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Tutors, please submit your posts here as a comment. We’re so excited to have you write for the blog. Please include your full name, class year, intended major. Optional: your photo!
Theme by Anders Noren — Up ↑
June 10, 2024 at 12:58 am
My name is Jess Desrosiers, and I am a Junior in the class of 2026. My major coming into college was Nursing, but in late August, just weeks before my freshman year, I decided to switch to History, which I have been happily studying in the last two years. I say this as I want to acknowledge that dreams and goals can change, and that is okay! There is no shame in the process of self-discovery, just different paths to find your identity.
One of my core beliefs that I would like to discuss for this blog post focuses on changes relating to making this campus, and the communities we are a part of, a more accessible space for everyone. I went through a tough time when I was in high school, and the journey that began when I was 14 continues to shift and change me, even almost 6 years later. When I was 14, I started to develop debilitating symptoms that impeded my ability to do almost anything, I missed tons of school and other core life events. This was incredibly difficult, and I had no answers until I was 15, when life as I knew it would change forever.
I finally got a diagnosis during the beginning of my sophomore year, I was so bummed that I had to miss my first day of school, but little did I know that my reality was about to flip in a much more drastic direction. I got a diagnosis, after all the fighting for answers, the GI doctor I was seeing thought I had Ulcerative Colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease that caused my immune system to attack my large intestine. I landed in the ER the day after that appointment, which would mark the start of a month-long hospitalization. For the next three years I developed other chronic illnesses that affected my functioning. The battle was never ending, I had several surgeries and had to take a medical absence from high school. Regardless, I graduated high school on time and got into several colleges, which is a win in my book.
During this process I learned a hard reality that stuck with me, that the world was not made for people who struggle with disabilities, both mental and physical. I can’t be on my feet for long at all, this made finding a job suitable for a high school/college age person extremely difficult. Most workplaces will not make the proper accommodations and if you disclose your disability ahead of time, some will just not hire you at all. This is one of the main reasons I switched my major, I realized that the nursing profession is not the most accessible, and I would likely not be able to make it through the clinicals to get the degree. This discovery made me extremely passionate about accessibility and equality for disabled individuals. I am the first person who will point out blatant ableism, and even if I do not have the authority to fix it, I can at least make someone feel seen and less alone. Disability and chronic issues can be so isolating, and I believe that we all have the power to make the world a little bit easier for this community and just our community in general. What people don’t think about is that we all will likely develop some sort of health issue in our lifetime, and when you need these accommodations and understanding, you will understand why it is so important. By fighting today, you are fighting not only for those around you who currently need these reforms, but also for your future self.
June 10, 2024 at 1:45 pm
Jess, This is such a powerful post that reminds us that everyone is battling something and we need to make the world more accommodating!
June 13, 2024 at 7:14 pm
Kol Tavares – rising junior – Mechanical Engineering major Philosophy minor
Beliefs serve as a guide. They determine feelings and dictate actions. As time goes on, they change. One of my favorite philosophers, Heraclitus, believed all is change. Holding this thought allows for growth like no other. It’s a hard concept initially, I can admit. But holding that belief that things can be altered and possibilities are endless allows for development. Evolution, growth, change! I believe nothing stays the same. As much as we may long for things to remain the same, they simply cannot. There would be no progress. “Everything stays but it still changes, everso slightly.” (Rebecca Sugar) I think this lyric describes it perfectly. There may be some stasis, but change is inevitable. As I go into my junior year, I hold some lessons dearly. One of them being its okay to mess up. If there was no mistake, there would be no room for growth. I think this concept needs to be practiced more. Learning from mistakes, being able to better yourself through experience. Perfectionism is not something that should be strived for. Being able to embrace mistakes and acknowledge them as opportunities. Opportunities come and go and life moves on. Taking chances, being willing to put yourself out there; that is what would make someone truly stand out. This isn’t meant to be easy, it is scary and unsettling. But that is what makes it worthwhile. “Do it scared” is something one of my friends always tells me. I think they understand the logic behind my thought process. Being confident in every action is not easy nor realistic. Sometimes getting started is the hardest part. Stepping out of the comfort zone, embracing life for what it is. Maybe it’s the fear of failing, maybe it’s something deeper? Regardless of the reasoning it can feel impossible. Keep going, the end is closer than it may seem and the results of all the effort won’t go unseen. I believe challenges build character. Determination and persistence are everything. Even in the most draining moments there is beauty. Being able to see it may not be the easiest, but undermining the effort won’t bring success. Accept things as they are, be grateful, understand things will change and embrace it! Living in the moment is something I want to practice more this upcoming semester and semesters to come.
June 14, 2024 at 9:35 pm
Kelsey Wink – Junior – Political Science (Pre-law Concentration) & History, Double Major
It’s difficult to write about a belief I hold dear, as there are many I try to live by. I have my demons and internal struggles, like everyone else in this world. I’m no stranger to my demons, but grabbing the sword’s hilt and slaying them took time and courage. Loneliness and solitude were my demons; I became the social outcast, and it was difficult to shed that label. So, I accepted my role and, honestly, grew steadily comfortable with being alone. Despairing as it sounds, it was during those times that I felt at peace with myself. I didn’t feel like others were prying at me, judging my every little action or word. I felt judged and ashamed that I couldn’t be myself around others or that I was too terrified and not confident enough. If I talked to a living soul, I felt like I was deep in the trenches, fighting my way across no man’s land, praying for survival. Or, if I don’t want to sound so dramatic, I’d cower in the corner like a quivering puppy. I certainly wouldn’t call myself a people person or the life of the party, but I do enjoy a small group of people I can laugh and joke around with. It took time for me to grow comfortable in my own skin and understand that it’s okay to be myself. It sounds cliché, but it was such an important lesson I learned in life and about myself.
This belief in accepting myself became instrumental as I entered my freshman year at UMass Dartmouth. I had to understand that while I love to surround myself with a few people, I also relish my alone time. Henry David Thoreau couldn’t have said it better: “I love to be alone. I never found the companion that was so companionable as solitude.” As I navigated the bustling halls and crowded classrooms of UMass Dartmouth, my belief in the value of solitude became my anchor. College life, with its primary directive to socialize and integrate everyone, could have easily overwhelmed me. Yet, I found strength in the words of Thoreau and in the quiet moments I carved out for myself. I learned to cherish these periods of quietness as times to recharge and relax.
In the beginning, I felt anxious at the idea of meeting new people. The thought of making new friends and fitting into social circles seemed daunting. However, as days turned into weeks, I began to realize that I didn’t need to be afraid of what others thought or uphold their expectations. Instead, I focused on being true to myself. I engaged in meaningful and enjoyable conversations when I felt comfortable and sought solitude when I needed it. Now, entering my junior year, I have found a small group of individuals who appreciate me for who I am. I’m eternally grateful for meeting them and for the wholesome, quiet, and appreciative sanctum I discovered at UMass Dartmouth.