Actions
“It is not our part to master all the tides of the world, but to do what is in us for the succour of those years wherein we are set, uprooting the evil in the fields that we know, so that those who live after may have clean earth to till. What weather they shall have is not ours to rule.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Return of the King
I may have spoken lightly about the hardships our global community faces, but I do not neglect to acknowledge the truth. Many of our students may be experiencing loss of income, financial distress, a decline in both physical or mental health, and (though I do not wish to think it) quite possibly the loss of loved ones. I express my sincerest condolences and well wishes to each and every one of my fellow students, colleagues, and faculty staff.
In addition to the COVID-19 pandemic, our nation is facing a significant amount of political, social, and climatic turmoil. Fires are raging, a national social movement marches on, and our next Presidential Election draws ever nearer. Amidst the determining events of 2020, I urge each and every one of you to stay safe, to protect your wellbeing and the wellbeing of others around you, and to make your voice heard.
If you or a friend or loved one are feeling mentally or physically ill, I urge you to contact the Student Health and Wellness Center. In addition to health and counseling services, the Wellness Center is also offering COVID-19 specific information in regards to symptoms, testing, social distancing, and maintaining mental health throughout the global pandemic. The Wellness Center also offers a community Food Pantry for those in need ro for those able to offer donations.
For information regarding this November’s upcoming Presidential Election, take a look at this article describing the RU Voting-National initiative. Today just so happens to be National Voter Registration Day — don’t forget to ensure that your vote will be cast!
And finally, for more information on current events from Rutgers University—Camden, click here.
In the meantime, I wish each and every one of you good health and safety.