Justine | navigating virtual graduate school and relationships in Chicago
I’m still in shock! I had a feeling it was coming, but it wouldn’t have been as special if it had happened at a time I thought it would. I feel so relieved, we aren’t planning anything anytime soon--he’s still in school too. We are just doing our thing and enjoying being engaged.
“I have had moments of ‘ok maybe I really needed this in my life right now.’ I have appreciated having the time to just sit and be still. And even though it feels uncomfortable, kind of just being ok with that.”
Justine and I shared the stage in DePaul Dance Company. She’s a kind and hard working woman, full of hope for the world. It was so cool to get to sit down after several years and hear her experience navigating Chicago and ever changing life situations during the pandemic. Do enjoy.
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I am thankful I had a few months to meet my cohort—we had January and February and a little bit of March to get to know each other and learn the program. Then, all of the sudden it was like, ‘bye.’
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“This whole year just being so intentional with keeping track of contacts, who I’m seeing—downtown looks like a ghost town. It’s just odd to see, being chicago. ”
“Trying to deconstruct my expectations [...] for me, I think one of the things I’ve pursued is just having the time and the space to cook. I’ve tried to experiment with different meals and ingredients. I’ve never had the time or the confidence to really do it before. I am trying to find the balance of inserting creativity.
It’s a lot. I’m even trying not to get emotional about it—ive been removed from dance for so long. Like, my body is changing, and I still love this art form. But I’m like, ‘can I even do it anymore?’
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“There’s been a lot of events that happened to me this year, that I don’t know if they would have happened without the pandemic. Positive or negative. ”
“One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned this year is it’s okay to still say no to people. ”
Photos: Thanks to Justine
Cover Photo: Emily—Chicago 2018
