Oct. 24, 2023

Welcome to Week 9!

Congratulations! You are solidly past the mid-point of our journey. You are doing so well and keeping such a strong pace. Reflect on how far you’ve come and celebrate your achievements so far. Continue to put in the time – there is no shortcut. Work your routine, and be careful not to fall into a rut. I know it isn’t easy – but you are doing awesome and I am so proud of you!

For many, the coming miles can seem to be getting long. The start is far behind us now and the end of the term can feel far ahead. Rest assured, however, that our destination is not far away. It is a few quick weeks to the fall break and from there, it is a hop, skip, and a jump to finals and the end of the fall 2023 semester.

In a long race, these are the miles where racers get tunnel vision. Now is when we have a tendency to lose the larger perspective of what we’re doing and why we’re doing it. Metaphorically, our feet and muscles are getting a bit fatigued. Little things can start to wear and fatigue. The novelty of new classes, new living situations, new people, and new relationships starts to wane. 

Take a moment to reflect on why you are here. Are you doing this for your parent or parents, for yourself, for your spouse, for a better future, for your kids (present or future) for the joy of the journey? This investment in yourself may be one of the most important things you ever do in life. It seems like a noisy process with homework and papers and projects and classes and studies, but these are just the small steps that lead you to your profound goal. Take strength from your purpose, take strength from your larger dream. From that goal or dream, you can find inner strength, and from that source of power, you can do anything. Tired feet, tired muscles, they are nothing. A few papers, a few quizzes, reading a few chapters, these are the building blocks of your dreams. You are doing amazing.

Take a moment to feel that surge of energy – the energy of your own will. Just thinking about it may bring a spontaneous smile. Recenter on your purpose. You have got this. You are unstoppable.

Here in the Interior, it is getting a bit colder, a bit darker, a bit snowier. It is easy to start to reduce your extracurricular activities. To help keep things fresh, it is super important to continue to seek the joy of adventure you had at the start. Find new opportunities to challenge yourself, find a new place to study or a new partner or group to study with. Wherever you are, what is your plan to stay active? What is your plan to get outside, to do something social, and most importantly, to get away from your studies now and then? Find joy in winter. Make plans to go sledding, take a walk to see the aurora, and check out one of the many events happening through Nanook Engage. Sign up for something new!

Things to do:

Do your Title IX Training. Thank you!

Have you seen the aurora? Do you know that there’s an aurora forecast website created and hosted by our very own Geophysical Institute? This coming weekend looks promising for Aurora viewing!

Have a great ninth week of classes here at UAF!

As ever, if you’d care to share your ideas for what we could be doing better, please share! You can find me at obguthrie@alaska.edu.

— Owen Guthrie, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management