As the school year comes to a close and we reflect on all that has happened, it is difficult to think back to just a few months ago when we never could have imagined that our last day on campus would be the Friday before spring break. We never could have known how many lives would be impacted and plans canceled like weddings, graduations, birthdays, and anniversaries, along with countless others. We watched as our academic careers and campus involvement disappeared overnight. Senior student athletes didn’t get to play their last game knowing it was their last game or take part in their senior days honoring accomplishments. We didn’t get to walk out of the classroom after our last exam or presentation with a feeling of accomplishment and closure. Instead, we ended our semester of virtual classes by logging out of Zoom and Google Classroom on our devices. We never got to say goodbye to our favorite professors and staff members who have been mentors and friends for the past four years, which was something I found most heartbreaking of all.
Even though we lost time on campus we’ll never get back and the closure many of us wanted after four years of hard work, we showed resilience as a community during a time when it was needed the most. It’s rather fitting that our academic theme for this year was in fact, resilience. As a college community, we were able to see just how strong we could be when faced with unprecedented challenges and hardship. Transy’s faculty and staff worked hard to provide resources for students and restructure the coursework to fit the new virtual class formats while students worked to carry on and adapt to new ways of learning. We found ways to stay connected at a safe distance through virtual communication and offered support when needed. I’m proud to be part of such an amazing community of students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Transy’s motto is especially relevant during this difficult time as the seal reads, “In Lumine illo Tradimus Lumen” which means, “In That Light, We Pass On the Light.” I encourage all of you to pass on the light and instill in yourself a sense of resilience when faced with challenges beyond what you thought you could handle. I hope the light continues to shine for The Rambler and the Transy community, even in the darkest of times.
