Isolation, reflection and rethinking ‘celebration’

This time of year holds a special significance for many of you. The longer evenings, warmer weather and blooming wildlife on Woodhouse Moor marks the ‘so close, yet so far’ promise of post-deadline carefree celebrations: barbecues in terraced Hyde Park gardens, sun-soaked afternoons in the park and drinks in your choice pub anywhere from Headingley to Hyde park.

The importance of this time in order to not only recognise hard work and achievements, but celebrate everything that comes with moving to university including independence, freedom and friendships, can now be finally enjoyed after emerging the other side of summer deadlines.

But, this year has been different. Lacking the structure that physically being on campus can bring, the wellbeing implications of social distancing, and uncertainty over the usual post-deadline celebrations to motivate those late-night library sessions, means this will have been a tough year for most. If you have found your university work taking a turn under growing anxiety and uncertainly, you can be sure you are not alone.

We spoke to students and members of the community to explore the achievements, struggles and reflections during this confusing time.

The usual academic successes have still been ever-present whilst tackling new obstacles unique to this challenging time. Final year student Jemima points out that this year has thrown even more difficulties in completing deadlines.

‘I often find myself anxious, angry and distracted; when something as huge as this is going on in the outside world it’s hard to take something so seemingly small as essays seriously’.

Overcoming the difficulties of completing deadlines during this time highlights the sense of achievement for some, including third-year Fern.

‘Completing my final year dissertation has been a major achievement, allowing me to fully immerse myself into a piece of work’, she says.

If you have found yourself sticking around in Leeds during this time, you will have undoubtably noticed some striking changes: the emptiness of Woodhouse Moor, the silence of campus, or more restful nights sleep without the booming sound of your neighbour’s previously all-too-regular pre-drinks.

But you may also have noticed, or even been a part of, the community response that has bought compassion and collectivity to the forefront of the local community.

Local resident and chair of the Hyde Park Neighbourhood Forum, Heston, points out,

‘Hyde Park is very quiet in lockdown- lots of students have gone home. This is has made things feel more personal in many ways- ‘the students’ are now the folks next door. Treating Hyde Park as ‘home’ — rather than just somewhere to pass through temporarily — has resulted in more students committing to the good of the neighbourhood. From treating the physical area with more care, to being extra considerate with litter and bins, and also through volunteering with organisations, such as Rainbow Junktion food-waste cafe’.

Masters student, Karolina, has been involved in some such initiatives herself.

‘During the COVID-19 outbreak, I have been volunteering with the Kirkstall Valley Development Trust to help arrange and distribute food parcels to Leeds residents who are currently struggling. Along with my housemate, we have been walking our neighbour’s dog as she is in the vulnerable group and is worried about leaving the house during the pandemic.’

Similarly, engineering student Harry has been involved in local support initiatives.

‘Since the coronavirus outbreak I’ve volunteered as an NHS responder’, he says. ‘ This has involved making deliveries and phone calls to vulnerable people in my local area. It’s really made me feel more connected to my local community. I’m disappointed that it took a pandemic to stimulate this activity, but it’s really made me realise the true value of community support’.

The opportunities that this period has presented in drawing people together in support have felt particularly poignant in the Hyde Park and Headingley area given the diversity of people within the community. Despite the prevalence of ‘social isolation’, many have found that one of the silver linings of this period has been the discovery of new social connections with previously unknown neighbours, and the acts of kindness and generosity this has ensued.

Whatever the capacity for our usual ‘celebrating’ will look like come July, there’s no doubt there’s cause for it now more than ever. In light of the community spirit that has been cultivated over this period, it may give food for thought on what these celebrations might look like. It’s questionable whether a rowdy house party is really reflective of the community spirit nurtured over the previous months.

If we can navigate a way to celebrate the end of the year whilst retaining one of the most striking silver linings of the pandemic, perhaps the end of the academic year offers us an opportunity to ensure that the inspirational acts of community compassion seen over the previous months are not lost. As Heston comments,

‘I hope we can keep something of this interdependent spirit into the post-lockdown future. Even if we can’t always see it, what’s good for students is good for natives, and what’s good for natives, is for the good of the community as a whole.’

For advice on avoiding noise complaints visit: https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/10410/your_time_in_leeds/1261/avoiding_noise_complaints

For information on community conduct visit: https://students.leeds.ac.uk/info/10410/your_time_in_leeds/1182/community_conduct_rules_and_sanctions