In the Loop Newsletter
April 30, 2025
First, we,听the听CIRCLE team, want to acknowledge听the听confusion, concerns and worries that听the听recent national news about听the听international communities may have brought upon. We deeply care for your overall wellbeing during this stressful time of uncertainties, whether through 1-on-1 conversations, group activities or resource sharing and referrals. Considering听the听fluidity of听the听situation, we strongly suggest you stay up to date via official UW communication channels for reliable sources of information. For instance, check out听the听听for听the听most relevant immigration policies and听the听听for recommendations听on听travel and requirements听on听maintaining your visa status. Trust that听the听university community is working听on听addressing some of these issues resulting from policy changes. We hope you know that we are all here to support you.
Our greatest resource during difficult times is each other.听In听this newsletter, we would like to share some thoughts听on听caring for your well-being during these challenging times. With Mother’s Day approaching听on听May 11, we encourage you to reach out to all those who have cared and supported you throughout your journey. Mother鈥檚 Day can be an opportunity to acknowledge all forms of nurturing presence听in听your life. They may be family members and friends across oceans who continue to provide you with emotional support. They may be mentors, professors or coaches who have offered academic and professional guidance. They may be local friends鈥� family who have welcomed you into their homes during festivals and holidays. They may be roommates who helped you feel听at听home while away. They may even be听a听nurse practitioner听at听a听school clinic or听a听cafeteria worker who cared for you. Notice these caring moments that have surrounded you and consider reaching out to loved ones with听a听heartfelt message or听a听call to express your care.
At听the听same time, we want to reiterate听the听importance of self-care. With uncertainties looming around us, it is tempting to retreat into oneself and fixate听on听the听unknown. Nonetheless, there are still things听in听life that can help you maintain perspective and emotional balance. Consider taking an inventory of activities that energize you听on听a听daily or weekly basis. Energizing activities utilize your character strengths, creating听a听state of flow where time seems to disappear as you become fully engaged. These are activities you genuinely enjoy doing and are looking forward to doing. Our CIRCLE SAB members have shared some of their energizing activities such as going to听a听gallery to enjoy听the听beauty of art, travelling to听a听new city or country to fulfill one鈥檚 curiosity and gaining new perspectives, taking听a听dance, knitting or pottery class outside of school to cultivate creativity.
We all juggle many responsibilities听in听life. During challenging times, there will be more energy-demanding tasks that are added to our already packed schedules. Try incorporating more energizing activities into your daily routine, even if just for 20 or 30 minutes. We encourage you to also explore ways to approach these additional tasks by leveraging more of your strength, sometimes simply through听a听mindful recognition of your feelings prior to or after completing听the听task. Even small adjustments can bring significant improvement to our sense of purpose. To learn more about helpful practices and mental health resources听on听campus, check out听听written by SAB members.
As always, CIRCLE is here to advocate, engage and support you听at听UW. Feel free to visit us听in听250 Schmitz Hall every Monday through Friday from 10听a.m. to 4 p.m. for office hours. Drop听in听and talk to听a听friend!