President Michael D Higgins has acknowledged the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on third-level students’ thanking them for their “spirit of citizenship”.
In two video messages – one in English and one in Irish – the president remarked that university is typically a time “forging new friendships, broadening social circles and joining societies and groups that allow the flourishing of talents and potential beyond the academic sphere”. This year, he said, “will have been a source of great disappointment to you all”.
“This has been an unprecedented year, bringing new and complex challenges to all those currently undertaking further studies. With yourselves and your families I am well aware of the isolation and loneliness some of you will have experienced as lectures and tutorials moved online.”
“I am mindful”, he said, “of how problematic it has been for many of you to learn and study in cramped or unsuitable environments, while retaining a sense of structure and motivation during long periods of pre-recorded lectures and separation from fellow students”.
“Once again Covid has not impacted evenly on all, with those with lesser resources impacted disproportionately.”
Students’ sacrifices, he added, have been “enormously demanding ones, requiring considerable wells of resilience and moral strength from all of you”.
“This has been an unprecedented year, bringing new and complex challenges to all those currently undertaking further studies. With yourselves and your families I am well aware of the isolation and loneliness some of you will have experienced as lectures and tutorials moved online.”
“I am mindful”, he said, “of how problematic it has been for many of you to learn and study in cramped or unsuitable environments, while retaining a sense of structure and motivation during long periods of pre-recorded lectures and separation from fellow students.”
“As President, I thank you for that spirit of citizenship and your genuine will, in response to that common threat to public health, to relinquish so much in order that we as a nation might navigate our way forward to better days. You will have missed opportunities to gather together in lecture halls, tutorial rooms and study groups, to engage in the spontaneous debate and discourse that is such an important part of the third level experience.”
“You may have also been required to cancel or forego graduation ceremonies, social gatherings, musical and sporting events and so many other social activities that are integral to the memories others may have formed during their student years. But you will have the appreciation and memory of those who will never forget how you played your part in a great challenge to our people.”
