Message from Executive Director - 01 Back to school is no easy transition - 03 August 2022 issue Contents Across U-hub Let's get together
Message from Executive Director
Nicole Wong
Running is a wonderful activity; however, having the motivation to start running is challenging. I've run a marathon every year since 2012, but even after all these years, it still remains a struggle to put on my running shoes and hit the pavement. When faced with the prospect of doing something difficult, it often helps to reflect on the reasons why the activity is meaningful to us. For some people, the desire to run a marathon is based on their exercise goals or enjoyment of the sport. For others, it's the desire to explore their ability to complete a challenging activity. For me, my motivation is neither fitness nor personal ambition. I run because I look forward to the stories our community creates and shares during our annual "Run With Across" marathon event. Let's start with the event organizers Each year, new and returning Across members come together to develop strategies to organize and promote the event. Engaging young people and fundraising are their two major activities During the past two years of COVID, more than 100 participants attended the event virtually. Many participants were Across alumni, their friends, and families. Through the efforts of our organizers and community, "Run With Across" became a unique virtual event that took place in different parts of the world outside of Toronto.
Next, there's the stories of our participants. Younger participants are happy to attend and form groups to run with their other Across friends and mentors When I ran with them, I discovered touching stories about how running enabled them to develop deep and meaningful relationships with their siblings and friends.
https://acrossuhub com/events/tcs toronto waterfront marathon 2022/ Message from Executive Director
"Run With Across" is a key fundraising event for Across. Over the past two years, we've raised over $100,000 from this event in support of our programs In spite of these successes, it has been difficult maintaining Across' work during COVID. Young people have been isolated for extended periods of time, and thus there is an extraordinary need and demand for our programs. More than ever, we need financial support and resourcing to meet this demand. This September marks the return of our first in person "Run With Across" event since the start of COVID, and we are excited to welcome back our participants and share this exciting event together. We hope that you will support us by donating to Across, fundraising on our behalf, or promoting our cause with your friends, families, and communities.
Back to school is no easy transition
As for student interactions, imagine one scenario of a small group discussion with 5 students: two cannot agree on the 'best' topic, two are chatting about IG and one is anxious to speak publicly How about getting together for lunch, trying to catch up with a good friend who no longer shares your hobby after the pandemic, while getting to know two others who you have only met in this new term
Now that the summer is almost over and schools are ready to be fully opened, life seems to be getting back to 'normal' But is it really back to ‘normal’? Is it going to be all fun and socializing with friends? Not likely. It may even be more difficult than adjusting to virtual learning. Going to school is very different from going to work. Many workplaces have less people than a school or even a classroom, and usually, people at work share more common goals But what about in school?
When going to school, learning, making friends, and discovering oneself are all important aspects that students have to balance with other concerns. This is made more difficult with students easily interacting with over 50 people throughout a school day, and several times a day, hundreds of students navigate noisy and crowded halls to chat with friends or make their way to the next class.
Samson Wong
Where can we take a breather when things get overwhelming at work? Perhaps our desk, the water cooler, or maybe a cafe down the street. But schools are very crowded environments with rigid schedules and little room for personal time and space. Some youngsters will adjust better than others. Stress and anxiety may surface right away or towards the end of the term; it may appear as poor grades, moodiness, changes in emotions, behaviours, hobbies, or food preferences It is hard to tell since young people are themselves in constant development. They may need our advice, but more often than not, they simply need a pair of listening ears or a sounding board to process their experience Whether or not we are parents, the wholistic well being of students in school will have a major impact on our society We can help improve the situation by speaking about it with those around us and actually talking to youths around us to see how they are doing
Back to school is no easy transition