My Experience at the 78th Anniversary Celebration of the Humanities Faculty

 Saturday, the 12th of October 2024, 2:00 PM

          The celebration of the 78th anniversary of the Humanities Faculty began with an announcement sent to all students, informing us of the event’s details. However, I must admit, excitement was not exactly what I felt upon receiving the message. The topics on the agenda which were centered around humanities and technology were not particularly of interest to me. To top it off, the idea of waking up early and sacrificing precious sleep hours, especially when I work late into the night, did not help me feel any more eager about attending.

          The celebration started on Monday 7th of October, with several talks scheduled throughout the day and an art gallery showcasing students's work. I only managed to attend the first event of the week. Unfortunately, upon arrival, I found the auditorium packed with people, making it impossible to find a spot inside. As a result, I missed the talks and did not get to experience much of the event itself. The overcrowding made it difficult to focus on anything beyond the bad organization of the event.

          While the atmosphere felt underwhelming, one special moment for me was getting to see my friends. Spending time with them was perhaps the only part of the day I genuinely enjoyed. Aside from that, I also appreciated the opportunity to admire the paintings on display. The gallery exhibited several beautiful pieces created by art students, and I found myself truly impressed by their talent. Yet, beyond these brief highlights, nothing stood out as particularly memorable.

          As for the academic talks, I was unable to attend any due to the overcrowded auditorium on the first day. I quickly decided that returning for the other days was not worth the effort of losing even more sleep time, particularly when I could spend that time preparing for upcoming exams or catching up on much-needed rest. Honestly, it felt like a more easy decision, given how much my work schedule demands from me. I did hear, though, that there were some artistic performances, including teachers singing songs in English and French. While I did not attend these, I noticed my friends sharing pictures of some of the art exhibitions, which stood out to me. Yet, by that point, my decision to skip the rest of the week had already been made.

          One aspect that particularly bothered me was the event’s organization. In my opinion, it was poorly executed and full of opportunities for improvement. Making attendance "mandatory" was kind of nonsense to me, especially since not everyone wants to engage in these types of activities. It is supposed to be an artistic event that brings people together, but forcing students to attend seemed counterproductive. Personally, I would have much preferred the option to stay home, or even just to use that time for studying something I found far more important now taking into account that we are approaching exams.

          Reflecting on the event, I would not say that there was any meaningful connection to my studies or personal reflections. It simply felt like an obligation. While I take great pride in being close to graduating from this institution, this event, and my broader experiences at the university, have left me feeling somewhat disconnected. The celebration reinforced some of the frustrations I have had throughout my time at UES. While I value the education I have received, I have also encountered staff members and situations that have not always fostered a positive atmosphere. It is something I have learned to navigate, but it has certainly influenced how I view my time here.

          This marks the sixth week of this writing journey. See you in the next post!

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