Whatever our professional and personal responsibilities, we have all been working the double shift for nearly two years now. During the pandemic, we’ve been doing our regular work, plus our COVID work.
That has certainly been the case at Mason Korea, where our faculty have worked hard to adapt their courses and teaching to the online environment, our staff have worked hard to re-think everything from how we stage events to what our classrooms should look like, and, most importantly, our students have worked hard to figure out how to learn and thrive online.
As Mason Korea goes back to in-person instruction for the Spring 2022 semester, the COVID double shift has not ended. Behind the scenes, Mason Korea faculty and staff have been working diligently to ensure that our return to in-person learning is as safe and smooth as possible. And our students will need to be part of this extra care as well, making sure that they follow all the new protocols in place to keep our campus safe.
In the literary period that I study, the English Renaissance, the “art that hides art” was much valued. As with top Olympic figure skaters today, the highest art was to accomplish the most difficult achievements so gracefully, that the accomplishment seemed easy.
I don’t think we should try to make the return to in-person instruction, two years after the start of the COVID pandemic, seem easy. There’s going to be a lot of heartfelt celebrating of this return, including from me. But as we celebrate, let’s also keep in mind the hard work that got us here, and the need for continued care to protect our community.
Fortunately, we are Patriots. We do the hard things, and we thrive together.
We know that Mason Korea's alumni and friends share this experience. We wish you all the best on the hard work—and the celebrations—ahead. And we thank you for your support.