S is for Survival
“The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”
- Nelson Mandela
When we hear the word survival, we tend to immediately associate the term with surviving in its physical sense: continuing to live or exist despite difficult circumstances. But the concept of survival is broader than that. It is the ability to persevere and endure hardship and adversity on a psychological, emotional, spiritual and societal level.
As the world faces growing food insecurity, housing shortages, poverty, climate crises, and catastrophic humanitarian conflicts, we are also grappling with challenges that threaten our emotional and psychological well-being, such as trauma, loss and racial profiling.
As students of Sheridan College in Canada, Manchester Metropolitan University in the UK and Riara University in Kenya, we have come together to explore what survival really means to us - and what it looks like. Our stories have been divided into our categories: Surviving the Day, Surviving Change, Surviving Abuse and Surviving Truth. In the way we survive, we believe that, regardless of the challenges, survival depends on resilience, ability to seek and receive support, and willingness to adapt to changing circumstances.
Surviving the Day
Our days are full of challenges. These challenges may relate to school, work, health, relationships, food, shelter or finances. Some of them trigger symptoms of panic, stress or depression. Often, people try to cope with this in unhealthy ways. Here, we look at the struggles of surviving food insecurity, the cost of living, social media addiction and mental health problems.
“In the end, survival comes down to a matter of character, determination, and will.”
- Joe Simpson
Surviving Change
Life is all about the ebbs and flows so change is natural and to be expected. That doesn't make change any less scary. The journey into the unknown can be both good and bad. Change can be anything from taking refuge in a different city or country, coping with the death of a loved one, surviving an illness or even coping with COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdowns. While you go through the change, it may seem impossible but once you are over the hill, it can feel like a rewarding experience.
“Growth is painful. Change is painful. But, nothing is as painful as staying stuck where you do not belong.”
- N. R. Narayana Murthy
Surviving Abuse
Abuse often gives way to trauma, as can bullying or racial discrimination. Being able to survive and overcome abuse without the experience having left an adverse effect on your inner self or character, shows real strength. At times this abuse can last for years, spanning decades and even manifesting itself in different forms. But knowing how to deal with it requires dedicated training and a helping hand. Seeking out help when in an abusive situation is tough, but there are always people willing to help in every community. Our job as journalists is to make sure that all voices are heard, including the minority.
“Love so needs to love that it will endure almost anything, even abuse, just to flicker for a moment”
- Rumi
Surviving Truth
Defending the truth is not an easy task. It is the vital role of watchdog journalism, activism, and human rights advocacy in exposing and combating injustices in society. It examines the challenges that journalists, activists, and advocates face when seeking to hold those in power accountable for their actions. It is critical to persist in seeking truth, even when facing opposition from the right-wing media and misinformation, as well as wrongful convictions and innocent convictions.
"The only true test of survival is how long you're prepared to stand by your principles."
- Tim Sebastian
Ways to Survive
You can escape reality through arts, music, gaming, and hobbies. Whenever trauma, stress, or everyday struggles arise, people turn to creative outlets, which can do wonders to promote their mental and emotional well-being. These stories explore the incredible power of music, dance, and art as a form of healing.
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
- Rumi
What Survival Means to Us
Our Team
Photo by Nick Abrams on Unsplash
United through stories
S is for Survival is a collaborative project between Sheridan College, Manchester Metropolitan University and Riara University.
Working together for 14 weeks, Journalism students from each school joined forces to share what it means to survive.
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