Seemed Appropriate at the End of Term.

This blog post, though admittedly not as academic as perhaps it should be, is a testament to the real community we have created not only in this course but in this program. This program forced us to think self-reflexively, at times extremely critically, and most of all has created a community of not only academically inclined women, but also a group of close friends.

Speaking personally, I’ve had my fair share of hardships this academic year. I have felt such hardship that I often doubted if I would be able to complete the program. But regardless of personal struggle, I always had a group of girls I could connect with either in the virtual community of Facebook, Text Messaging, Phone Calls, or even this blog. Regardless of the medium in which I could communicate with them through, it would be the same sound advice, the same questions, the same constant reassurance. I think perhaps this is why I so strongly disagree with Darin Barney’s notion that a community must be experienced offline…because my closest communities are not offline, but online.

The friends who have graduated and moved around the world, I can still come to for advice every time I need to just as I did when I would sulk into their dorm room or appear at their door with a tub of ice cream. If it has the ability to unite, inspire, reassure, make comfortable, and make bearable, online or offline makes no real difference. The simple important facet of a community is that you feel as though you are included and comfortable, and to speak quite personally and frank I feel so incredibly welcome when I log onto Facebook and see a whole list of my friends online who I know are there to support me regardless of content: whether it’s a question about marking, assignments, boys, school, life, whatever….the real potential of a community is that it inspires common pride… and I take pride in knowing my friendships are ubiquitous. So thank you girls for a wonderful year : )

And yes. This was my sappy post of the year.