Page 38 - FDCC Pandemic Book

Living in a Pandemic: A Collection of Stories on Coping, Resilience & Hope
Needless to say, live music disappeared in 2020, and with it, so did his dreams of fame. After spending the summer working at a golf course (golf courses were considered an “essential” business in Alabama) he returned to school a little less certain about a career in music. As the COVID cases began to increase, his classes moved completely online. His apartment roommate was from nearby, and chose to move back home to save money. Suddenly, he was living completely by himself, and it took a toll on him mentally and academically. He struggled with the online classes and ultimately made the decision to withdraw before his already fragile GPA took a significant hit. Instead, he made the decision to enlist in the Army and as I write this, he is in his first week of boot camp at Fort Benning, Georgia.
My daughter Grace had the opposite experience at Wellesley. Wellesley decided to have freshman and sophomores on campus in the fall, with juniors and seniors back for the spring semester. Limiting the number of students on campus allowed each one to have her own room, as well as make social distancing more effective. I won’t detail all the rules and procedures here, but suffice it to say that Wellesley had their act together. Students had to have a negative test to return to school, then were quarantined in a hotel rented out by Wellesley for three days and another negative test. Once on campus, everyone was tested twice per week. While the experience was different than her freshman year (no weekend trips to Boston), she still was able to have an enjoyable experience. She was even able to secure a dorm room that became available to sophomores and was allowed to return to campus for the spring semester.
College during COVID taught more than just academics. The experience impacted each of our four college kids in different and significant ways. However, like thousands of their peers throughout the country, they learned valuable life lessons:
• Life can change in an instant.
• Appreciate the moment.
• Make the most of what you have while you have it.
• Relationships matter.
• You must adapt to survive and succeed.
These are the lessons being learned on college campuses right now. And as a nation, as we deal with racial injustice and political turmoil that seemed to define our country in 2020, perhaps it is these lessons that will empower this younger generation to move the country forward in a way that my generation, who went to college in the 1980’s, failed to do. The irony is that the pandemic leaves me more optimistic about the future than ever before. These students have seen their worlds completely change in a matter of days. They appreciate what they have and understand how precious a moment can be and how quickly it can disappear. More importantly, they have learned how to succeed and find their best during a difficult time. Better days are ahead!
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