Every Week is a Different Story
I don’t understand why Mondays get such a bad rap. Maybe it’s because Sundays are usually a workday for me or because I haven’t had a dreaded 8:30 a.m. class section for a while. In any case, this particular Monday got off to a great start. I quickly swung through the RSU TV office to submit my student worker timesheet (more on that Wednesday) then headed back to my room to catch my 10 a.m. corporate media Zoom call. Quick lecture complete, I grabbed a quick lunch with my roommate Indy as we continued our television education binge of the Simpsons.
Monday afternoon, on the other hand, was filled with homework. My afternoon homework routine will be pretty solid this week between a website project and a few remaining papers. After a quick nap, I went to the Claremore Starbucks to catch up with Tori Middleton. Tori is a sophomore Political Science and American History double major at RSU and a campus RA. She has an excellent political mind as well as an eye for a good meme. Tori went for a vanilla iced coffee while I went for a hot latte, and while we disagree on if a hot or cold beverage is better for a cold November day, we had a great conversation about the semester.
Q. Well, how’s your coffee?
A. It’s delicious. Very cold like my heart, lol just kidding; don’t put that in there! I’m telling you, iced coffee is super good on cold days.
Q. So, how’s your semester been?
A. It really doesn’t seem real. It’s a lot harder than before, and we’ve missed a lot of the fun, typical things, so it has been a battle to stay motivated. Overall, this semester just built different.
Q. So, on the academic side of things, how has the pandemic changed your experience?
A. This is my third semester as a full-time student, and my workload feels heavier even though I’m going to class less. My only class meeting regularly is once a week. During health crises, I feel like people have so much to worry about, and I have at least two assignments every day, so it’s a tough balance.
Q. Any college staples that you’ve missed this semester?
A. I’m really involved with OSGA (Oklahoma Student Government Association), which has been conducted through zoom, so I missed traveling and meeting with other university student governments from around Oklahoma. I also miss the student organization bake sales because their cake balls slap!
Q. So, you have a unique perspective as a campus RA. How has that been this semester?
A. So I wasn’t an RA before Covid-19, but I can tell you we have more sanitizing responsibilities during our rounds. Enforcing rules is also different because I understand the administrative principles for keeping people safe, and I sympathize with students who are disappointed by the restrictions. I helped host a walking taco night, so my residents could have a fun and safe event. For now, I try to keep my residences safe and stay excited about the future.
Q. If you could tell your pre-Coronavirus self-one thing, what would it be?
A. Oh my gosh, that makes me think! Every week is going to get more challenging, and that’s ok! You’re going to start seeing the college experience as a whole, so don’t be afraid of the challenge or the uncertainty. Every week is a new story, and in the end, life is going to be ok.
Personally, I’ve struggled finding the motivation to finish this semester strong. As a person who loves consistency, every week being “a new story” has been a real mental battle. I’m a student who likes to control and plan everything out, so the pandemic’s constant changes have been assignments in their own right. As this semester comes to a close, it has become apparent just how lucky I am. Even through this scary and ever-changing situation, I’ve stayed healthy, connected, and able to learn, which are all blessings in their own right. Every week is a new story, but with any luck, life will be ok.
