[Prevscilist] Welcome to Spring term

[Atika Khurana]

Dear Prev Sci students,

I am thinking of ALL of you as I write this message.  None of us could 
have predicted a few weeks ago that this is how Spring term would look 
like.  Yet, here we are in this together, and we will get through this 
together, having learnt a thing or two about ourselves and all the 
things we take for granted.

As we start Spring term, I want you to know that we (faculty and staff) 
are here to work with you and make sure that this term goes as smoothly 
as possible.  We are working remotely, but we are available by email and 
happy to connect with you by phone/zoom as needed.  I will continue to 
have office hrs on Fridays from 12-1 on zoom.  If you want to schedule a 
1:1 phone or zoom meeting with me, send me an email.  If you have 
questions about your spring term classes, please connect with your 
instructors.

Given all the uncertainty, most of us are feeling afraid, anxious, 
lonely, frustrated, and a range of other unpleasant emotions to varying 
degrees.  It is absolutely essential to first take care of yourself.  
Can you identify one thing that you can do every day that brings you 
some calm and a sense of normalcy?  I have been going for 15-20 mins 
walks or bike rides, and doing lunch doodles with my son and his 
favorite author, Mo Willems 
(https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/mo-willems/).  You find yours, 
and share with your peers if you feel comfortable.  We have to support 
each other, and there are many ways to do so remotely.

When it is time to work/study, focus and get through the block of time 
that you have set aside. Below are some helpful tips that Dr. Ellen 
McWhirter had shared-

·     Respond to misinformation, rumors, and escalation with steadiness, 
factual information, and vetted resources.
·     Respond to anxiety and fear with compassion and practicality.
·     Resist efforts to dichotomize, fragment, isolate, and blame groups 
of people.
·     Respond to our own fears and anxieties by seeking support, 
practicing mindfulness, exercising, practicing gratitude, and by 
applying our curiosity and creativity to this unprecedented situation.
·     Keep a schedule: Get up, get dressed, make a plan for work, 
academic, and social time. Don’t stay in the spot within your living 
space all day. Get outside every day.
·     Maintain a sense of humor, which can help generate solidarity in 
the midst of loss or fear.
·     Respond to distraction and lack of motivation by setting specific 
goals (hourly, morning/afternoon, daily), sharing goals with others to 
enhance accountability, setting limits on news consumption, including 
blocks of time that are disconnected from social and news media, and 
building a reward structure that fits YOU (going for a run, watching a 
show, calling a friend).
·     Channel frustration and anger into serving others, raising 
awareness about those who are most vulnerable, inviting constructive 
action to ensure others’ safety and well-being, and encouraging creative 
responses to this unfolding situation.

We will get through this - together.  Welcome to Spring term.  I look 
forward to seeing you on zoom.



Best
,

Atika