Dear Quilly Girls,

When this news about the government blocking Harvard’s ability to accept international students came out, my Poli-Sci roommate stormed into my room, flung herself onto my bed, and screamed into one of my pillows. I’m not even joking. And she is not usually a scream-into-the-pillows kind of person, so I knew immediately something was up. As soon as she explained… let's just say I understood the instinct. Because, and I mean this seriously, what’s up with the state of our world right now? Why is it that every single time I turn on the news—I’m stretching my definition of news to include social media, because I’m not perfect, and sometimes the New York Times app is intimidating—some new headline has come out about a way that our lives are being made more difficult? I’m not an international student. I’m also not a Harvard student (sorry Mom!) but I am a girl in college, trying to balance basic adulting with what has lately felt like a never ending stream of legislative decisions designed to make our lives harder. Anyone else relate? 

I think part of the issue, at least for me, is that the sheer amount of information out there feels overwhelming. There are so many headlines to pay attention to, and even when it's good info—like cool resources and organizations that will help me pitch-in—it’s hard to sort through everything to find the ones that actually have a meaningful impact. But screaming into a pillow only goes so far, so we’re shifting gears a little. That’s why there’s a section on our website now with links to information about immigration issues in the U.S.—links to free and low-cost legal support for immigrants impacted by current and changing legislation, as well as many resources for international students seeking stuff like visa and housing support across the Bay Area. Because you shouldn’t have to wade through everything on the internet, sort through every social media account’s link-tree, to find those kinds of resources.

A little nugget of wisdom that my other roommate dropped recently also feels important here. We were talking about this same idea, how overwhelming headlines are feeling these days, and she said something cheesy about how we were all in it together. Of course my first thought was just the opening notes of that one song from High School Musical—because, honestly, that’s just my first response anytime anyone says those words ever—but when I actually thought about it, I realized she had a point.

As college girls living through whatever this era is, we might not all be dealing with the same daily worries or concerns, but we are all together in the fact that we’re all facing challenges. Whether that be in the area of access to reproductive care, our literal ability to continue attending college in the U.S., or a myriad of other examples. That means that how we support each other should be flexible too, and, most importantly, it shouldn’t be conditional. True support isn’t dependent on what you need support for, whether that be deconstructing the last cryptic text from your situationship or accessing information about you or your family’s immigration status. Real friends are the ones that show up, in rain or shine, no matter what. 

At Quilly, we’re here to be that support system, and to help you find your own. Not to be cheesy (just kidding, love the cheese) but that’s what these resources are really for. To support you, with whatever you need. If you relate to anything I’ve said (ranted about?) here, check out the support tab on our website. There you’ll find everything from free and low-cost legal aid for immigrants and their families, to scholarship opportunities for international students, to information about how you can help. And remember that we mean it when we say we’ve got you—no matter what. 

Love you,
Quilly xoxo