This dance is choreography for Eventure, ULDS and all the lecturers and friends I know in the University of Lincoln.
For international students or graduates like me, we always dream of writing our last chapters with our friends at the university. We will hand in a dissertation, finish our degree, arrange the last night out and most importantly, celebrate our graduation with the people that we perhaps would not see them again.
Things do not always happen as expected. The Coronavirus (COVID-19) change what we thought. Regarding the serious situation of the UK, the NHS advised social distancing to reduce interaction with people (NHS, 2020). Therefore, the University of Lincoln has moved online teaching to keep the community safe (The Lincolnite, 2020).
Everything seems to end without a proper goodbye. This results in lots of negative comments on social media. Many students suffered from mental health because of COVID-19.
For me, Eventure, a six months preparation event with my teammates, has been cancelled one week before the event. We were so looking forward to seeing this event happen. In this case, I could not find the right words to describe how disappointed we were. All our efforts seem to be in vain.
But is this true?
When I look back, I could not believe how far we have come to this stage.
We cannot change the fact but we can change our mind.
Be grateful for what you have rather than be upset about what you lose.
I am so thankful to work with my teammates for most of my master time. This process is tough but surprisingly fantastic. And I learn a lot from their way of working and their personality. Furthermore, I feel so lucky to know so many lecturers and friends. Impressive memories and wonderful experience in Lincoln can not vanish in my brain.
Therefore, while the self-distancing time, I choreography this dance to say thank you to the University of Lincoln.
Thank you, Next by Ariana Grande (Lyrics):
I’ve got so much love (love)
Got so much patience (patience)
I’ve learned from the pain (pain)
I turned out amazing (turned out amazing)
I’ve loved and I’ve lost (yeah, yeah)
But that’s not what I see (yeah, yeah)
‘Cause look what I’ve found (yeah, yeah)
Ain’t no need for searching
And for that, I’ll say
Thank you, next (thank you, next)
Events are cancelled
Tours are cancelled
Businesses are cancelled
But
Music won’t be cancelled
Dance won’t be cancelled
Efforts and memory won’t be cancelled
This is just a pause and next will come to a brand new start.
Hope everyone stays safe and keeps well.
Sending love from pinpin 💓
Thank you, Next
References:
Butler, B. (2020) The quarantined student. [Facebook] 18 March. Available from https://www.facebook.com/ben.butler.5011 [accessed 22 March 2020]
National Health Service (2020) Guidance on social distancing for everyone in the UK. UK: Public Health England. Available from https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-guidance-on-social-distancing-and-for-vulnerable-people/guidance-on-social-distancing-for-everyone-in-the-uk-and-protecting-older-people-and-vulnerable-adults [accessed 22 March 2020]
Verney, J. (2020) University of Lincoln moving to online teaching, no students with COVID-19 yet. The Lincolnite, 16 March. Available from https://thelincolnite.co.uk/2020/03/university-of-lincoln-moving-to-online-teaching-no-students-with-covid-19-yet/ [accessed 22 March 2020]
