I had no way of knowing it would last this long. The social distancing. I had no way of knowing that when I left my classes that last week before the extended "Spring Break" started that it would be the last time I saw my friends. I might have done some things differently. Maybe not, but maybe I would've. I wasn't given the choice.

I'm a senior, set to graduate in May. Or, I was. I guess I still am, but everything seems so uncertain now that COVID-19 is seemingly ruling our lives. People are getting sick, some are dying, and to prevent it, businesses and schools are closing. UAFS is going full online for the rest of the semester, and the May Commencement ceremony is postponed until June or July, I think. I understand the need for social distancing, to flatten the curve and stop the virus from getting more people sick needlessly… but also it sucks.

I'm an intern for the UAFS Athletics department, for Sports Information Director Dusan Stojanovic. Don't ask me how to say his name because everyone I ask says it differently and he told me the first day and I've pretended to know since then. I miss getting to interact with our talented student athletes, interviewing them about the sports they are passionate about and making videos about them and their teams.
Videography is my passion, and I get to do that a lot through my internship. I have the opportunity to be creative, flex my skills, and learn more as I go. So yeah, I'm super bummed that I've been missing out on that. Hopefully I'll get continued assignments throughout the semester, even after we've gone full online in another week, but we are all just figuring this out as we go.

It is sad that I don't get to go to my classes, with professors and classmates that I've grown to love over the course of my years there. I'm a Media Communication major, on the production track. Media Comm is a tight bunch; we're more than just classmates, we're friends. We've got some great professors who make the degree program really worthwhile and inspiring, so it's weird to not see them for weeks.

I'm involved on campus too, or I was. I'm Co-President of NuMedia and the Traditions Keeper Coordinator for the Student Alumni Association. I've missed like, 4 meetings between those two clubs, and more than double that in campus events since we all went home for social distancing. I guess most or all of the campus events from here on are canceled, until the virus gets under control.

The Governor said it'll be 6-8 weeks before the worst is over, and those numbers are changing every day. It's a scary reality, when you stop and think about why we are all having to stay home. It is for our protection, so I can't blame the university for making that call - and I know they did not make it lightly. I'm grateful to attend a school where they care so deeply for their students and our wellbeing.

For now, I've been keeping busy at home. Busy doesn't mean what it used to mean before the social distancing, but I've been trying. I caught up on my online class and any course assignments the first week, and now I'm catching up on missed sleep!

My boyfriend and I have watched some new Netflix shows (Tiger King), and I've rewatched some old ones (Parks and Rec). I have the time, so I've started coloring again. I can't draw at all but I enjoy playing around with crayons and markers. I've been reading a lot, for pleasure now instead of school work. I've had the time, so why not indulge myself? I've gotten creative in the kitchen, now that I have time to cook meals. During the school semester I'm always so busy, but now that my planner sits empty I have time to improve some other areas of my life - like food.

I'm optimistic for the future. I'm bored sitting at home all day. I'm ready for "real life" to begin again. I'm not sure when it will. I wish everyone the best of luck, and hope y'all find toilet paper when you need it.