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The Honors Program Newsletter at Bentley University ■ Spring 2020

Chief Editors:Alyssa Kastner ’20Asimina Morris ’21

A CALL TO ACTION By Alyssa Kastner

(or, More Appropriately, Inaction)

As COVID-19 takes over the world at an exceedingly rapid pace, new terminology has entered our global vocabulary. “Social distancing,” “self-quarantine,” and “fl atten the curve” are just a handful of examples of terms that have developed new meanings in this diffi cult time. COVID-19, the fi rst pandemic of its kind in modern society, has caused panic, large-scale shutdowns, and a total upheaval of our everyday lives. The entire world is adjusting to a new reality—one which has been more diffi cult for some than others, but which affects every individual on this earth.

As future leaders, students around the world have been promoting self-isolation on social media and putting it into practice. Offi ces have closed, public spaces shut down, and only essential services remain operational. Despite these strong measures and overt warnings, however, not everyone is taking these measures as seriously as is necessary to stop the spread. People all around the world have been ignoring the severity of the situation and the global outcry for social distancing, and continue hanging out with friends, failing to comply with social distancing guidelines in public places, and spreading the virus.

My question to these people is simple. Why? Believing that this virus does not apply to you and acting accordingly is the most ignorant practice people can engage in right now. Focusing only on the millions of memes circulating and making a joke out of the pandemic situation, while helpful to cope with the reality of it all, is dangerous.

It is easy to make light of the situation and joke about the new way of life we are being forced to live. It is easy to forget about the thousands of people

dying. But is it really much harder to follow the simple rule of staying home? To be leaving the house means putting our most vulnerable populations in danger. It is the most selfi sh behavior to be engaging in right now. And while staying home might not be everyone’s most preferred way to live, it could be signifi cantly worse. We are being asked to sit in the comfort of our homes, spend time with our families, and take this period of time to ourselves. We get to relax, to turn off our minds and escape the stress of

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What comes to your mind when you hear the phrase “self-care”? For many people, self-care is face masks, bubble baths, wine, and Netfl ix, among other indulgences. We think of self-care as taking the time to improve ourselves; however, popular self-care has strayed from its roots due to commercialization and social media messaging.

In its essence, self-care is supposed to be the idea that one should take time to invest in their future self. It is not a product; it’s a series of habits, mindsets, and behavioral attitudes that help mental health and overall well-being. Self-care is about loving yourself and wanting to improve who you are. There are thousands of different ways to go about self-care: Whether it’s journaling, meditation, positive affi rmations, movement and activity, or just personal refl ection time, self-care gives the opportunity to give yourself a mental and physical check-up.

Self-care isn’t always pretty. It can be extremely hard to do because it demands that you evaluate yourself

and address your own needs. On an emotional level, self-care can mean that you assess your mental health and face any lingering problems. Physically, self-care maintains that health is a priority, which means that eating well and being active is crucial. The best way to think of real self-care is as an investment in your future self. Down the road, you will be happy that you took the time now to care for your body, mind, and spirit. The effects of proper self-care are not immediate and are largely internal. To ensure that you live a happy and healthy life, you must put in the work to take care of yourself.

At its core, self-care encourages a healthy, strong relationship between your mind and your lifestyle. But modern self-care has largely ignored this foundation and has become unrecognizable from its origins. Self-care is a buzzword and has become almost synonymous with self-indulgence. It has become commercialized. It is now common for businesses to advertise products as promoting self-care and a healthy

lifestyle. In reality, no fancy eye cream or personal massager alone can give you self-care. We like to think that buying some product advertised as promoting self-care is practicing it, but this isn’t true, and it is perpetuated even more over social media.

Infl uencers are constantly bombarding our timeliness with images of “self-care,” whether it’s receiving a beach-side massage or joining the latest fi tness craze. The problem with these images of self-care is that they’re superfi cial and unrealistic. For one, it’s not within the normal person’s means to simply jet off to Bali for some time off work or to buy a Peloton bike to get fi t. These depictions make self-care seem unattainable for the average person and create the false association that wealth will bring happiness. While it’s true that being fi nancially stable helps tremendously with health, no amount of expensive cosmetics or “self-care” products can improve your overall wellbeing. This social media problem is only confounded when it intersects with commercialization. Infl uencers are routinely promoting various wellness products and acting as if those products really did change their lives. In reality, that $50 calming tea will not cure your anxiety. Before you can truly practice effective self-care, you have to break these associations.

SELF-CARE IN THE MODERN WORLDBy Celia Schurman

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DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS By Justine Palencia

How MOSAIC Builds Community

Like most college freshmen, my transition from high school to college was met with a mixture of emotions: excitement, intimidation, confusion, and elation. Since I am an only child whose parents attended college in the Philippines, I was initially worried about the separation from my parents and the immense adjustment that the American college experience requires. I realized, however, that college would make me an independent and well-rounded adult. I was determined to make the most out of my experience at Bentley by receiving a rigorous education and participating in as many clubs and programs as possible. One of these programs was MOSAIC, a pre-Orientation program hosted by Bentley’s Multicultural Center.

MOSAIC allows multicultural and international students to move into campus two days earlier than the rest of the fi rst-year students, with the intention of providing students

with tools for a smooth transition into college and the ability to foster strong relationships between peers. The program offers workshops aimed at exploring our identities as well as discovering our place on campus as people of color. By the end of the program, we were told that we would be more aware of our identity and that we would come away with a newfound perspective on our places in life and on campus.

Upon my arrival to Bentley, I was amazed at the amount of diversity in the Class of 2023. I met students from across the globe, from South America to Africa to Asia. I also met students of different nationalities and ethnicities. I believe my awe stemmed from the fact that Bentley is known as a PWI (predominately white institution). Frankly, at the time, I did not think there would be such extreme variety in students at Bentley. However, I understand now that Bentley is aiming

to be a more diverse school, and by incorporating pre-Orientation programs like MOSAIC, Bentley invites more students of color to be part of its college community.

Over the course of the two and a half days, I engaged in a variety of workshops and activities alongside 100 other fi rst-years to delve deeper into our identities and discover who we are. One activity involved meeting with other students of our race or ethnicity, discussing several stereotypes we typically face, and creating a short skit based on the stereotypes. Much laughter ensued after watching skits involving South Asians doing tech support and eating with their hands, Africans playing soccer and stealing people’s shoes, and East Asians doing karate to the song “Kung Fu Fighting.” Though this was clearly a more fun activity geared to channel our creative sides, we did have more serious discussions about stereotypes

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SOUNDTRACK TO SENIOR YEAR By Adam Levesque

My senior year, like that of most college seniors, ended not with a shower of champagne bubbles and the fl ick of a cap into the air, but with a few tentative elbow bumps and a solemn car ride.

I didn’t fully realize the fi nality of this ending until this afternoon. At fi rst, I had been able to maintain a sense of denial about the situation of my classmates and me. But now, as “Rivers and Roads” by The Head and the Heart blares through my speakers, I come to the painful realization that I had once subconsciously ignored: this is it.

“Rivers and Roads” had been in my Spotify repertoire long before its lyrics—referencing separation from friends, nostalgia, and endings—had any true application to my life. In the past, it had represented college graduation; a concept so abstract that it warranted no legitimate consideration. Now, however, its message has become an all-too-real endorsement of my fear, disappointment, and grief. It also reminds me of everything I’ve already gained from my time at Bentley, the Honors Program, and the entire college experience.

As a fi rst-year student, I began to discover the person I wanted to become through my time in college. I made friends, most of whom comprised my “fl oormates’’ or students from my Honors philosophy class. We were all excited, nervous, and in awe of the vastness and complexity of the college experience. We decorated doors for birthdays, cried over GB112, and adventured our fi rst college meals together. Our escapades were set to the ubiquitous “Closer” by The Chainsmokers, the viral “Black Beatles,” and the fl irtatious “Shape of You.” Later, we prepared for our fi rst Spring Day to DJ Khaled’s “I’m the One,” and celebrated it with Travis Scott.

Sophomore year saw the cementing and consolidation of new identities, activities, and friends. I had four roommates, a private bathroom, and a more established friend group, all of whom shared Kresge Hall with me. Many of these friends were also Honors students, and they spurred me to get more involved with the program. I wrote an article in Columnas and attended an Honors Program boat cruise. Additionally, my friends and I began to explore Waltham more. Josephs Two was the go-to breakfast spot; Lizzy’s Ice Cream was a panacea for all ills; Wendy’s 4 for 4 cured every instance of late-night hunger. All this was accompanied by a soundtrack that made us feel youthful and alive: sophomores, no longer the newest kids on campus, but with so much time left to enjoy ourselves. Fall came and went with “Despacito” and Post Malone’s “Rockstar” and “Psycho.” Drake carried the remainder of the year with “God’s Plan” and “Nice for What.” Personally, songs like “Feels Great” and Marc E. Bassy’s “Plot Twist” characterized car rides with friends, windows down, sunglasses on, volume up.

Junior year brought the fi rst taste of the bitter end we experience now. The fi rst semester was a rollercoaster of job applications, interviews, and scheduled FaceTime sessions with friends on their European adventures. I gained friends from my on-campus jobs and from class, and remained in contact with those who were studying abroad. I hosted my friends and coworkers every week; we sang to “Mambo No. 5” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Months later, I went abroad to China, where Western music trends caught on slower than in the U.S., but we still managed to enjoy “Old Town Road.” My friends back home showed me “Magic in the Hamptons” by Social House, Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” and Bryce Vine’s “La La Land.”

Senior year began with anticipation and excitement. My friends and I, now 21 years old, enjoyed weekend revelries at Tavern in the Square, Margarita’s, and Bentley’s own Harry’s. We were excited for a number of reasons—future job prospects, graduation, creating senior year

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While there can be some practical use for self-care goods, you have to be careful to not get carried away. It’s also important to distinguish between self-care and self-gratification, and to do this it’s best to question if a certain activity will help your long-term wellbeing or not. For instance, skipping an appointment for a pint of Haagen-Dazs and Hulu may feel like “self-care,” but each of those activities only provide an instantaneous gratification

that won’t benefit you in the long run. As a rule of thumb, simply ask yourself: “Will future me be glad that I took the time to do this?”. If the answer is yes, then the activity is most likely actual self-care.

To practice real self-care, you need to adjust your mindset and habits. Ingraining self-care into your everyday life can be as simple as a daily five-minute breathing exercise or writing

down one compliment to yourself each night before bed. Real self-care means taking a little extra time to take care of and love yourself. It starts from within with how you talk to yourself and treat yourself. Making the effort to check in with yourself and consider your own needs is the first step to self-care, and consequently, a more enjoyable, loving, and healthy life.

SELF-CARE IN THE MODERN WORLD (Continued from page 2)

surrounding our different races. I came away from these discussions more aware of how different stereotypes affect other races and how we can avoid imposing our own stereotypes and biases when meeting new people.

MOSAIC ended with a “Cupcake Toast,” where we stood holding cupcakes in reflection over our time in the program. I found MOSAIC to be a

positive, transformative experience. Not only was I able to ponder my identity in a more profound way, but I was able to make a variety of friends who I likely would not have met if I did not join the program. My worries about the college experience simply dissipated. I have now found Bentley, and more specifically the Multicultural Center, to be my home away from home.

DIVERSITY ON CAMPUS (Continued from page 3)

A CALL TO ACTION (Continued from page 1)

to-do lists and errands. This pandemic is an opportunity for many people to reflect and take care of themselves, something those of us that are healthy are extremely fortunate to be able to. So why are people still refusing to do so?

The consequences of COVID-19 and being forced to stay home are dire. Significant levels of unemployment and loss of health care for millions of people are only two of the many effects we are unfortunately experiencing. But refusing to stay home will not change that. Either way, people will

continue losing jobs and either way, the economy will suffer greatly. But, unlike our elderly populations and our immunocompromised neighbors, most people will survive this. We will get our jobs back, resume our normal lives, and reach the light at the end of the tunnel. It may take a long time, but the world will heal from this wound, no matter how deep and painful it may get. Kids will go back to school, businesses will reopen, and life will get back on track. At colleges around the world, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors will arrive back on campus

and continue their academic careers. Seniors will hold their college memories close to their hearts as we move onto the next chapter of our lives.

It is not ideal. It is not what we expected. But it is absolutely necessary to protect each other. And, if we ever want to return to the life that we all know and love, staying home is our only choice.

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We are pleased to recognize United Technologies Corporation for its generous support of the Honors Program and academic excellence at Bentley University.

memories, the end of our most difficult classes. We had a Friendsgiving, a Secret Santa party, and numerous birthdays. Most of my friends and I prepared for the eventual presentation of our Capstone research projects. We did this to “bad guy” and “Hot Girl Bummer,” to Y2K & bbno$’s “lalala,” and “Highest in the Room” by Travis Scott. The latest Lizzo and Post Malone albums were fall staples, and the rise of TikTok brought us viral songs like “ROXANNE” by Arizona Zervas.

Had we known that we would not be on campus to close out our college experience, I’m sure most of us would have tried harder to spend even more time together. Looking at the past, we see the missed opportunities with a sense of clarity only hindsight can provide. We feel the sting of a loss unique to us. The Class of 2020 is sad and isolated, and we do not yet know how to adjust to this new normal.

The coronavirus pandemic will produce more dire consequences than those which affect my senior year, but the pain of a young person

losing so many once-in-a-lifetime events is sharp and enduring. The knowledge that our goodbyes will be indefinitely postponed is crushing, and the possibility of missing out on rites of passage which Bentley seniors undergo is disheartening. We will grieve this loss like we have grieved few others in our lives.

Ultimately, we are resilient. We are a generation raised in the aftermath of 9/11 and the first to truly understand the ramifications of climate change. We began college with clown sightings, and we will finish it with a pandemic. We can handle disappointment, but this one hurts. I know, however, that we cherish our 3.75 years spent at Bentley: the semesters spent with friends, LaCava lunches, Spring Days, and late nights. I know I’ll always have my memories of the Honors Program, which has given me my best friends and so many academic opportunities.

I don’t know how this situation resolves. But I do know that when it does, the Class of 2020 will be ready. We will be ready to drive or fly any distance to reunite, crossing

Rivers and Roads, to celebrate our achievements however we can. To do otherwise would be to lose. And we’ve come too far to lose.

SOUNDTRACK TO SENIOR YEAR (Continued from page 4)

Asimina Morris ’21

Major: Economics-

Finance

Minor: Law

Chief Editor

Alyssa Kastner ’20

Major: Creative Industries

Minor: Law

Chief Editor