Students Share Mid-Semester Feelings on Campus Life during COVID
Kelsey Tyler
I think it’s safe to say that we’ve all been on the struggle bus for months now. From schools abruptly cancelling in the spring, to vacations being ruined in the summer, and now the endless uncertainty about what will happen day to day, has been completely and utterly exhausting. . . . And I don’t think I’m alone in saying that.
When I asked Taylor Grehl, a senior psychology major at MU, how her semester is going, she gave me a very relatable answer. “My life is in shambles,” she said. “I always feel like I have something to do that I am forgetting about. And I always wonder what I’m going to be surprised with next. Like will my class go online? Will the school send us all home?”
Along with being confused, however, she did include some of the things that were helping her through this uncertain time. “I feel like all of my professors have been very accommodating to everyone’s shifted mental health during this time,” Grehl said. This is something that I personally relate with as well.
Like Grehl, as a senior, I’ve also been crazy confused most of the time. I feel like I’m always on edge because things can completely change in the blink of an eye . . . like we are all experiencing right now. But with the extra lack of attention span and forgetting to turn in random assignments, I’ve noticed that my professors are very understanding if you just communicate your struggles with them. I know that Professor Beyeler, of the Environmental Studies and Biology departments, is practically begging her students to communicate openly about missing assignments with her. It is always so comforting to hear this from her as she starts class, and other professors alike.
You may have heard about Haunted Garver, one of Manchester Students’ favorite events that the college puts on. (It is essentially a haunted house on the top floor of Garver.) Because of Covid, this year this event will take place at the wooded trail on campus. This really impressed me when I found out. It is impressive enough to come up with a good idea such as this, but to actually execute it will be amazing!
Manchester’s resilience to continue to host Covid-friendly events for students is unmatched. This is something that is going great during these uncertain times.
Life is pretty tough for all of us right now. Things are constantly changing and our minds feel like jumbled messes. Lucky for us, Manchester hasn’t given up on us! The professors are responding compassionately, events are being hosted to keep students entertained, and during all of this the campus is extremely Covid-friendly, which probably explains our low positive cases right now.
Manchester’s resilience is unmatched, and I don’t think I’m alone when I say that I am beyond thankful.