My First Week Back On Campus
Time flies. It feels like just yesterday it was spring 2020 when the global pandemic abruptly changed our daily lives and shut down the world. The last time I was on campus, I had productive days of living in my dorm room, attending in-person classes, and making new friends.
When we transitioned to virtual classes, it was not my cup of tea. I stayed in my hometown of Aurora, IL and took all of my virtual classes in my living room. At first, the comfortability was nice, but after a while it became repetitive and I began to miss the normal way of life. As the weeks went on, I became unmotivated and staying focused was a struggle. However, I began to see the positives. I found a job as a graphic and clothing designer for a local streetwear brand in my hometown and working there allowed me to regain a sense of enthusiasm. My new friends at the shop pushed me to stay resilient through the hard times. I started to realize everyone was going through the same struggle.
About a year and a half later, we have overcome a very challenging experience that has taught each and every one of us what we should be grateful for. What I did not see then and do see now is that the pandemic allowed me to save money, focus on myself, and learn that all good and bad things come to an end.
My first day back on campus made me feel like I was reliving the past. It felt as if I had not walked into a classroom in years. Walking around in the quad and seeing old and new faces brightened my day. I will never take this experience for granted again.
My first week back on campus was great. When classes started on Monday, I woke up in the comfort of my new apartment that I was able to afford because I stayed home for over a year. I also created a systematic school and work schedule for myself, and I went out to eat with friends and bonded over past memories. My favorite part of being back on campus was meeting with my brothers from my fraternity and wearing my letters for the first time in the quad. It felt good to be back. The air was fresh and the view of the city was just as I remembered it, beautiful and full of inspiration.
Coming back has been a great experience. I am very excited to use everything I learned throughout the pandemic to my advantage. Now that I have two years left of college, I am going to put my best foot forward. Despite the fact that there was missed time on campus, I was able to focus on myself and I’ve learned how to make the most of my third and fourth year as an undergraduate.