Starting College Post-Pandemic

  
     I always have been that sort of weird person that enjoyed going to school. I liked learning, socializing, and participating in groups after school. I was a fairly decent student, making decent grades and taking dual-credit coursework. I had plans for college- plans that did not involve staying here in Hammond, Indiana. However- everything was derailed on Friday, March 13th, 2020. Once school shut down, it was all downhill from there. But this isn't about my struggles through the pandemic- this is about the present day and how I am adjusting back into school now after a year and a half of not being in a proper classroom. Though it's only day three, I'm realizing the adjustment process.

    Honestly, I've been very optimistic about this coming semester. Walking into Introductory Sociology at eleven in the morning on Monday was such a surreal feeling. It was a double whammy, my first in-person class since 2020 and my first day as a college student. It's weird being there in person rather than a Zoom call. It has been much easier to focus than it was remotely. I don't have as big of an urge to open Twitter anymore! I would be lying if I said I didn't have the temptation in the back of my mind still. My attention span is recovering from being away from the classroom for so long. Distractions are such a minuscule problem though, looking at the bigger picture. Meeting my professors and peers and making face-to-face connections with them has created a larger feeling of importance towards my education. The pandemic has made me realize a lot of things in school and life I never realized or had taken for granted. 

    Aside from excitement to learn again, I feel like I'm having a social renascence. I haven't been able to be social since the last time I was in school. Making friends and maintaining relationships with peers you may not see much outside of school was impossible through e-learning. Coming on to campus these past few days, I've reconnected with a couple of my friends I had made back in high school. I've also met so many new people and made some cool friends already! I've also seen many students excited to see friends of their own. Lots of people seeing friends they may have lost touch with during the shutdown. It's a good feeling finding my circle, and it's also been fun people-watching and seeing people reconnect. 

    Going forward with the semester, I am cautiously optimistic. I worry about the delta variant going around and what could happen in the coming months. Hearing of a possible shutdown so soon concerns me. I don't want to have to go through it all over again. However, all we can do is wear our masks, get vaccinated, hope for the best, and plan for the worst.  

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