Staying Connected
Kate shows five ways she stayed connected to her fellow Carls in the last week
Kate shows five ways she stayed connected to her fellow Carls in the last week
During the cold days of a Minnesota winter, it can be easy to start feeling really isolated. Everyone is hurrying from place to place and it can be hard to find moments of connection with each other. I’ve spent this week thinking about the ways I find small moments of joy and connection with those around me, and so I’ve compiled a list of just a few of the ways I stay in touch with the community around me.
1. Walking Together
Even something as simple as walking to class with friends is a great way to make the cold feel less harsh. You can catch up about life, commiserate about the arctic winds and wear matching sunglasses together (most important).
2. Meeting with Classmates
Some of my classes (especially in the theater department) require group project meetings to happen outside of class. Instead of seeing this as something I have to do, I look at it as an opportunity to spend time with someone new! Taking the time to really get to know someone instead of just rushing off to the next meeting is really rewarding.
3. Meals with Friends
I mention this a lot, but since almost everyone lives on campus for all four years, most people eat in the dining halls. Eating is something we all have to do, and a really easy way to stay connected is by scheduling meals with friends. I’m a big fan of an early LDC dinner, but I’ve been known to make the super long (5 minute) trek to Burton for my friends that live in the complex.
4. Working on Your Passions
As a theater major, it’s no surprise that I love performing. This term I’m involved in my friend’s comps. Rehearsal is so much more than learning our lines; we actually have a lot of fun working on our characters together (and sometimes we get just the tiniest bit sidetracked…). I look forward to getting out of my dorm and doing what I love surrounded by people I love.
5. Friday Flowers
As I’ve said in my traditions blog, I love Friday Flowers. Whenever my friends get me flowers, it genuinely makes my week. If you know someone who had a tough week, it can be such a nice way to brighten their day. It’s also a great way to reconnect with someone in a more creative way than just a dining hall meal (which I still stand by, by the way).
These are just a few of the ways I’ve stayed connected to my fellow Carls this week. But this is definitely not an exhaustive list. In the winter, people are always looking to find something fun to do together, and with everything going on right now, I feel really grateful for every small moment of connection with each person I come across each day.
Kate (she/her) is a junior History and Theater double major from the Bay Area, California. She loves Carleton’s artsy community, and is involved in the Vocal Studies Program and occasionally the Experimental Theater Board when her fight choreography skills are in high demand. Kate’s favorite places on campus are the practice rooms, either in Myers or the Weitz, where she can sing or play the ukulele. She loves the campus during all the seasons but thinks nothing could compare to the beautiful colors of Northfield in the fall. When not in class, you can find Kate either petting the nearest cat or forcing her friends to watch bad movies in a study room.