SEAHO Report - Fall 2020 - 12

FEATURE ARTICLES

Oh What A Time To Be Alive!
NAVIGATING THE -ISMS AND A GLOBAL PANDEMIC
AS A HOUSING PROFESSIONAL
Deanna Hughes, Florida State University
We are in a time when personal
wellness and communal
accountability is critical to the
necessary growth and success of
our profession. How we advocate
for ourselves, support one another,
and show up for our students and
their communities of support relies
on our ability to stay well, be well,
and consistently show care and
concern for one another.
This is not an easy task. This is a
task that many of us are unsure
we are even in full control of. To
stay well holistically feels daunting
for essential personnel expected
to continue to engage with others
in our roles, while fresh, everchanging policies nationally
and institutionally are being
revealed. These responsibilities
require us to trust others to take
proper precautions; to trust
people we know, and do not
know; to follow health and safety
recommendations, while we
continue to provide superb service
within our roles; and to think on
our feet and try something new,
albeit uncomfortable.
This reality is scary. This reality
is our collective reality, in some
way, shape, or form. Whether it is
concern of our family members and
loved ones as they navigate their
wellbeing; our anxious wondering
about job security; our hope that
our campuses are prepared to fully
support all of our students and

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staff members as we soon approach
another election season, while our
nation is yet again acknowledging
very present racism, transphobia,
police brutality, etc. in these United
States. This reality is testing our
faith in humanity.
Many of our individual realities
have been gravely impacted,
causing us to step up, and step in,
to unchartered territories. Some
of us are continuing to experience
emotional exhaustion and/or racial
battle fatigue on a heightened
level. Some of us are experiencing
cognitive dissonance, which is
creating an uncomfortable tug-ofwar between analysis paralysis and
an overwhelming sense of urgency
to fix or do something. Some of
us are in and out of feelings of
numbness, anger, impatience, and
frustration, while knowing the
importance of moving through the
myriad emotions that can create
visible and invisible barriers,
preventing us from effectively
advocating for others and ourselves.
We are navigating how to be
ready for what we may not truly
be prepared for when continuing
to engage with our current and
new colleagues, and the students
for whom we are responsible as
support through their residential
collegiate journeys.
To those who are moving forward
with onboarding new professionals,

and student staff, remember to
take the greatest care of yourself.
Make sure you know what you need
before you immerse yourself in
your daily responsibilities. Speak
up often about the support you
need from others. Check in often
with yourself before burnout creeps
in and sets you back. Embrace
the cornerstones of what keeps
you sharp mentally, emotionally,
physically and spiritually.
To those who are undergoing an
unprecedented shift in your lives:
Lean into discomfort and rely
on your village. Once you have
worked through the emotional
experiences of present frustrations
and/or setbacks, rest, reflect, and
move forward. Confide in people and
spaces you trust to listen, comfort,
and help you through. Trust
yourself! And when strength is
present, move onward in what you
can influence regarding your next
steps, leading to peace of mind, joy,
and fulfillment.
Many essential personnel within
the housing profession are excellent
generalists; always learning while
doing, and putting others first, so
it is imperative that we take time
to relax, recharge, have fun, and
breathe deeply!
Strategically and delicately fulfilling
anticipated, and unanticipated,
heightened needs is now the name
of the game thanks to this global
SEAHO Report - Fall 2020

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