Returning to Community

A recent student shared with me, “Sure, it’s hard and I’m a bit creaky but I want to finish what I started.”

Returning to university after the COVID-19 pandemic demands immense courage. For many students, the interruption brought uncertainty, personal loss, financial hardship, and mental health challenges. Walking back into classrooms meant confronting not only academic rust but also fears about social reintegration in a world that changed very quickly in a very short time. Courage lies in choosing to move forward despite those fears — to sit in a lecture hall again, raise a hand in class, and re-engage with a system that may have once felt distant or even unreachable during the isolation of lockdowns.

This return also requires a deep sense of realization — a personal reckoning with what education means in a post-pandemic world. Many students came back not just to earn a degree, but with a renewed understanding of why they’re pursuing one. The experience of disruption clarified values and goals for some, while others returned seeking stability, purpose, or even a second chance. The realization that growth sometimes comes from struggle is a powerful motivator, and for those who returned, it often marked a new chapter of learning — not just academically, but emotionally and spiritually.

“I’m so glad that Agape survived and is here for me after the pandemic.”