Area Student Not a Burden
Texas A&M student Alessandra Williams realized that she was not a burden to her friends late Thursday night after a Zoom call. Williams, a senior biochemistry major, had been struggling with sharing her feelings of inadequacy and uncertainty regarding her future with her loved ones.
“I’m in the process of applying for graduate school,” said Williams. “I’ve worked hard to build a strong application, but sometimes it never feels like I’ve done enough. I don’t want to come off as whiny because I’ve done well, but it’s hard to deal with the anxiety of waiting to hear back from schools.”
During the Zoom call, it was reported that a friend of Williams noticed her stressed expression. Ian Scarborough, a junior psychology major, asked if she was doing okay and informed her that whatever she was going through, he was proud of how far she had come.
Fifteen minutes after the call ended, Williams received a $5.00 Venmo payment from another friend, titled “Buy yourself a coffee girl!”. The message was accompanied by three pink sparkling heart emoticons.
When The Mugdown interviewed Williams on Saturday morning, her mood was light. “Things are still hard, but I started thinking— If I never thought twice about comforting a friend through a break-up or didn’t hesitate to go to a friend’s dorm during the middle of the night to bring some Pepto-Bismol, then why should I think that I burden my friends when I am going through a tough time?” Williams said.
Williams has pledged to give herself the same grace and kindness that she gives to her friends. She has yet to hear back from the programs she has applied to but is confident that she will continue to be supported and cherished no matter the outcome.
— Panic! at the Flagroom
On an afternoon like any other in the Memorial Student Center, Panic! At the Flag Room emerges from her practice room underground. She taps out silent melodies on her leg as she ascends the stairs and heads toward Texas A&M’s living room and its iconic ebony grand piano. The seat is empty. Today is the day. After a few cautious notes, she launches into her ambitious rendition of “This is Gospel” with perfect flourish and aplomb. It’s elegant, it’s inspiring, it’s loud. It ruins everybody’s study session.