Coping with Injustice in the Day-to-Day
Coming of age as a young adult right now- just as I'm figuring out who I am and who I want to continue to be in this lifetime- when so much is happening, not just in this country, but around the world, feels heavy and disheartening. I go to school and need to "lock in" as day-to-day injustice persists everywhere. As I keep learning and try to persevere through it all, I still find myself incredibly overwhelmed, angry, and sometimes even isolated. Reminding myself of the power of community and joy as we persist through these challenging times reminds me that we are not alone in our struggles.
Finding Joy Through Community in Challenging Times
I struggle with writing this because I want to be mindful of my position as a student and my role as an activist, but I nevertheless feel compelled to share my thoughts.
If any of what I have mentioned in the intro paragraph above resonates with you, fellow Stanford Flourish reader, here is my message to you: please know that we are not alone. And I hope this empathy and compassion we share never goes away, despite whatever systems or norms today that discourage us from caring deeply and proudly wearing our hearts on our sleeves. Change occurs when we organize, self-sustain, and collaborate. Building community is of the utmost importance; finding people on campus who share my frustrations and grief has been so powerful and essential to my well-being.
One of my all-time favorite quotes, which I’ve shared with many, is from Dan Savage: “During the darkest days of the AIDS crisis, we buried our friends in the morning, we protested in the afternoon, and we danced all night. The dance kept us in the fight because it was the dance we were fighting for. It didn’t look like we were going to win then, and we did. It doesn’t feel like we’re going to win now, but we could. Keep fighting, keep dancing.”
Joy is an act of resistance. To maintain our determination and resilience, we must remember what we are working so hard for and why it matters. Hold onto and actively seek out joy: go to that club meeting you’ve always wanted to be a part of; participate in the spring musical (come see Grease in April!); spend time with your friends when you can; and don’t hesitate to reach out to CAPS if you’ve been considering it. While these activities are things that I’m personally pursuing to nurture my own well-being, they may not apply to everyone. The crucial point is this: surround yourself with people and things you LOVE—those that bring you JOY and FULFILLMENT—so you can continue to navigate through the trying times ahead.
Written by: Sam Dizon, Class of 2026
Resources
Stanford Resources
- Centers for Equity, Community, and Leadership: A collective of cultural and resource centers at Stanford. Each center's work has been and continues to be integral to the advancement of equity, the deepening of intellectual engagement, and the cultivation of well-being for all Stanford students.
- Office of Inclusion, Community, and Integrative Learning: ICIL includes a broad portfolio of responsibilities that support an institutional focus on equity, inclusion, belonging, student learning outside of the classroom, and preparation for meaningful careers and leadership in a complex world.
- Disability Community (DisCo) Space: A physical space dedicated to providing support and opportunities for Stanford's disability community.
- Office of Student Engagement: Check out this website to learn about the myriad of student groups and organizations at Stanford.
- Well-Being Coaching: Work with a supportive partner to design your own vision for well-being. Figure out what you want and need at this phase of your life. Move through uncertainty with a trusted guide. Sign Up for a Coaching
- Counseling and Psychological Services: CAPS' diverse staff are committed to clinical excellence and culturally responsive care. CAPS offers clinical services, groups and workshops, Let's Talk in Community sessions, and options for care outside of CAPS.