Ask.
None of us are okay right now. Let’s just clear that air from the jump.
There’s a pandemic. A monumental and uncertain election. An even more uncertain aftermath following the election results, and no clear timetable on when the results will be solidified. There are Senate seats up for grabs and a questionable Supreme Court justice hearing happening now. There’s financial insecurity and persistent wealth gaps. And whatever the 21st century equivalent of a laundry list is (perhaps a CVS receipt?), there’s also that, full of an assortment of other trials and tribulations.
This is why we must ask for help.
When you need someone to talk to, reach out and set up a time to connect.
When you have a specific question to help you prep for a midterm or work on a research paper, check in with your professor, TA, tutor, classmate, or other resource.
When someone crosses your mind — an old friend, a distant family member, a high school teacher, your summer remote internship co-worker — drop them a note to see how they are doing.
When you need a hug, ask someone in your quarantine crew to give you one.
Over the past couple of weeks I’ve had a number of meaningful check-ins with students in my class, scholars in my academic program, friends and family, co-workers, community impact partners, and more. It’s been a wonderful reminder of the importance of connections. Many of the conversations have veered off onto all sorts of tangents (Lovecraft Country is a popular one), driving home the need for interaction.
Make the time to interact with other people in the different ways available to you. Your network — even in this virtual world we find ourselves in — is bigger and deeper than you realize. Tap in, give, get, and grow together.
Don’t overthink it. Don’t talk yourself out of it. Just ask.
