Finding a Place of Healing
By: Destiny Copeland
October 2017
“You can’t heal in the same environment you got sick”
This a quote I think about often. Facing friend, family, and school administration issues
can you leave you depleted. Finding a space, whether that is with people of similar beliefs or in a
room alone, is the only way you can carry on. To cope is to step away from the community,
understand your feelings, and determine the best way to move forward.
Personally, dealing with the recent events on campus was emotionally taxing. One thing
seemed to happen after another. After news of the vandalism spread, I was highly encouraged to
participate in a dialogue around the topic. And by highly encouraged, I mean it was never framed
as optional. The space was meant to heal those who haven’t had a chance to discuss recent
events. Knowing everyone’s background in the room, I had faith in the conversation. About a
third of the room were people of targeted identities, so of course we did most of the talking.
Myself and others were venting out of anger, sadness, and frustration. It was good to let
everything out. Then the room started to feel heavy, a voice came that felt a little too familiar to
those who defaced our school. To my surprise, I left the dialogue feeling worse than when I
came in. And then I remembered the quote “You can’t heal in the same environment you got
sick”.
My healing process was exactly that, a process. The first thing I did when I left was find
the people with minds like mine to lean on, vent to, to understand me, and to reaffirm my
feelings. These were my friends, people in my living space, and every person who felt targeted
on this campus. Still that wasn’t enough for me. I skipped quite a few classes to attend destress
events, get centered, and be my full self again. Pay attention to your syllabi, every class allows a
certain amount of absences so use them wisely.
For those who have yet to find ways to cope with the stress, anxiety, and pressure you
feel like the majority of this campus cannot and barely tries to comprehend, look towards the
different resources on campus made with your identity in mind. They were created by people
who once felt like you so you could feel like you belong. Look towards those who I have
experienced similar events in the past. Trust in them because their advice is golden. Look
towards the groups that are taking action, coping with injustice doesn’t have to be passive. If you
have the time, join in on their efforts because there is strength in numbers. And finally look
inward, there may be some healing that needs to be done there too. Don’t let the beliefs of a
prejudiced majority make you forget you’re worth. It is them who does not belong, not you.