Just Keep Swimming!

Just Keep Swimming! - Dory the Fish

?During the next week, imagine this: You have completed 16 weeks of instruction, your tank is on empty, but the finish line is on the horizon, then you see it:?ALL of your professors are cheering you on, waving signs, ringing cowbells, yelling in megaphones! We are all saying:?YOU GOT THIS! KEEP GOING! DON’T GIVE UP!?

As many of you know, my hobby is running races. My most coveted medal is from my last race. Perhaps like this semester, this was the toughest race of my life! The weather was HORRIBLE! What should have been a 70℉ sunny day, turned into a 40℉ mega-rainstorm!?Because of the conditions, many people quit before the race started –?how many of you know someone who didn’t even show up this semester? But, here you are!!

A half marathon is 13.1 (don’t sleep on the .1!) miles. A half marathon is already hard, but to do it in the cold, wind and rain, involved some difficulties I had never experienced or anticipated. For example, I didn’t have warm pants, so I wore my PJs under my spandex!?How many of you would say that COVID is something you never experienced or anticipated!??But, you figured it out!

?Nevertheless, like you, I kept going! Then came mile 11, I was almost done, then the sky opened up!?Can you believe it began to HAIL?! At this point, people just started quitting. No one would have faulted me if I had quit at that point, but I didn’t stop.?How many of you know people who quit during this semester? But, you are still here!

I was tired, wet, cold and getting beat up by the elements, but I never quit. In fact, I ran harder (I don’t even know where I got that energy!)!?I want you to do the same ---?don’t quit; give it your all, find that extra energy to finish the semester strong! You can do this!

?Good luck on your finals!

Dr. Edelin, Chair