And then suddenly it was finals week. This is the perfect occasion to remember the words of A.A. Milne, author of Winnie the Pooh, “Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.”

You have the support of the entire SU community to help push you across the finish line. By Friday afternoon, we’ll all be able to breathe a big sigh of relief knowing that for the first time in a year and a half we made it safely through an entire semester in person.

Since this is the final At the Helm this semester, I want to take a moment to thank each and every one of you Pirates. Thank you for helping to keep our vaccination rate high and our positivity rate low. I’m so proud of you for making our campus one of the safest places to be in Texas. Thank you for suggesting that I send a weekly message to the community (and encouraging me to keep it short). Thank you for caring about your classes and for your contributions to the University. And after spending last year talking at a computer screen most of the time, it has been wonderful to see you shine in the classroom, on the athletic fields, in our symphony, and on stage! Finally, thank you for walking with me on Monday mornings and stopping by my office to chat. I have loved having the chance to know you better.

My Monday morning walks will pick back up when we reconvene in January, and can we all agree that in 2022 a light dusting of snow is cool, but please no ice!

Final Shout-Out

Congratulations to our December graduates! Now go out there and make the world better! “There are two ways of spreading light: to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it”--thank you Edith Wharton (this quotation is for the English grads). I look forward to seeing you, our newest alumni, again in May for commencement along with your family and friends. I also want to congratulate head women's soccer coach Linda Hamilton, who was named the 2021 SCAC Coach of the Year! This is Hamilton’s third SCAC Coach of the Year award in seven years, having won in 2016 and 2018. She led her squad to the program's first-ever SCAC regular-season title and its first national ranking in program history, climbing to No. 21.

Health & Safety Updates

As the omicron variant continues to spread, I want to remind you to do what you can to protect yourself and your family. Before you leave, get tested! Rapid PCR tests are offered for free at the Georgetown Public Library. Above all, stay safe this holiday season! 

Wishing you all a wonderful, well-deserved winter break! I’ll see you next year.