EDITORIAL: Thank you for your support this semester, take care of yourself
It's time for a break – and we deserve it.
We hoped for some return to normalcy this semester after the COVID-19 pandemic destroyed the morale of the campus and Mount Pleasant community last year. In many ways, we experienced that.
Students and faculty returned to in-person classes. We met regularly with our student organizations. We could dine-in at local restaurants.
You could see spirits were higher than they've been in many months as you walked around campus. Nonetheless, we are still far from pre-March 2020 "normal."
More than 20 percent of CMU students are still unvaccinated. Outside Mount Pleasant, the virus situation is even worse. Michigan recently surpassed 25,000 COVID-19 related deaths. The state remains a national pandemic hotspot. With the Omicron variant on the rise, the future is unpredictable.
Unpredictable – but not hopeless.
Hopefully, next year will mean the return of Program Board concerts and football games with huge attendance. Maybe we'll be able to shed our masks and see each other's faces in academic buildings and at campus events.
For now, it's important to take these next three weeks to rest and reflect on all the wins from this semester while focusing on your well-being.
The holidays are a great time to spend time with friends and family. Be sure you take stock of where you're at and look at where you want to be 12 months from now when we do this all over again.
As you enjoy your holiday festivities understand the importance of taking are of your mental health. Just because you can’t see it or touch it doesn’t mean that there aren't issues that could be bothering you. If you need help, talk to a friend or family member. Make sure to schedule some "downtime" during your break instead of trying to fill every moment with activities. Catch up on your sleep!
Focus on all those things this holiday break. It may be music, art, writing, working out or talking to a sibling, friend, parent or mentor. Come back next semester ready to learn, grow and succeed.
The holidays are also a time to show gratitude.
We at CM Life are thankful for you. Not just your readership and advertising support, but also your feedback and your story ideas.
It is truly inspiring to see so many students, faculty and community members use their voices this semester to inspire change – from issues with campus dining to university transparency. The campus community has gone through a lot of changes in the past two years – you can bet CM Life will be here to cover whatever comes next.
When you're back in Mount Pleasant next semester, remember we're here to help. Send news tips, guest columns and letters to the editor to editor@cm-life.com.
We look forward to telling your stories next year!
Happy holidays from Central Michigan Life.
