Students were afraid that they could no longer afford college because their parents, and in many cases, the students themselves lost their jobs.

There’s not a lot you can tell a student or family that is comforting to them in the midst of a global pandemic that’s suddenly stripped them of their income. Colleges not responding in a timely manner made things more difficult and made students more anxious.

When the news of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Christian Cooper, and George Floyd hit, many students openly talked about their anxiety about the social tension that existed, even right here in Boston. I sent students resources that were available to them—counseling hotlines and apps, activism opportunities, and just sharing some of my personal experiences and sentiments as a Black woman.