Page 37 - FDCC Pandemic Book

Living in a Pandemic: A Collection of Stories on Coping, Resilience & Hope
Abby did get to return to campus in the fall, with strict protocols and lots of anxiety. Quite frankly, I did not blame her. On the SLU parents’ Facebook page, much like the entire country, there was quite a range of opinions about the seriousness of the pandemic and what should be done to prevent further spread of COVID.
The returning to campus after a summer away, seeing old friends and getting back into the rhythm of college life is a time honored tradition. This is especially true when one returns as a sophomore. College life is still relatively new, but without the nerves and the unknown facing the typical freshman. For my college kids, the return was filled with trepidation: would the schools stay open the entire semester; how could they safely eat in the cafeteria; would they get to see their friends or have to spend their weekends in their rooms by themselves?
While Abby, Grace, and Kit were able to go back to school, Lexi was not allowed to return to campus at the University of Portland. Ironically, Oregon and Alabama (where we live) have nearly the same size populations. However, Alabama has consistently reported three times the number of cases that have occurred in Oregon. Campuses in Alabama were wide-open, so while she could not return to school in Oregon, nearly all her friends at home were back at school. Lexi handled the news that she was not going to be returning to school in the fall of 2020 well, but it definitely stung. Because of the time difference, her classes were in the afternoon and evening, followed by late nights of homework, only to wake up the next day and repeat the same process over again. For a period of time, the isolation took a toll on her mental health. In truth, I was so focused on getting through each day myself, that I did not give her the support she needed. As parents, we cannot underestimate the disappointments and struggles of our college students who suddenly found themselves back at home, with no where to go and no one to go with.
Lexi is now back on campus in Portland and loving her college life that consists of school (mostly online from her single dorm room) and workouts with the rowing team. As she prepared to leave, she carried mixed emotions. Stuck at home with Mom and Dad (who expected her to do chores and earn her keep) was definitely not the college life of her dreams. Yet, there was an appreciation for the time we got to spend together without so many siblings around. And of course, there is still concern for COVID and whether school will stay open the entire semester.
Each one of my four college kids is different and unique, and their experience during the pandemic is equally different. For my son Kit, it changed his life in significant ways. Like every teenager that has ever played guitar, he had dreams of being a rock star one day. As a fall back plan -“just in case” he did not hit the bigtime, he decided he needed a college education. As a freshman at the Unv. of North Alabama, he was in two different bands and sporting a rock star look that made me wonder whatever happened to that little kid with a crew cut.
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