“We were very fortunate to be able to transition online. People talk about missing the normalcy of class, but my students did an admirable job. I tailored the curriculum to be wrapped around what was happening. A lot of them chose to write about COVID, comparing it to the Spanish Flu. They wrote really strong essays. In one assignment, they could choose from writing about dealing with hardships or how to cultivate optimism. They still had to demonstrate writing skills, but the discussions were about sharing their challenges or frustrations. I think a lot of them were dealing with boredom, especially when they’re at home all the time and they’re used to being stimulated in a million different ways. Sticking with the course gave them something to do, something to focus on, and that gave them a lot of solidarity … We all made it through together. It was really hard, and it blew all of our minds, and we processed together. I don’t know what I would have done without my job and my students. ~ Kate McCahill, Assistant Professor of English and Creative Writing, Faculty Advisor and Editor-in-Chief of the Santa Fe Literary Review
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