A student I liked, dropped the course because of mental health. I tried to help, to be an ear, to offer extensions for their assignments but they’re depressed. I see it in the way they talk about their mind, as if they are living with a monster that can’t be controlled, feeling forced to submit to it. I too have memories of being immobilized, particularly as a teen. Something changed but at the same time I still feel like monsters in the mind remain close by, I think everyone knows about these things in themselves like it’s part of being human, maybe because we are creatures that know we die or maybe because we live with presidents, premiers and mayors who act as if captains of our ship who don’t really know how to steer, and that’s just the way it is and always has been. This student said this is their favourite course which was unsurprising because they were very alive and in each class discussion. I wish I could help them, but help isn’t forceable. They wrote a good song, performed at our open stage, about a friend who is no longer their friend. I think on some level they enjoyed the class because of creating songs. Choosing to address one’s problems in art is healing, though not enough for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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