Night of the flood...of words
At some point, it felt like every person present was going to speak, seated, standing, taking their time, short and sweet… it wasn’t planned or expected and sometimes that’s how the best things happen.
Last Friday evening, April 29th, 2022, after the common two-year hiatus experienced regarding many events, the Champlain Students’ Association held its Volunteer Appreciation Banquet in The Gait, the pub in the heart of campus at Bishop’s University and Champlain College Lennoxville.
The event was a true campus affair – catered by Sodexo, the campus food services.
All students who do volunteering, either in their communities, with sports teams, tutoring, on student council, as part of the Cougar Ambassador team, within their programs, were invited to attend. Numbers for this event vary – it’s the end of the semester and students are tired, busy, preparing to move, working, studying. The final tally was 30 in attendance including a few folks employed by the College and the Students’ Association.
They had chosen the meal options, sent out the invitations, reminded each other to dress up.
We just weren’t expecting so many of them to feel moved to speak.
Maybe it was the seating arrangement that provoked part of it. The intimate number meant that tables had been arranged in the shape of a square. Everyone seated could see one another. The CSA President, Malayha Vaillancourt, second year student in Special Care Counseling, gave a speech that was as formal as it was familiar – there was praise and recognition, very personal moments for those who had made particular efforts throughout the year. She received an equal response of love and support in applause.
Next to speak was Alexandre Mador, Health Sciences student graduating class of 2022, who is jokingly referred to as the Walking Encyclopedia of Champlain. He sat on every committee at the College except one. He is known for being direct and fact-based, no-nonsense, highly inquisitive and ultra-rational. He is also fun-loving and reliable. He has big plans for the future, and will be attending Bishop’s University in the Fall.
Thus began a landslide….wait, that sounds like too much somehow – it was more like sunlight breaking through clouds. One beam after another pierced.
Anyone who has worked in a school or been associated with one for the past few years in particular knows how much our students have suffered. If you doubt that, I invite you to reach out and listen to what it’s been like. Constant pivoting, fear, anxiety, constant change, unpredictability, more pivoting, working conditions for learning that make absorption of information so much more difficult.
We will see the impact of this experience, the milestones missed more in the future, of that I am certain – because we are telling them to just keep holding space, but so many are upset, uncertain, taxed and sore, bottling and attempting to contain the unpleasant in order to carry on. And often socially clinging to one another for safety, predictability, stress-release, and this group was just like that.
They needed us, the leaders at school, but they needed each other more. Theirs was a different life raft.
In that dim dinner light, with the flickers of a few small batteryoperated candles and the blue glow of the dance floor beyond, one after another the students decided to speak around the linen-white square of tables. They spoke of being grateful for their experience, happy they took chances in being involved in leadership, they spoke about who they have become in their years with us. Everyone sat and listened while each person spoke.
It was like a strange communion. An unplanned share. And it was absolutely pure gold for everyone there. Words about struggle, acknowledgement of admiration of one another, thanking each other for specific experiences, laughter, and even those who hadn’t participated in the larger group leadership experience had things to say.
Out poured the truth of the evening. A kind of contentment of their College experience in spite of it being unpleasant circumstances and conditions for learning, growing and forming community. Out poured the heartbreak of depression and thoughts of suicide, of their own identities struggling to form under the oppression of the pandemic.
The leadership finally spoke, each of us – Dean of Student Services, Recreational Activities Technician and General Manager of the CSA – holding back tears and then letting them flow, as this dynamic, active, curious young community builders wraps up the year, and for many of them, their time with us.
It didn’t feel like we got to do enough – but honestly it never quite does. CÉGEP is such a precious, unique, powerful opportunity for learning and growth, and it is also fleeting. Two or three years simply flies by, and we witness their awkward arrivals, their growth in all its phases and their departure.
Even though each year is the same pride, and the same letting go, it is unique, powerful and fresh every time, and so is the sting that goes with it.
Several of the students, CSA President Malayha Vaillancourt in particular on a few occasions, mentioned that the most precious thing we can give is our time – and we are all grateful that this extraordinary group of young people chose to spend these years with us.
Onwards to graduation – we couldn’t be more proud of every one of you.