#EveryLittleActionCounts Week 33 – Building a Positive Academia Through Passion and Collective Action
In 2022, an idea was sparked, grounded in passion and a belief in positive change within academia. It started with a single LinkedIn recommendation by Anne-Wil and Christa’s post on well-being activities in the classroom: simple yet profound #PositiveAcademia posts. These posts weren’t just fleeting thoughts, but seeds planted with care in the fertile ground of a collective desire to create positivity during the aftermath of the COVID pandemic. Fast forward to today, and we’ve reached over 200 posts, each representing a brick in the foundation of Positive Academia.
This journey wasn’t about following a set formula or achieving predefined metrics. It was about doing something meaningful, driven by the conviction that every small action counts. Along the way, it has become clear that building something impactful requires three key elements: passion, collaboration, and consistency.
Passion as the Foundation
At its heart, our endeavour wasn’t just about creating promotional posts. It is about reshaping narratives in academia—highlighting the positive, the inclusive, and the empowering. Passion is the driving force, transforming a single post into a movement. It became a call to action for others to share their stories, amplify kindness, and celebrate the small victories that often go unnoticed in academic life.
Passion, however, isn’t isolated; it is contagious. Each #PositiveAcademia post resonated with someone new, pulling more people into this shared vision focused on research, teaching, engagement and leadership. Together, we began to weave a narrative that demonstrates how much academia can offer when approached with hope and purpose.
The Power of Collaboration
Positive Academia does not thrive in isolation. Collaboration transformed it from a rather solitary pursuit into a shared journey. Each person who contributes their voice engages in conversations, or shares these posts adds something invaluable—a different perspective, a new insight, or simply their presence.
Collaboration isn’t just about numbers; it is about building a community. A network of people, each driven by their passion but united by a common goal, creating a ripple effect. One post inspires another, one act of kindness leads to another, and slowly but surely, we build a collective legacy that surpasses what anyone could have achieved alone.
Consistency: Every Little Action Counts
Reaching over 200 posts is a testament to the power of small, consistent actions. Each post may have seemed like a drop in the ocean, but together, they can create waves.
It’s easy to underestimate the impact of small steps. But our Positive Academia endeavour demonstrates that those small steps consistently add to something much larger. Each post is a reminder that meaningful change doesn’t have to come from monumental acts. It comes from showing up, again and again, with intention and purpose.
Reflecting on the Journey
Looking back, this journey from one post to over 200 has been as much about growth as it has been about creation. It has been a journey of learning what’s possible when we let our passion lead, invite others into our vision, and commit to the power of small actions.
But this milestone is not the end. It’s a reminder of how much more we can achieve together if we continue to act with purpose and believe in the potential of what we’re building. Each post, each action, and each collaboration reinforce the idea that #EveryLittleActionCounts.
Building a Positive Academia, One Action at a Time
The legacy of Positive Academia isn’t just in the posts themselves. It’s in the conversations sparked, the connections formed, and the hope reignited. It’s in the idea that academia—and the world—can be shaped by the people who dare to imagine something better and act, no matter how small.
So, as we reflect on what’s been built so far, we also look ahead. There’s more to create, more to share, and more opportunities to leave a lasting impact. Because when passion meets collaboration and is fuelled by consistent effort, there are no limits to what we can achieve.
Here’s to the next 200 posts, the next wave of actions, and the continued journey of building something meaningful—together.
Christa Sathish & Anne-Wil