We can do hard things. This is at the heart of Academic Support at Trinity: helping students learn to tackle challenges by making the most of their days, finding and using good strategies, and not being afraid to ask for help. We meet students where they are, encourage them to try new things, and remind them that they are capable of persevering through difficulties. It’s the best job in the world, working with these smart, curious, quirky, funny, complicated young adults as they hone their superpowers and take on obstacles and opportunities that come their way.
So when Trinity campus life as we knew it turned inside out, we entered a fast-moving, ever-changing phase of adapting. I had a ring-side seat to observe the smart, creative, and courageous community of decision-makers as they balanced new information, complex challenges, and a very short timeline to provide a solid plan for the rest of the semester. It was a time full of confusion and sadness, but it was also energizing to be part of a community that has, throughout history, buckled down to make the best of a very difficult situation.
My coworkers in the Tiger Learning Commons (TLC) adjusted to our new reality with great speed and care. Our Student Accessibility Services staff helped create training provided to faculty as they learned to adapt their courses to an online format while maintaining student accommodations and access. They reached out to each of the students registered with SAS to find out how they were adapting to the transition and what support they may need. Our peer tutoring programs needed new models that could be shared on the website. The Writing Center quickly converted to an appointment-based system, allowing students to access time with tutors via Zoom and email. The Quantitative Reasoning and Skills (QRS) Center moved to Zoom and made the most of the breakout room function. Individual academic coaching made an instant transition to the Zoom format and has seen a steady stream of students familiar and new.
The truth is that this has been really hard. Remote learning can be extra challenging for students who learn differently or who deal with mental health issues. But we continue to see them reach toward new ways to solve problems. We know and trust that from this experience, we all will grow and develop new skills and stronger resilience. The heart of the Trinity experience is in learning new and complex things, an experience that cannot be perfectly replicated when we can’t be together. But the essence is still with us: We maintain the commitment to help students recognize that they can do hard things, and they can use that mindset to make it through difficult times like these.