The Time to “Turn on the Light”
This past month, I expected to start my graduate program in Asian Studies at Georgetown University in-person, where I would meet my professors and new classmates on a daily basis; reconnect with my old friends from my undergraduate years who live in the DC area; take many serene walks along the National Mall; eat at The Dubliner on Capitol Hill, among many other things. Sadly, that’s not going to be the case — at least for now. Naturally I was sad — at times, perhaps disheartened would have been a more appropriate word — with COVID-19 disrupting this new and exciting transition in my life.
But on the other hand, I’ve found that even during a pandemic as formidable as COVID-19, unexpected happy outcomes have found their way towards me. And truth be told, I am incredibly grateful for what I already have because every day that I live through the COVID-19 pandemic is a blessing on its own. Getting into my program at Georgetown and being integrated into my program’s family-oriented atmosphere is one positive outcome. Moreover, since moving back to South Bend, IN (which is also my hometown) in mid-March, I have had the opportunity to reconnect with my family, friends, and the city in a way that I never thought could happen. From the occasional bump-ins with my neighbors that have led to profoundly meaningful conversations to enjoying brunch at a family-owned restaurant called Peggs in the downtown area with a few of my dear friends, I’m continually in awe of just how much the South Bend area has grown and thrived over the past few years that I have not been a townie.
At this point in time, though I’m still working my way towards acclimating to what is now a new “normal” (in other words, a ZOOM-oriented life, physical distancing, and wearing masks in public), I’m realizing more and more that South Bend is definitely worthy of the love and support that I have always given to my family and friends throughout my life, because it has been there for me in many ways, including this past year. When I made my short visits to South Bend for football weekends at the University of Notre Dame last fall, for example, I was also a local coffee shop dweller, sipping on refreshing iced-coffees and meanwhile, working on my personal statements for my graduate school applications. While doing that, I received tremendous customer service with baristas always smiling at me and for the most part, making sure that they spell my name correctly after taking my order (as an aside, “Eleanor” is not always an easy name to spell). I would also people-watch and witness the multitude of exhilarating conversations with smiles dominating many faces. The ambiance was lively, yet for me, conducive to studying.
I did the same thing whenever I visited the Notre Dame campus — a place where I took some of my classes as an undergraduate. I studied for the GRE and wrote articles on geopolitics in the Asia Pacific at one of the window seats from the 10th floor of the Hesburgh library, where I can also see the gleaming Golden Dome in all of its glory. I also received many warm welcomes by Notre Dame students, alums, professors, and staff members when I bumped into them on campus, and some of them even gave me some great advice and words of encouragement on applying to grad school. A few weeks before COVID-19 forced Notre Dame to shut its doors, I organized a lecture on US-Japan relations and economic development in the South Bend area with their student-run Japan Club at the aforementioned library. During the lecture, a student asked about how — or if — the coronavirus will fundamentally change our lives, along with the global economy. Back then, I would have never imagined that the answer would have been yes. On top of that, I never would have thought that COVID-19 would bring me back to the South Bend area for more than just a short weekend.
Now, the tides have turned, and the ways in which I can socialize with the South Bend community has all but changed. Like much of the world, many local businesses in South Bend have — and continue to — struggle with their business operations with decreased seating capacity, limited business hours, let alone maintaining the morale in their staff members and perhaps even the customers that they serve. For the time being, I won’t be able to visit the Notre Dame or Saint Mary’s campus and meet up for coffee with my former professors and friends in the same way that I did last fall. But even despite all of these uncertainties surrounding COVID-19, I have to admit that I owe a tremendous amount of gratitude to my hometown for my admission into Georgetown in the first place. For that, I will forever be grateful.
As I started my masters in Asian Studies with Georgetown a few weeks ago, it’s important that I maximize my time as a graduate student by — for the time being — showing my appreciation for the South Bend community. Perhaps some of you are wondering how I will do that. I have yet to figure all of that out, but in the meantime, I will at least provide as much guidance and support as I can to my family and friends living in the area, because as we all know, it’s critical that we all care for the well-being of others, especially for those who have been there for us unconditionally. I also hope that I can visit some of these locally-owned cafes and restaurants in the South Bend area on a more semi-regular basis. Though hindsight will be able to confirm this, perhaps spending time at these places will bring even more inspiration to my life than it already has when I first worked on my application to Georgetown.
Albus Dumbledore once said the following in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkeban:
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light.”
Indeed, we may be living in strangely uncertain times, but reconnecting with the South Bend community and starting my program at Georgetown has given me the opportunity — and even arguably, the responsibility — to “turn on the light” for myself. I hope that I can find other ways in making this light even brighter for myself and others in the South Bend and the Georgetown community.
And now, I’d like to ask if you’ve found a way to “turn on the light” towards happiness for yourself and/or others. If not, it’s definitely not too late, and now’s a great time to commit yourself in pursuing this endeavor.
