Emma McWilliams
Hi, Class of 2017! I hope that this finds you and yours well and safe in this strange time we find ourselves in. Unfortunately, due to a mail kerfuffle, I am not able to update you all on the amazing things our class has been up to. If you have any updates that you want to send on personally for our next update, please send them my way at mcwilliamsej@gmail.com with “UMaine 2017” in your subject line.
I want to take a moment to address the “new normal” that we find ourselves living in, especially the dynamic of working/schooling children/trying to keep sane in our homes. As someone who works in a healthcare-adjacent field, I can say that all of this, while hard, has already had an impact, and will continue to. Please stay home (if you can) and stay safe. By doing so, you are protecting not only you and yours, but the most vulnerable among us who are the most at risk from this virus, and the essential workers who are tirelessly ensuring that we all have access to food, medicine, health care, and other essential services.
Speaking of those essential workers — I want to give the BIGGEST of shout-outs to those from our class who are working in essential positions. Our thoughts are with you, and when this is over, I hope that we can all raise a glass together to salute those who have made it possible for us to beat this. That said, the value of action, not just our thoughts, is also clear at this time. I would call upon my class to find something that you can do to help protect our essential workers even further. You can make cloth masks for a local essential business. You can donate to funds that help ensure that our health care workers have the personal protective equipment that they need. You can write your local legislators and advocate for paid sick leave and other protections for these workers. Every action, no matter how small, makes a difference —so please, do what you can, even if you think it is a tiny thing.
Finally — be kind, be safe, and be well!