Kate Kennedy
Over Christmas break, my grandma passed away. I found it difficult to cope with managing university at this time as I had as I had multiple assignments due the following week. I was heartbroken and it affected my motivation and ability to even open my laptop. I was able to get longer extensions than normal due to my extenuating circumstances which was a huge relief. I also made more of an effort to spend more time with my family rather than being on my own as I found being alone in my grief was doing more harm than good. My best advice is to talk about them with your family or those close to them, spend time with others also suffering from this loss. Talk about how funny they were, their habits, their kindness. Don’t let their name become something sad, celebrate them, and treat death as what it is, a part of life rather than the end. And, this is cliché but remember that grief is just love with nowhere to go.
Erin Palmer
Losing my grandmother a year before starting university has taught me that grief doesn't follow a timeline. I thought enough time had passed, that I had processed it - but being away from home, facing new challenges without her, made the loss feel fresh all over again.
What I’ve learned is that grief isn’t something that disappears; it changes shape. Some days, it’s a quiet ache, other days, it hits like a wave. I learnt to find comfort in small rituals - wearing her jewellery, reading her favourite poems, or simply talking about her with people who knew her. Seeking support from friends and university services also helped, reminding me that I didn’t have to carry the weight of grief alone.
Most importantly, I've learnt to be patient with myself. It’s okay if the pain still lingers, even years later. Grief isn’t about “moving on” but about carrying their memory forward in the life you’re continuing to build.