by Kayley Rettberg '20
Philosophy & Political Science
President of the Secular Student Association
This post is a part of our series on endings. Explore more perspectives on this theme through our tags, located at the top of our home page.
For the Class of 2020, our senior year definitely ended in an unexpected, abrupt way. Personally (and I think for many of my classmates), not being able to say goodbye to my friends, participate in senior traditions, and spend time together was truly devastating. Our time at IWU seemed to come to an abrupt and sudden end. This photo is from one of my last IWU memories, the Alternative Spring Break Trip*. By the time we visited this waterfall, we knew that we were probably going to have an extended spring break, and that no matter what, things would be different. We didn't know that our time on campus had ended, but the uncertainty made everyone nervous.
Sitting at the base of this waterfall with close friends, both new and old, brought me deep solace in this time of doubt. It was tucked away, secluded, powerful, and peaceful. So peaceful. I'm not a creative writer, so bear with me for this part, but I think that endings are quite a bit like waterfalls. Each little water droplet is thrown off of a large rock into turbulence and the unitary nature of the river is temporarily broken up, but at the end of the fall, the water rejoins a cohesive body, and more droplets follow. This is to say that while the change that an ending brings can be uncertain, scary, and lonely, none of us are really alone. We're falling together, and as we scatter across the country and the world for our new jobs and the start of our lives, we're doing so as one body of water. Endings will come and they will pass, and it's important to remember in times of uncertainty that we're together, we're powerful, and we're going to continue on our course.
Question to consider
What images and experiences give you solace in times of doubt?
*Kayley mentions her experience on IWU's Alternate Spring Break. Read more about it or listen to an episode of the IWU podcast, Slightly Underwhelming, featuring members of the trip.
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