So Long, Syracuse
Three things to remember as you head home.
by CAROLINE DELISLE ★ NOVEMBER 18, 2020
It feels like forever since we’ve had a normal end to a semester. But honestly, can we expect anything less than a hasty transition back home from 2020? No, no we cannot. If there’s one thing we can say about this year, it’s that 2020 has done a great job of branding itself. That brand just so happens to be mass chaos and the destruction of our very way of life.
But we’re out here.
Anyway, in our rushed departures home, there are some things we need to be sure to keep in mind. As messy as this semester has been, it is important to keep a level head on our shoulders, even amidst the madness. At the end of the day, this pandemic is bigger than us, and it can be very destructive if we allow it to be—even more so than it already had been. Lives are still at stake, and we cannot let our guards down. Here are three things to bear in mind as we head back home.
We aren’t in Oz anymore. We are at the part in the movie when Dorothy clicks her heels three times and returns to Kansas. Except in our version, we are departing our campus bubbles and returning to hometowns and ways of life completely uprooted by a pandemic. I think we’ve all grown accustomed to how it was at school where a slip-up in social distancing meant two weeks of boredom at the Sheraton, and then you could return to your life. At school, our primary social contact was with other students. This is a demographic who, for the most part, does not need to worry about the virus harming them with anything more than a temporary fever. When we go home, we need to remind ourselves of whom we affect when we break regulations and risk exposure. It is no longer a two-week stay at the Sheraton for our pals and a text saying “sorry to tell you this but I tested positive and because we hooked up last night you should probably start packing your things.” Spreading the virus now means infecting those who are more at risk. The wake of your actions does more than rock the boat of a few of your friends. It has the possibility to capsize the ships of those around us who have medical conditions that make COVID-19 a life-threatening disease. This past semester was a time when we could admittedly let our guards down a little bit, but as we prepare to be home for the next three months, we need to remember just how serious this virus is, and just how brutal the consequences can be.
Get comfy, we’re gonna be here for a while. The sooner that we accept the reality of these next 3+ months, the easier it will be to make the most of that time. This starts by coming to terms with the fact that this break is going to last a minimum of three months. As of right now, classes at ‘Cuse are set to start back up on January 26th. This was a date that was set before this most recent spike in cases. If we’ve learned anything recently, it’s that we cannot get too comfortable with long term dates and plans. Things change so rapidly right now, and factoring in a change in presidential administration, we need to brace ourselves for the possibility that this break could be prolonged. Does it suck? Yes. But does refusing to accept this possibility make its actualization any easier? No. So while we can look forward to returning to school eventually (and the new potential vaccines in the works! Yay!), we also need to be prepared that things are still changing rapidly. The better we are able to accept this uncertainty, the better we can combat the spread of the virus by hanging tight and staying home.
Don’t let your hometown consume you. It is important both for our awareness of what is going on in the world, as well as for our own mental sanity, to not get trapped in the bubbles of our hometowns. Just because you are home in your childhood bedroom doesn’t mean you get to shut yourself off from the rest of the world. Try to keep up with current events. Devote 15 minutes of your day to a current events podcast. NPR’s “Up First” and the Wall Street Journal’s “What’s News?” are two terrific sources of daily news. Even just a few updates from a trustworthy news source can help you stay informed and connected to the outside world. It’s also a great way to remind yourself that there is more to the world than the four walls of your room. As stifling as being home can seem, a reminder that the rest of the world still exists can be refreshing.
We will get through this. This will pass. Multiple vaccines are passing preliminary trials and proving to be effective in combating the coronavirus. We are learning to have patience, to slow down, and to reconnect with ourselves. But it is not over yet. Numbers are rising and lives are at risk. As we scramble to get home and readjust, we must reassess our mindsets and remind ourselves of just how important our actions are right now.
Please stay safe, and please keep the faith. We may be apart, but we are in this together.
If you or a loved one is experiencing suicidal thoughts or concerning feelings of despair, please call 800-273-8255 or 911. This is an excruciating time for so many. Take care of yourself.