Illustration by Bell Jackson By: Harrison Neville
Since I was in high school, one of my favorite Shakespeare quotes has been from “Henry V,” “once more unto the breach dear friends, once more.” I enjoyed saying it before I went back to work doing physical labor, or when my friends and I were out camping and had to rush out into the rain to take care of our gear.
Saying “once more unto the breach dear friends once more,” is about accepting the difficulties of the moment, and dedicating myself to overcoming whatever obstacles lay before me. Most importantly, it is about working alongside friends to make it through.
I’ve come up against a lot of struggles while working for The Alabamian, deadlines that I wasn’t ready for and stories that brought up issues I wasn’t emotionally prepared to handle.
In the current era of COVID-19, we are constantly beset by new challenges. Every day is a struggle as we attempt to navigate the harsh realities presented to us regarding health and safety, and the ever-widening political divide in our country.
It feels as though whichever direction we turn there is a new problem arising, and there is no clear solution for how we should handle it.
Which brings me back to Shakespeare, and that beautiful line “once more unto the breach dear friends, once more.”
It is a battle call, a cry for help in times of need and acceptance of the darkness ahead of you. Life will always be full of hardship. There will always be a battle to fight, and sometimes the only thing we can do is face those challenges head on, with our friends beside us.
So, “once more unto the breach dear friends, once more.”
Harrison Neville is the previous Editor in chief for The Alabamian. He is a fourth-year English major whose hobbies include reading, hiking, cooking and writing. He has previously worked for The Alabamian as a managing editor, distribution manager, copy editor and SGA columnist.
