How to Stay Hopeful

After weeks of watching the media surrounding gun violence, manosphere podcasts and Tylenol-phobia, it’s hard to function as a student with a full course load when it feels like civilization is beginning to collapse. 

Juggling midterms, group projects and endless kitchen cleaning while headlines scream democracy is burning down is nothing short of exhausting. Recently, it’s hard not to wonder how I’m supposed to concentrate for my African geography quiz when the world is about to crumble down like a Jenga tower with missing blocks. 

Political turmoil has always existed, and I’m not here to argue we have it so bad compared to American students from previous turbulent periods. From anti-war protests throughout the Vietnam War to debates over abolition during the Civil War, students have a civic duty to engage in current events. Yet, as news has become integrated into the notifications on our phones, it seems impossible to have some downtime between crises without feeling some sort of guilt.

While grappling with the tension between maintaining optimism and activism, I’ve learned the two don’t have to be opposites. In truth, no Loyola student is writing policy up on Capitol Hill. However, students are capable of shaping the conditions on which politics rely. Everyday actions, which initially seem mundane, can help strengthen community networks, build resilience and allow those affected to feel a tangible sense of hope.

Cooking with Friends

Spending time with others is a comforting step towards creating a pattern of resilience. Whether it’s cooking vodka pasta in a cramped apartment kitchen or indulging in some dormitory ramen, sharing a meal and space can serve as a reminder on maintaining humanity. 

Spend More Locally

I’ve grown up hearing adults say, “You vote with your dollars,” and while the motivations behind spending habits are a bit more complex, there is some truth to the statement. Grabbing pick-me-up coffee from Metropolis rather than Starbucks keeps money in a neighborhood space where its unique identity is further maintained. Taking a shopping trip to Devon Market isn’t simply a transactional exchange but a form of sustaining a more collective public network. 

Grow Something

Nurturing and watching something grow is a tangible way of feeling progress. Even if it’s a small basil plant from Trader Joes, engaging in environmental care is a grounding practice amid the outside chaos. 

Visit a Public Library

In an era when education and expertise are under attack, borrowing a book or spending the day reading among people is a pleasant reminder that knowledge is a collective good. Enjoying the company of a good book and community is a great reminder of how public libraries make learning accessible. Plus, flipping through pages is another way to resist an intense media cycle while still being educated.

Keep Traditions Alive — Or Start New Ones

It often feels like this political climate attempts to flatten differences. Traditions help individuals and communities declare identities and learn more about each other. Celebrate an unfamiliar holiday, replicate a family recipe from a friend or roommate’s grandparent. Perhaps engage in something absurd, like Silly Sock Saturday. At the very least, it’s helpful to feel anchored in creativity to mitigate a period of uncertainty. 

Practice One Kind Thing a Day

Rogers Park and Chicago allow everyone to brush past countless strangers constantly. Opening the door for someone entering the IC or complimenting someone’s fashion choices can feel much more uplifting during a period of cynicism. It’s nice to feel acknowledgement, and at the very least, the small accumulation of kindness is a mutual way to shift the momentum of the day.