Writing a postcard addressed to his mom, Blaise Eakle, sophomore accounting major, shared how much he appreciated her love and support. Sitting at the Student Inclusion and Belonging’s (SIB) Women Appreciation Station on March 4, Eakle and others stopped by to grab donuts, write postcards and add to a whiteboard to highlight the women in Tigers’ lives.
At the station, SIB representatives encouraged students to complete postcards with personal messages and shout out who they were appreciating on a whiteboard. Eakle chose to write his postcard to his mom. She taught him how to be empathetic and love unconditionally, Eakle said.
“She’s supported me through every road bump, every hiccup in my life, and has always made sure that I know that she’s proud of me,” Eakle said. “I’ve never felt alone. I’ve always felt supported, appreciated and loved.”
Carmen Coulon, sophomore communication and marketing double-major, also wrote to her mom. “Whenever I’ve gone through something difficult, … I’m always able to talk to her and see a new perspective of what I’m going through,” Coulon said. “I really hope she appreciates and knows I love her.”
Alyssa Martinez, junior political science major, is a SIB student associate and helped put on the appreciation station. It puts a name behind the women who build community and influence lives every day, Martinez said. When we showcase acts of appreciation, she said, we spread more love, kindness and support.
“Invisible work is often done by women and by people of color that we don’t get to recognize,” Martinez said. “Starting to create the spaces to do that is what makes a difference. I think a place like Trinity deserves to do that, and we are educated enough to, so we should.”
Emily Hernandez, junior political science major, is a SIB student associate alongside Martinez. She said that acts like those in the appreciation station shine a light on the many women who have contributed to students’ success.
“We didn’t get here by ourselves,” Hernandez said. “There has to be other people that help you along the way, and they also need to be appreciated as well.”
