Oct. 5, 2021
Hello Student Affairs Team,
Do you know Kevin Durant? He played basketball for UT Austin for one (amazing) year before jumping to the NBA, where he remains one of the two or three best players in the world. (Check out this highlight reel of his plays at Texas. When you watch it, remember he’s only 18 years old!)
Kevin said this once: “I don’t know what I’m going to do tomorrow. I just know for sure that I’m going to keep playing basketball.”
It’s a simple line, but I think it holds a profound truth. Life is unpredictable. Each day holds its own unique set of ups and downs, challenges and opportunities to shine. But we can handle the unpredictability by committing to our work and our home lives. We can contribute—each of us, in our uniquely personal ways—to something greater than ourselves.
Thank you for contributing.
Here are some things I think it’s important that you know:
- There are a few days left to enter the university’s Vaccine Incentive Program for your chance to win awesome prizes! Faculty and staff can win cash, a photo opp with Bevo and more. Don’t miss out on the last drawing this Friday. The vaccine is the best protection against COVID-19 and if you haven’t been vaccinated yet, I hope you’ll consider doing so.
- I also strongly encourage you to wear a mask when indoors, participate in our free UT Proactive Community Testing (PCT) Program and use the university’s Protect Texas Together app for daily symptom screening prior to arriving on campus.
- To those of you who came out to the Division’s Welcome Back Brunch a few weeks ago, thank you! If you couldn’t attend, don’t worry: I’m going to try to make this an annual tradition. If you and I haven’t met face-to-face yet, I hope we will soon. As we inch back toward a normal workplace, my favorite thing is being with our team, bumping elbows and sharing a laugh.
- Did you see any of the Commencement 2020 Reunion ceremony on Sept. 17? If not, you can watch it online; Brené Brown, author and UT Austin alum, will inspire you – and so will our students.
- Another university celebration to note: President Hartzell was officially inaugurated on Sept. 24. He also delivered his State of the University address, which was chock full of fascinating thoughts and plans for the future, including his strategic vision. Watch the inauguration and read his remarks.
I understand that you might still be nervous about the pandemic. I get nervous sometimes too. But I’m more hopeful than nervous because there is so much greatness on the horizon.
You’re a Longhorn. So is Kevin Durant. He’s one of the best at what he does, and so are you. Our Division has found ways to thrive during this pandemic because we’re fueled by the passion and world-class expertise of people exactly like you. So, while none of us know exactly what we will do tomorrow, we know we’ll all “play basketball.”
Hook ’em,
Soncia Reagins-Lilly
Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students