Each fall, as the temperatures begin to drop and coursework hits a high, a wave of sickness sweeps across the Andover community. We have heard our friends say iterations of “I’m sick” with varying degrees of severity and no longer feel surprised by our classmates who might say they’re fine but looks like they’re about to pass out or the classmate who can barely speak through the hoarseness of his throat yet still insists on attending class. Firstly, our sympathy and well wishes go out to all who are feeling under the weather, and we hope that everyone takes this as a reminder to take care of themselves: drink water, eat your meals, and sleep well. But the prevalence of “The Wandering Ill” around campus also raises the question: why aren’t students, if sick, always going to the Sykes Wellness Center?
Being sick at Andover is no easy feat to manage. In a place of endless responsibilities where even the day-to-day rigor of things can be hard to manage and where stress, anxiety, and functioning on a minimal amount of sleep becomes normalized, finding ourselves knocked out by a sickness for days on end can feel disastrous. There seems to be simply no time in our tightly-packed schedules to rest and recover, and that’s not even considering the inevitable load of assignments to make-up if we were to take this hypothetical break. For us, the idea of letting go of the habit of working through exhaustion and instead allowing ourselves to rest feels a little like giving up, an admission of weakness, a sign that we’re not worthy of being here if we can’t handle everything, all the time.
The Sykes Wellness Center remains a faraway prospect, a last-ditch resort for when we are on the last vestiges of our energy to push through despite our illness. Part of it may be our fear of being dismissed, part of it may be the refusal to admit how sick we truly are, part of it may be previous poor experiences that we do wish to repeat. Regardless of the reason, it seems as if students are much more prone to having the attitude of simply toughing it out, surrendering to the inevitability of unpleasant side effects for the reassurance of being able to keep up with coursework and extracurriculars.
While the thought of missing classes and being faced with a mountain of makeup work in addition to regular assignments can seem daunting, students can still find ways to prioritize their health and well-being. If our ailments do not yet seem debilitating enough for a visit to Sykes, that does not mean we must suffer on our own, pushing through splitting headaches to finish a physics assignment or throwing on a mask and attending classes where we are more focused on holding in coughs than listening to the teacher. Instead of immediately resigning ourselves to a week of walking through our commitments like a ghost, let us seek support from our instructors. Though it is not guaranteed that they will offer us an extension or let us take the day off, communication about any discomfort we may be feeling will alert them to why we might be less participatory or clear-headed than usual, and also gives them the opportunity to suggest ways we might be able to best engage with the material despite our sickness. And this applies vice versa, too: when our teachers don’t feel their best, we can learn to be understanding in their response time to replying to our emails, grading our assignments, and leading class.
As students at a boarding school, knowing how to assess the limits of our physical and mental conditions and advocate for our needs is a key aspect of developing the independence and self-awareness needed for us to thrive as not only scholars, but members of society. While it is true that the challenges we face at Andover can often be opportunities to stretch ourselves and grow stronger, there are also times when they encourage us to seek support and lean on those who care for our well-being. At first, it may feel strange, unfamiliar, a symbol of fragility or lack of resilience. But we are not invincible superheroes, nor should we be: our vulnerability is what makes us human, and it is always okay to give ourselves grace.
