In the Loop Newsletter
April 16, 2025
Dear Huskies,
As we entered the third week of the quarter, we want to take a moment and check in with you. How are you feeling? We would love to know if you have had time to rest and recharge. Is there something small that has been bringing you joy? We are wondering if you have recently gone for a walk outside and appreciate the springtime in Seattle.
You are an important member of our UW community. We value the rich traditions you bring that make our campus truly global. Throughout the year, students from different cultural backgrounds celebrate holidays from across the world, adding unique colors to our campus life. Celebrating familiar holidays helps us maintain a connection with our individual cultural root and offers moments of comfort that can ease homesickness and stress. When we gather with others who share our traditions, we create pockets of home away from home—safe spaces where we can fully be ourselves.
Equally valuable is the opportunity to participate in celebrations from cultures different from our own. These cross-cultural experiences not only expand our worldview but create bonds of understanding that form the foundation of our support networks. By learning about each other’s traditions, we build communities of mutual respect and care that sustain us through academic and personal challenges.
Easter, for instance, is right around the corner on April 20. This spring celebration across many Western countries marks the arrival of new lives. The holiday has roots going back thousands of years, blending ancient seasonal celebrations with newer traditions. Today, people celebrate with activities like egg hunts and decorations, family gatherings, and special seasonal meals that bring people together in community and joy.
Around the world, many festivals celebrate renewal in spring in similar ways. For example, Nowruz, Persian New Year, centers on rebirth and family gatherings that strengthen community bonds. In India, the colorful Holi festival welcomes spring through shared celebration that breaks down social barriers. In Japan, Hanami brings people together to appreciate cherry blossoms, creating moments of collective mindfulness and appreciation. While these celebrations come from different cultures, they all share themes of hope and renewal. The shifting beauty of nature brings solace during challenging times — just as winter yields to spring’s promise of growth and transformation — reminding us that periods of hardship eventually give way to new beginnings.
To help strengthen our international community bonds, CIRCLE is organizing Easter celebrations for both international undergraduate and graduate students. We invite you to take a moment to find comfort in community and create supporting relationships that will enrich your time at UW. You can check out our CIRCLE events below.
Additionally, if you are a student who will be enrolled in Fall 2025, considering applying to be one of the six homecoming scholars. The UW Alumni Association and ASUW are proud to honor extraordinary students across all three UW campuses. Share your transformative experience at UW by April 30 for a chance to win a six-thousand-dollar scholarship (learn more and apply here)
As always, CIRCLE is here to advocate, engage, and support you at UW. Feel free to visit us in 250 Schmitz Hall every Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for office hours. Drop in and talk to a friend!
Community Resource Highlight
The Graduate and Professional Student Senate (GPSS) amplifies the voices and experiences of graduate and professional students at the UW and help fosters a sense of community on campus. GPSS offers travel grant and diversity fund for eligible students and student organizations. They also regularly organize social events that bring the UW graduate community together. Visit their website to learn about different student committees and browse for resources and on-going events!