It’s finally my second year of college and everything is supposed to be perfect. I’m not a first year anymore, I know my way around, I’ve got a great group of friends and I can’t wait to do all the things I missed doing with them. But I can’t and it’s a little disheartening. However, as a student living On Grounds amid a pandemic, I’m lucky to have my health and the ability to see my friends (socially-distanced of course). If you feel like I do, I’m here to help and to provide ways to recreate all the fun things we’re missing while staying safe and respecting the university community.
- Going out.
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I know I miss being able to sit at a huge table with all of my friends at a restaurant, listening to music, and eating good food while we talk about the latest gossip in our lives. While indoor dining may be allowed in some restaurants, why not get outside? The weather’s still great and you can sit six feet apart with a group of your close friends, play music on a speaker, and catch up.
- Extracurriculars.
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Being in clubs during college is great and allows you to make friends who share your interests. Unfortunately, Zoom meetings make it a little difficult to notice that the girl you’re sitting next to has the same laptop sticker for your favorite band, or that the guy on the other side of you is really cute and just happens to have mutual friends. But, even on Zoom, we can find ways to get to know our fellow club members with organized game nights, Netflix parties, and even private messaging with someone you want to get to know.
- Going to the gym.
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I don’t know about anyone else, but I definitely fell off my gym grind during quarantine. I’m not one for home workouts and I suffer through running so I felt like my options were limited. Although campus gyms may be open, since returning to Grounds, I’ve found a love of hiking. When I was at home, I took advantage of the state park where I live, and now back at school I try to look up a new trail every weekend. You’d be surprised what you enjoy when you move outside of your comfort zone!
- Being in class.
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Okay. Stay with me. I know this sounds weird. One thing that I miss so much about a ‘normal’ semester is walking to class, picking my seat, and not having anything to do but that class for an hour. With online classes, everything kind of blurs together and I feel like I’m sitting all day long. To simulate going to class, I try to get out and go for a walk in between my classes at least once a day. It’s a small thing, but it makes a big difference in my motivation for school and for my overall mood.