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Grace and Gratitude Despite Challenging Times - Part 7

 

There is light, positivity to be found during this pandemic. Everyone has been impacted in some way – and some much more than others. There are moments when time seems to run achingly slow. And there are days that seem like things are spinning out of control.


If we’re able, it might be good to stop, take a deep breath and ask ourselves two simple questions. What have we learned through all of this so far? And for what are we most grateful right now? That’s just what we did with students, staff and faculty at Salt Lake Community College. In a series of eight posts this month, we give you their answers. We hope it brings a little light and positivity into your day.


Part 7


Paola Avanzo, student


Paola has the attitude “that the more difficult times get the more I learn.” Paola says that she is grateful for “all these people around me who believe we are going to get through this.”  Paola says the support from friends that she and her mom receive as her mom battles cancer keeps her grateful every day.


Lynn Brown, professor of percussion and music


Lynn is grateful that he’s been able to adapt material he saved for years from old correspondence courses he took while in the military to teaching music online. Lynn’s positive outlook is that “This too will pass. Things will return to normal, so just keep going.”


Nour Alkheishali, student


Even though she misses the in-person interaction of being able to attend classes on campus, Nour says she is “grateful that I can still continue going to classes online instead of taking a full year off.” Her advice for getting through difficult times; “Don’t give up even though it seems like this is never going to be over. It will be over at some point, so just keep going.”


Cassandra Flores Gaeta, student


Cassandra says that “during this year I have learned a lot of things.” For her that included learning online, which she says she was able to do with her family’s support. Cassandra says she is grateful that her family is “always by her side.”

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