The AU Community was Overflowing with Words of Wisdom

When we asked the AU community to share lessons gleaned from the experience of living through the pandemic, the response was overwhelming. Here are just a few of the comments.

The Art of Writing Letters
“As the pandemic dragged on, I learned the value of writing cards and letters to friends and family. It felt like regaining a more personal touch even though there was little actual personal contact. I am still writing to friends and family, even when they email and wonder what’s going on with all the cards and letters.”
—Roger L. Curless ’68, MS ’76 GWC

Composting
“A few years ago, I spotted a big green compost tumbler at my local thrift store, bought it, lugged it home, and placed it at the back of our yard. There it sat, just waiting. COVID-19 was the catalyst for my husband and me to fill that bin with every scrap from our daily meal prep and the brown leaves and grasses on our property.”
—Martha Kasten, Voice Instructor

The Simple Life
“The most important thing I’ve learned is to accept the circumstances we can’t change and enjoy the simple things that we may have been too busy to appreciate before. And understanding that even when it feels like everything is going wrong, life does go on, and there is always hope; it is everywhere around us.”
—Kristin Millard, Human Resources Coordinator

More Access to Educational Experiences
“COVID-19 has actually opened up new opportunities for our Criminal Justice majors. Some unique training opportunities that have traditionally occurred in person and been accessible only to practitioners were shifted to Zoom and made available for our students to attend. I was amazed at how receptive folks were to my simple requests for student access. Some government-sponsored and speaker events ordinarily held in places like Washington, D.C., and New York City went remote, and our students were able to hear directly from heavy hitters.”
—Stephanie A. Whitus, Professor of Criminal Justice

Healthy Eating
“I experienced quite a few life changes during the pandemic, the most important being renewed gratitude for the health of my friends and family. I realized I needed to take better care of myself, and I started eating healthier.”
—Susan DeBroux, Administrative Assistant for Enrollment

Second Chances
“As I travel down the road of life, I am trying to give more people second chances, because many of us are carting around at least one extra heavy burden.”
—Van Seabaugh ’58

The Greater Good
“Since the beginning of the pandemic, my grounding question has been: How does my best self serve for the greater good at this moment?”
—Mariza Rocha, Director of Latino/a Initiatives

Slowing Down
“I have discovered the value in slowing down. Society today moves so fast. Throughout all of this, I felt the gift was getting to pull back and not have to rush to and from things.”
—Keith Herrmann, Assistant Professor and Chair of Physical Education

Being Present
“If you care about someone, show them. If you love someone, tell them. Take time to be present in moments instead of always trying to capture them or missing them behind a screen.”
—Tammi Hettinger ’11

Creative Time
“I learned to be much more creative with my time. I picked up some new exercise techniques, cleaned out cupboards, read some great books, and watched some interesting TV.”
—Pamela Ferdinand, Educators Rising Co-Coordinator

Do It Now
“Time. Time is precious, and that cannot be taken for granted.”
—Tim Simms ’19, MSW ’21 

Taking Refuge in Reading
“When the pandemic was unleashed in early 2020, I took refuge at my Ontario cottage and stayed there happily for more than a year reading heavily things that I had neglected for many years.”
—Ralph Premdas ’65

Love Is All That Matters
“The pandemic taught us how “reach out and touch someone” is more than just a turn of a phase; it is the lifeblood of the collective us as a society and of a people. Love has no bounds, and we all need to share more of it.”
—James Townsend ’70

I Have Enough
“I have learned that I am able to get by with what I have. I used to think that I needed to have more and more and more until I realized that what I have is enough. Clothes. I can repeat an outfit. Shoes. I don’t need to have every color. Dishes. The cabinet is full. Enough. It’s all enough. I have been blessed to work in a hospital and learn how important my health is; how precious life is and the importance of being grateful for it all. In the grand scheme of things, I’m learning how to be content with what I have when so many have lost so much.”
—Cindy Davis MSW ’89

Taking Nothing for Granted
“The pandemic took all of my pastimes, hobbies, volunteering, and some of my friends away from me in 2020. What is different now is each time I am able to do something, anything, I don’t take it for granted. I have been able to sing in the church choir, I started volunteering again, and have auditioned and succeeded in getting a role in a local production of ‘Arsenic and Old Lace.’”
—Douglas Kolpak MA ’84

The Joy of an Audience
“Live performance is exactly as important as I had always believed.”
—Lisa Fredenburgh, Parolini Distinguished Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities

Faithful Friends
“Living through the pandemic I was blessed by faithful friends who diligently availed themselves to serve others whatever the need.”
—Charlie Bell ’56

Drawing Closer Together Socially
“I watched iconic American movies that I had not taken the time and effort to see before, and I finished several books. I also wrote an article for the Illinois Counseling Association that spoke to the need at that time for physical distancing and not social distancing — the need to draw closer socially while remaining physically distant.”
—William H. Davis, Jr., MS ’76 GWC

Helping People Get Vaccinated
“I rediscovered how much my opinion and actions are taken into consideration by others. I felt as though I made a difference in helping people get vaccinated.”
—Vanessa Gaddy, Mail Center Manager

Zoom Gatherings
“My wife, Sherry (Towns) Gustafson, and I participated in a Zoom get-together with close to 30 of our GWC friends, some of whom we hadn’t seen for almost 50 years.”
—Larry Gustafson ’72 GWC

Enjoying Home Life
“I grew to enjoy our home life, since we couldn’t travel for over a year. And, thankfully, my husband and I are still happy together and stronger than ever!”
—Carol Bulas Crowell Honkanen ’88

Spending Time with Family
“I have discovered how much my wife does every day for my children, raising these little people is tough work and I have my respect for her. Also I am grateful for all the time I was able to spend with my family during lockdown.”
—Arturo Martinez Jr. ’15

Finding New Purpose
“This pandemic has given me a new purpose and a sense of determination to go after my master’s degree. I have a 4-month-old and a 6-year-old, and together we are determined to see this through. Even though this pandemic made things rough and difficult, it has changed my perspective on myself and my family. We are strong together.”
—Melanie Ruiz ’21

Facing Hard Times Together
“I have learned to appreciate being together during these hard times, to appreciate my friends and relatives, and to use Zoom to celebrate what pleasures we do have in life.”
—Wes Sime ’65, MS ’67, GWC

The Challenge of Teaching
“Being a teacher was certainly a challenge. I help teach students with learning disabilities at a local middle school level, and it was much more difficult to teach reading and writing. We started school later than normal and with all virtual classes. Throughout the year, more students gradually came back to the live attendance classroom. I am looking forward to a normal school year.”
—Dennis Smith ’67

Power of Long Conversations
“I rediscovered the power of long conversations, the kind that remind you of late-night college talks, where the topic would meander and go deep, and where you would emerge with a greater appreciation for relationships and connections to others.”
—Teri Tomaszkiewicz, Vice President for Alumni Relations and Career Services

Embracing the Creativity of Disruption
“Teaching through the pandemic necessitated that I examine all aspects of my teaching and explore new ways to achieve course learning objectives. At the beginning of the process, I often felt overwhelmed and frustrated, but with the support of colleagues facing the same challenges, I began to embrace the creativity that a disrupting event can encourage. As we emerge from the pandemic, I look forward to returning to campus with a deepened appreciation for spontaneity and creativity in the classroom.”
—Lynn Spellman White, PhD, CPA, Professor of Accounting