BY CALLIA PETERSON, 22.
Fast—that is how I would describe the past month and a half. A year ago, everything felt longer. Classes were blocked, lectures were pre-recorded, tests were pushed further into the year, and for most of the week, our longest commutes were from our bedrooms to our kitchens. But now the heavy homework loads are back; practices, club meetings and games keep us busy until the sun goes down, and I am finding myself drinking an extra cup of coffee in the afternoons in order to keep up.
But fast doesn’t mean less rewarding. We have been able to connect far more deeply than we were connecting a year ago. In the walls of UAHS, we have been sitting with friends at lunch, collaborating with our classmates during class time and innovating in our various student-life organizations.
Our involvement in sports, clubs and activities is just as vital as our work in the classroom. Whether we are trying to win a field hockey game, engineer the best robot or put together an issue of Arlingtonian, our collective goals help us find community and meaning in our day-to-day lives.
So this week, I encourage you to dive into the list of clubs and sports on the Student Life Canvas page and to think about things that make you tick.
At the same time, I am here to affirm that it is OK to slow down. It is OK to take a break. It is OK to ask for grace, and it is OK to go to bed at a reasonable time. We are all human. Find time for yourself to wind down and spend time with your family. Remember, your teachers and administrators are human too. Reach out to them, share what is going on in your life and explain how they can help you be the best learner you can be.
I hope you use this issue of Arlingtonian to pause and reflect. Check out page 14 to learn more about how you can get involved.