The term is just wrapping up at UWI. It was a challenging one to say the least. For me and the students. At least two of them had a death in the family, one lost a brother to murder. I also overheard one student saying he cannot write his papers because he hears gunshots all night. What is a teacher to do? It is a powerless feeling. This is the country’s future, and they cannot live a normal life and thrive in their academic life. To be sure, not all of them face these challenges, but at the very least, they must be on guard on their way to and from school. They tell me they don’t wear jewelry and try to carry as little as possible. Just another example of how crime affects absolutely everyone.