Grace and Gratitude Despite Challenging Times - Part 8

 

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 8

Mikhail “Misha” Ermakov, student

Misha says he’s “grateful that I’m surrounded by a lot of supporting friends and family and that the staff and instructors at my school are constantly available and take every opportunity to assist me and make the program engaging.” As a student in a trade program, Misha says “being able to engage with supporting people and working together on a mutual project brings personal satisfaction to me.”

Josh Elstein Program Director, Center for Arts and Media

Josh says that what keeps him going is looking at things from his two-year-old’s viewpoint. He says that “if I’m ever feeling down, I just look at the energy of my two-year old, and I’m reminded that there’s still good stuff going on.”

Bridget Hogan, student

Bridget says she has learned that “attitude is everything.” She says that “there are lots of reasons why you could get down about this particular year,” but she looks at it as an opportunity for people to “lift each other up and support one another.” 

Bridget says she is thankful for “fellow students as well as the instructors that have taken a pretty unpleasant situation and turned it into a really rewarding experience.” She is grateful that “We have the opportunity to continue to learn in a safe and effective way.”

Diana Coronado, student

For Diana the dream of attending college started twenty years ago. She is grateful for scholarships from SLCC that recently allowed her to pursue that goal. When COVID-19 hit, Diana thought about withdrawing, but wanting to keep her scholarship pushed her to keep going. Diana expressed being nervous using new technology as classes moved online but “became confident in myself,” as she continued to follow her course of study at SLCC.