I am writing this as one of you. Please know that we, the creators of this petition appreciate your help, your support, and the strength that you are currently showing. Please know, that you are not alone. It is a tough time, especially for the ones among us, who are international students or immigrants, for the ones among us, who are POC, for the ones among us, who are a part of the LGBTQAI+ community. BUT we have come together as one community, regardless of where we are from, how we identify, how we look like, or how we express ourselves. That is why, you are not alone. We, the ones who are part of the named communities and our allies have come together in solidarity and support, to stand up for what is right and demand action. 

We, the creators of this petition, are so proud to see this petition growing each day. We are grateful for the support that we receive and we wanted to make sure the people who support us are also given some support. If you are feeling anxious, depressed, stressed, concerned, upset, or like it is just too much about the current situation; please know that it is important to look after yourself too. It is not selfish. You matter. You need to be healthy and okay. It is okay to turn off the news or your phone for a while, a day, or even longer if you need to. Is it okay to look after yourself. As the airplane safety instructions always state; help yourself first and then others. Please take care of your body. Fuel it with food that is good for your body and soul. Stay hydrated. Meditate, read, exercise, do whatever makes you feel good about yourself. Take deep breaths. Take out 10 minutes of your day to make sure you are doing okay. If you are feeling that there is too much going on, please do not hesitate to consult with a professional. There is no shame in this. We all need help from outside from time to time. If you are a TXST student, please consider contacting the student Counseling Center. Their information is provided below. 

We, the creators of this petition, want to thank you from the deepest of our hearts for your support. We know that you are strong. We know that your are bold. We see you. We hear you. We will not leave you alone in this mess. Do not forget, we are the next generation who will be in the parliaments, in congress, in the senate, etc., we will be in charge. We have the power to shape our future. If anyone ever tells you, that you or your voice does not matter - please know, that they are most likely scared of your capabilities and that they won't be able to stop you, once you have embraced that power. 

Now let's go and eat 'em up. 

Bobcat Love,

Ariel Oswald 

Texas State Counseling Center
5-4.1 LBJ Student Center
601 University Drive
San Marcos, Texas 78666
Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Phone: 512.245.2208
Fax: 512.245.2234
counselingcenter@txstate.edu