Dear Loyola Faculty and Staff,
The other night, I listened to a council of first-year students present their impressions of Loyola and witnessed a remarkable moment.
The students talked in poignant fashion about wanting more empathy from faculty and staff for everything they’ve been through – the suffering and anxiety they’ve endured struggling with terrible times. They did not feel like we spent enough time acknowledging that. And I felt myself begin to bristle.
But then, remarkably, they expressed concern for all of us. They recognized that the faculty and staff are going through the very same difficulties. They understood that it must be a struggle to do the emotional work of expressing empathy to others.
Can you believe they had such grace?
I don’t know about you, but right now I’m having a harder time not being triggered (as our students would say), short-tempered and tired. I have “compassion fatigue,” difficulty listening to small complaints eclipsed by massive problems. I am exhausted by the work of expressing empathy, something that used to come so naturally.
That moment of grace from the students was a real gift, one I wanted to share with you.
We all spend time thinking that our happiness is just over the horizon – dependent upon removing just one more frustrating obstacle or grabbing one more brass ring. The hard part, especially during times like this, is to realize that life is right now, and we’re often missing it.
My hope for all of us is that we use the tools of our Jesuit heritage and our abiding faith. That we stop and listen intently. That we consult our values and discern. That we carve out time to take stock. That we find meaning in our work, and more importantly, in our lives. That we feel God’s love and find the strength to reflect it in turn.
If any of you want to join me to talk about it all today, meet me for a brown bag lunch at 12:30 in the faculty and staff lounge (go up the back stairs of the Danna Center near the St. Charles Room).
Happy Loyola Week.
Tania Tetlow
President
