Jan. 18, 2022:

Dear students,

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic nearly two years ago, you all have demonstrated extraordinary resilience. The graduate student community has been committed to ensuring the continuity of the research endeavor at Dartmouth through practicing appropriate health measures, ensuring labs stay open, and continuing to produce world-class research. Many of you have overcome the new challenges posed by virtual TA responsibilities and worked to create powerful virtual collaborations and relationships in your classes. You have learned how to create and foster meaningful relationships through computer screens and face masks, you have excelled in your academics and co-curricular activities, and you have come together to both process grief and to celebrate the tight-knit community we all enjoy here at Dartmouth. We commend you for all you have overcome and accomplished over these turbulent two years. 

We want to recognize this incredible resilience and strength, and also acknowledge that coping with the pandemic has been—and is still—tough. As the omicron variant emerges in our community, many of us are again facing feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, and fear. With short days and cold weather, the winter can be an especially difficult time to experience such stressors. For many of us, exhaustion is setting in.  

You may be uncertain about your own health, while also facing uncertainty surrounding the health of your family and friends. You may be frustrated that it feels like expectations around what is “normal” are shifting every day. Financial pressures may have tightened, accentuated by rapidly evolving guidance and restrictions. Information is not always readily available, which can create confusion and can make you feel like you are navigating the pandemic alone. Many of you have experienced loss: of loved ones, of experiences that you had planned, of a sense of excitement and anticipation about what is ahead. 

In each of these moments of instability, please know you have not been, and will not be, alone. Your Dartmouth community—other students, faculty, and staff members—remain a resource to you as we continue to live with this pandemic on our campus and around the world. You matter. We are here for you.

As you move through this term, we encourage you to reflect on what wellness means to you. If there are areas where your wellbeing could benefit from additional support, please make use of the diverse resources that are available to you as a Dartmouth student.  If you are looking to find a new hiking trail, consult the Outdoor Programs Office! Reach out to your mentors, advisors, and deans to help you navigate campus life. Engage with co-curricular opportunities provided by your School. And as always, the Student Wellness and Counseling centers are also available to you if you are seeking additional wellness resources or counseling. 

 In addition to the resources above, be sure to check out some of the new wellness initiatives that are available this winter, including:

Most of all, we want to express our sincere gratitude and empathy. We recognize the pandemic has affected your Dartmouth experience in ways you never could have imagined. Please show grace to yourselves and your community as we all confront this next stage of the pandemic and continue learning to live with uncertainty as a norm. Spend time investing in your personal health and well-being. Check on your friends and continue caring for each other as you always have.  Seek small pauses throughout your day—see a friend, eat a great meal, bundle up and take a walk—do what brings you joy. Try this, take five minutes right now to set one wellness goal you can accomplish by this time next week.

Thank you for your commitment to our community. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us with comments, questions, or thoughts. 

Sincerely,

Heather Earle and Caitlin Barthelmes