University life can be overwhelming in ways we don’t always talk about. Between lectures, deadlines, responsibilities, and expectations, there are moments when it all feels like too much. I’ve had days like that. Days when I felt mentally exhausted and unsure of how to keep going. What made the difference wasn’t advice or solutions, but people who simply listened. Friends who sat with me let me talk and reminded me that I wasn’t alone. That, to me, is solidarity in its truest form.
Being on the receiving end of that support also taught me the importance of giving it back. When someone trusts you enough to open up, listening becomes an act of responsibility. I’ve learned to reciprocate that same patience, understanding, and presence, whether it’s staying back after lectures to hear someone out, or checking in when I sense someone isn’t okay. Solidarity is mutual; it grows stronger when care flows both ways.
Through my involvement in student activities alongside academics, I’ve realized that solidarity doesn’t always appear in big, organized efforts. Sometimes, it exists in the smallest gestures like sharing notes, explaining a concept, offering a reassuring hand squeeze and a smile before a presentation. And sometimes, it’s even simpler than that. Sometimes, it’s the kindness in a smile shared with a passing stranger on campus. You may never know what they’re carrying that day, but that one moment of warmth could be enough to make them feel seen. You might not remember it, but it could stay with them.
International Human Solidarity Day reminds us that being part of a university is about more than academic achievement. It’s about learning how to be human together. As students, we are constantly shaping the spaces we occupy. When we choose empathy, attentiveness, and kindness, we quietly create a campus culture where no one feels invisible.
Solidarity doesn’t demand grand actions. It asks for awareness, compassion, and the courage to care. In conversations, in silences, and even in passing smiles. And perhaps, that’s how change truly begins.
As students, solidarity begins with the choices we make every day. Check in on a friend, speak up when something feels unfair, offer help when you can, and never underestimate the power of being present. Let this International Human Solidarity Day be more than a date on the calendar. Let it be a reminder to act with empathy, lead with kindness, and build a campus where no one feels alone. Because change doesn’t start somewhere else; it starts with us.
Written by: Tharushi Silva
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