We Gathered and It was Good

We had a party.

In attendance was a number of students, plus Assistant Vice President Cassy Kent, Provost Jonathan Keiser, President Robert Nye, Board of Trustee Member Donna Mihalik, and Chemical Dependency Counseling Coordinator and Professor Mary Murphy, Access Services & Resource Sharing Librarian April Broughton, Admissions and Financial Aid Counselor Katia Chapman.

Sound intimidating?

It wasn't.

Most of them showed us a pet.  Dr. Nye chatted with us as his dog sat on his lap.  Cassy turned her camera to show us her beautiful Golden Retriever named Pearl.  April went outside to show us a turkey, a parade of chickens, and their alpacas.

And there were students with us, too, of course.  Robin, Bucket, Sierra, Cambrie, Laura, Rebecca, Emma, Heidi.

Oh, the pets.  That was the moment I stopped being nervous about how it would go.  How can we be nervous or anxious when we are holding cats and dogs and even a tortoise up to our cameras?

How could I worry that it would go well when we are all laughing and can HEAR the laughter of multiple people coming from our computer speakers. 

There was serious conversation, too, as we got asked about our general well being and how we were managing in these strange times.  We got to pick the brain of the president and ask questions that were on our minds about what is happening at FLCC now and in the future.  It was open, candid, and honest.  It was heartfelt and it mattered.

One student almost didn't go.  Earlier in the afternoon, when I asked if they were ready for our party, said "I'm gonna try. This has been a rough day."  They were there.  They laughed, too.  We got to support each other and there was nothing specific anyone had to plan or do.  Just being there and seeing faces, hearing voices, sharing silly stories and serious thoughts. 

Thank you, Honors Friends.  It did my heart good and I think it helped everyone else who was there as well.  Perhaps we can meet again and you will join us.

Just look at these smiles....

The heart of Honors is beating and it is strong.

Standing Together While Apart

Meeting Link:  HONORS PARTY!

Password:  curious

What strange times we live in.

Once again, I'm not going to talk much about the pressures facing us all - because we know them.  No matter your situation, you have challenges facing you in these strange times and it may sometimes feel like you're alone.

Once again, I'm going to remind you that you aren't.

There are so many ways to stay in touch with folks and that's one way that technology is actually helping us.  Technology can often be a double-edged sword, but right now, it's the best way to stay in touch.  Whether it be text messages, Facebook messages, Zoom, Webex, Facetime, TikTok, phone calls, or even letters - there are ways.  If you are feeling like you aren't sure how to reach out, please tell me.  Let's find a way for you to get in touch with other folks who might need or want someone to chat with.  We can try to recreate the casual conversations that happened in the hallways, in the cafe, in the classrooms before and after class started, or even random greetings in the restroom as you waiting in line or washed your hands.

It's true that we are all getting inundated with meeting requests, emails, Blackboard announcements, and media reminders of how much things have changed in the last month or so.  It makes a lot of us tired and it can feel completely overwhelming.  But, we can also control some of it.  We can find ways to use technology to help us feel connected with those around us.  We are all in similar boats and there's no reason why we can't exert a little effort to row those boats a little closer to one another so we aren't just shouting into the fog and hoping for a reply.

Come to our Webex party next week and let's make some connections.  Doesn't have to be about school or homework - we can talk about gardening and cats, Netflix shows and nature walks, where we scored some hand sanitizer or what baking fail we just had in the kitchen.  And we can ask how each is doing.  And maybe you can make a connection with someone there and so that you have someone you can reach out to if you need a friend.

Get sunshine and fresh air.  Stretch your legs and fill your lungs.  And then remember that technology can bring us together at time when we have to be a little farther apart in person.

You see, it's not REALLY social distancing.  It's physical distancing.

We need each other.

We just need each other from a bit of a physical distance right now.  But that doesn't mean we have to be alone.

Physical distancing.

Word cloud created at Word It Out using the article "Maintaining Relationships While Practicing Social Distancing" at Psychology Today.

Party Time!

Honors Studies Event!

Come chat with friends and share a laugh or two.  Honors Studies and Honors Club invite you to drop in for a chat.

Meeting Link:  HONORS PARTY!

Password:  curious

And who knows....Cowcat may even make a PERSONAL APPEARANCE!!

If you have an Honors T-Shirt - WEAR IT.  :)

Something Uplifting

Hello, Honors Friends, and happy spring.

There are so many things I could talk about right now and it has taken me some time to figure out how to blog for Honors now that Spring Break is over and we are learning our new normal, so to speak.  I know many of our Honors folks have various mental health challenges and so I wanted to tread carefully.  This should be a place of support and comfort.  Because that's what Honors is.

I was so uncertain that I asked an Honors Student what she would do if it were her blog.  This particular student was one that I knew would have a good answer and one that would make this blog easier to write because she is one of those who struggles.  She would know what to say. 

Or, rather, what not to say.

One thing she said that keeps running through my head as I draft and re-draft this is "Because it’s an honors blog, I’d be hoping for an uplifting statement near the end, as there usually is."

But you know what?  I'd rather be uplifting throughout.  We know what is going on.  We know the grim realities of the world right now.  We don't need reminding of that...but we might want reminding about things that are constants and things that we can rely on in these uncertain times.  Honors.  Even as our Honors community and experiences have been upturned, some things do not and will not change.

So, this is a blog of reminders and of hope.  You are part of Honors.  That means, you are still part of the Honors family.  Honors is still (another) home for you.  Honors is everything it should be for you - it just looks a little different right now.  But that's okay, because Honors is not only home - Honors is about innovation, curiosity, and forging ahead in spite of and because of challenges and obstacles.

You are not alone and you are not forgotten.  Honors is not forgotten.  It has moved and changed like everything else, but my 'Honors kids' are still my Honors kids.  You know how I know?

A decent number of you elected to take part in the Honors Living History Project**.  That project idea came from Vera Whisman - longtime Honors faculty who saw someone talk about a similar idea in a tweet.  A day later, the project was born.  A day after that, a survey was made.  Two days later, people were signing up.  Honors means reflecting on what's around us and figuring things out through thinking and writing.

Some of you have emailed or Facebook-messaged me.  Some asking school questions, but sometimes just seeing how I was doing.  Honors students are still looking after one another.  Even from a distance, we are still doing that.  I asked some Honors students for help recently and it was amazing how quickly I got answers in the affirmative.

FLCC has an amazing community and Honors is an amazing community within that community.  We got this.  And, to that end, Honors Club and I want you to stay tuned for a Zoom party for Honors and  Friends of Honors.  Let's get together and laugh and tell stories and check in with one another.  If it goes well, perhaps we can do it regularly.  Let's keep the Honors heart beating together.  We are NOT alone.  Any of us.

And so, I leave you with messages of hope and support.  Find me if you need me and I will help however I can.  And I will also leave you with one more uplifting thought, messaged to me by another student as we checked in with one another.

"Honors is strong and passionate; we will all get through this."

**Want in?  You still can.  Email me at trista.merrill@flcc.edu