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: 1 year ago today, I was tasked with sending out the most difficult announcement I had ever been asked to communicate. Our historical women’s college was going Co-Ed.
: 1 year ago today, I was tasked with sending out the most difficult announcement I had ever been asked to communicate. Our historical women’s college was going Co-Ed.
To outsiders, it may not seem like a big deal because most schools are co-ed. For our school, this was a massive culture & identity change from who we had been for 165 years. There was a lot of big emotions and unknowns as we worked to figure out what our future looked like.
The days & months following the announcement were the most challenging in my professional career as we tried to navigate the unknown and communicate updates to our community. Our people were sad & confused but the common emotion was passionate love for our beloved school.
I’m going to be really honest here...burnout, heartache, & anxiety meds came quickly. I felt completely overwhelmed but also a sense of loyalty to see this through because of my deep love for my school. Those 2 emotions clashed often, but 1 year later, I can see that we made it.
A few things I learned:
- You have to give people space to process hard news. You can’t expect them to be okay with it immediately.
- Make sure to care for yourself. Crisis communication is exhausting and you will burn out if you don’t practice self care.
-Community is Vital.
- You have to give people space to process hard news. You can’t expect them to be okay with it immediately.
- Make sure to care for yourself. Crisis communication is exhausting and you will burn out if you don’t practice self care.
-Community is Vital.
I learned community is the greatest asset someone can have. I am so eternally grateful for my #hesm community who rallied around me with support, note of encouragement, flowers, coffee, and everything in between. I quite honestly would not have made it through without them.
Wrapping this up by saying thank you to @katyb_spencer @hey_danielah @reeltake @allisonmatherly, @KatiHartwig and so many more who poured so much encouragement, hope, and life into me this past year. I couldn’t have made it without you and I’m deeply thankful for you all. 
