Our Unscientific, Life Changing Impact

Anecdotal information doesn’t carry much weight in science or in court for that matter. When it comes to life, though, it does. 

During Covid, when things began to open up. We legally trained outside in seperated painted squares on the ground and I’ll never forget the woman across the street holding her cell phone up to film while she screamed, “Do your part! Do your part!”

I guess people exercising in seperate (but together) spaces was a medical science liability. Except, what I wanted to say to her was that anecdotally, I’m distinctly aware that two of those students were struggling with suicidal ideation. The gym was keeping their head up.

Anecdotally, we were “doing our part.”

Yesterday I ran into a student in town who mentioned that her classmate texted her to check in. I wondered if friends, family, and co-workers check in with our students like their classmates do. Anecdotally, I don’t think so. 

Social media surely isn’t real life.

That said, I can’t help but observe DEUCE Students from ten years ago who have long moved away who post a life update on Instagram. Meanwhile, the comments are dominated by fellow classmates from a gym they no longer attend. This is anecdotal, of course. 

I don’t think I can say definitively, but, anecdotally, I’m proud of how DEUCE family shows up for one another. We need it and you’re doing it. 

Thank you.