In the first few days and weeks of quarantine, I had to take a step back from doing or thinking about anything other than the absolute basics for survival. Even the littlest things overwhelmed me. I had to realign my priorities and for me, this meant not thinking about any of the “extra” stuff I usually loved doing which included PWA. I felt a mixture of relief and guilt to step away but I knew I had to.
As the days went by, I felt confused and unsure of where to start. I didn't know how to re-engage with this part of my life or when I would feel ready. Much of our work as a Steering Committee is facilitating opportunities to bring our community together whether it be through a workshop, our annual conference, or a happy hour at a local bar. Now that we can longer be with each other physically, what can we still provide for our members? What does virtual networking even look like? With everything that is going on in the world, is PWA still important?
At the beginning of this year, I was thinking a lot about my career and how to navigate my next steps on-campus. When thinking about making changes in my professional life, I felt confused and unsure of where to start. I had a lot of questions and often felt afraid to ask. How will my ambition be perceived? Do other staff feel the same way? And who should I talk to about this?
As soon as I voiced my thoughts and feelings to the Steering Committee, I immediately felt better. Some of us felt similarly and were looking for support while others were excited to share advice, resources, and provide encouragement. As a Committee, we decided to pursue career development as our guiding theme for programming and discussion. We were so happy to see the interest and engagement from members and non-members alike. I feel lucky to have met and spoken with so many of you who, by coming to our workshops or socials and sharing your authentic self, have helped me and others feel less alone.
Taking a step back has allowed me to see how much I've gained from being an active member of the PWA community. For me, building and nurturing this community is the heart and soul of PWA and what I now realize has become an essential part of my professional life at UCSB. As we enter the second month of quarantine, I am feeling ready to connect again. While many of my questions still remain, I am confident that PWA will continue to provide strength and connection during this time of transition and uncertainty. The Steering Committee has been working hard to create a virtual PWA community on Shoreline and we’re excited to see what we can do on this new platform. Wherever you are right now, whether you are feeling ready to engage or still need more time, PWA is and will continue to be here for you.
-Liz Holohan
