Take Care Mac – Reflection of Self and Community Care

By: Margaret Qin, Human Behaviour Level IV student, SWC Peer Educator, and Grind Market Founder. 

Beginning something new always stirs a mix of nerves and excitement, especially in a place as unfamiliar and expansive as university. I remember arriving, unsure of where I fit or who I’d become. But, with time, I learned this: you are not meant to carry it all alone. The people around you, including classmates, neighbours, or even near strangers, can become something steady and real if you let them in. And as you do, you start to see how connection is built, not all at once, but through quiet, everyday care. 

When you offer a hand, a kind word, or simply your presence, you are planting seeds in a garden that will bloom long after. The care you give circles back in unexpected ways, creating a web of connections that catches you when you need it most. 

So, as you find your way here, remember that community isn’t about doing everything yourself; it’s about going with the flow–showing up, reaching out, and letting others show up for you as well. Together, we build something steady; something that sustains. 

Here are a few reminders and gentle words I’ve held close to my heart throughout my time at McMaster, and ones I hope you might carry with you as well. 

I show up for my community. 

Relying on one another isn’t a burden; it’s a rhythm. A give-and-take that makes everyone stronger. When we care for others and let them care for us, we create something more than support–we create solidarity. We remind each other that we are not alone, and that together, we can stand for something bigger than ourselves.  

Remember that you don’t have to be a leader to make a difference. Look around, ask what is needed, and offer what you can. Sometimes, it is organizing. Sometimes, it means bringing snacks. Sometimes, it is ensuring someone gets home safely. All of it is care, and all of it counts.  

To show up for your community is to believe that no one should struggle alone, and that together, we can build something better. Through caring for our community, we care for ourselves.  

Tip: Look for where your presence is needed, whether it is at a meeting, a new hangout, or a conversation that needs further support. Even if you are unsure or unfamiliar, show up anyway. Your presence is part of the change. 

We aren’t supposed to do it all ourselves. 

There is a subtle pressure in university to have it all together and to handle every assignment, every emotion, every decision, alone. But the truth is: we are not meant to do it all alone. We are allowed to lean on each other. 

The people who care for you aren’t looking for you to be perfect. They are looking for you to be honest. Vulnerability doesn’t push others away; rather, it brings them closer. It opens the door for connection, support, and the kind of comfort that makes life seem lighter. 

You don’t have to do this all on your own. And you don’t have to wait until everything falls apart before you ask for help. 

Tip: If something feels heavy, don’t wait. Reach out. You deserve support not just in times of crisis, but in everyday life. You don’t have to earn care. It’s already yours. 

I care about you, me, and humanity. 

Sometimes I think about how our lives quietly overlap. Someone once sat at the table you are sitting at in the library and wrote an email that changed everything. Someone else used the bike you rode across campus to reconnect with an old friend. The compliment you gave, made someone’s entire day, if not their week. 

We move through shared spaces every day, not always realizing how many stories have passed before us, and how many we are a part of, just by being here. 

You don’t have to know someone’s name to care about them. And you don’t need to see the whole story to recognize that it’s happening. Every moment we offer kindness–whether through a glance, a gesture, or a pause–we contribute to a campus culture where people feel seen, valued, and safe.  

Tip: Take note of the spaces you move through today. Who may have been there before you? Who might come after? Allow your awareness to guide you in an act of care, such as holding a door open, offering a seat, or smiling at someone new. These small acts are the threads that connect our community. 

I am someone you can count on. 

There’s something so powerful about being there for someone else. In offering care, whether a hand, a kind word, or a quiet presence, we don’t just build trust with others; we begin to build trust in ourselves. You start to see the strength you carry, the calm you offer, and the way your presence matters even when you may not say much at all. 

Sometimes it takes a community to show us who we are. You can see the way you listen. The way you notice. The way your presence alone can shift the room. And slowly, you begin to trust yourself not because you have all the answers, but because you are learning to hold space for others, and yourself. 

Care doesn’t end with others. The same gentleness you extend outward belongs to you, too. Your needs matter. Your rest matters. You are not separate from the community that you are building; you are part of its heartbeat. 

Tip: Let your presence matter to you. Practice patience and kindness with yourself. Growth is not always visible, but every effort counts. Take a moment today for yourself; quiet, unhurried, and full of grace. Be someone you, yourself, can count on. 

Every day is a new day to be a better you. 

Remember: who you were doesn’t have to define who you are today. You are allowed to change, grow, and even outgrow parts of yourself. You can unlearn beliefs that no longer serve you or reconnect with aspects of yourself that you haven’t embraced in a while. 

We exist in so many ways. I am a daughter, a peer, a McMaster student, an acquaintance, a friend, a service worker, a library goer, an artist, a crafter, a music lover, and a familiar face. The list can go on and on, because you deserve to exist in multitudes. 

Tip: Reflect on one aspect of yourself you’d like to nurture, something you’ve overlooked, something new, or something you’re still figuring out. You don’t need to change everything at once. Just take one step that feels true to the person you are becoming.