A Letter to My Advisees
The Daily Deac is out today, getting an early start on Thanksgiving. I sent this message to my academic advisees lastnight, and thought I’d share it with you today.
While your students are home with you, you might have your own words of wisdom you want to share with them. Talk – and listen too. Have those big conversations. Connect, and reconnect, with them and their lives. Tell them you love them unconditionally and that you’re proud of them. That’s never the wrong answer.
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All – most of you I assume are on your way home for the Thanksgiving holidays, or soon will be. I wish you a wonderful time with family, friends, and loved ones. May you get a lot of good food, some rest, TLC from the ones you love, and some relaxation before returning to Wake.
Once you get back, it will be a short couple of weeks until finals. Do the best you can to prepare for finals – but not at the expense of your wellbeing. Please take care of yourselves. That means eating well, getting enough sleep and exercise, managing your stress, and being safe and moderate in your extracurricular activities. If you need a pep talk or a cup of coffee or moral support, please know I am here for you. Use the resources on campus if you need support – and if you don’t know where to get help, just ask me.
In addition to taking care of yourselves, I’d urge you to take care of each other too. Whether that is a small random act of kindness, listening to someone, offering a kind word, speaking up for someone when no one else will, or protecting someone who needs it – do whatever you can in your sphere of influence. Make your hall/your classes/the organizations you belong to – and even Wake Forest – a better place. Do the right thing and be kind whenever possible (and remember, it is *always* possible).
Wishing you the very best Thanksgiving and all the blessings of the holidays –
Betsy
— by Betsy Chapman