BY CARMEN FANNING
*image was taken pre-COVID-19*
Coming back to campus after a long break always requires a lot of adjusting. Students often feel a mix of enthusiasm and dread. Excited to be back on campus with fellow students and faculty, but hesitant to jump back into school mode.
Cat Hernandez is in her third semester in the nursing program and is feeling stressed for the upcoming semester.
“I’ve been doing a lot of meditation and taking advantage of the little free time I do have. The program is very challenging but it’s helped me become responsible, prioritize and I am excited for the end goal,” Hernandez said.
Ellea Ediger is a senior in her final semester studying Finance with an emphasis in financial planning. She said she is feeling refreshed and ready for life post-college.
Compared to last semester, teachers and students are getting used to the demands and routine of online classes.
“It’s a lot better so far this semester because everyone is much more accustomed to ZOOM classes now,” Ediger said. “And I have two classes in person which is very refreshing to have after being all online.”
Finance graduate senior and forward for the men’s basketball team, Jared Vitztum, is feeling ready for the semester and season. Besides being a crucial player for the Tigers, Vitztum is also pursuing his MBA in Finance.
“It was definitely refreshing to return to school. It was great to see everybody on the team and play basketball again,” Vitztum said.
Balancing both academics and basketball can be challenging, but Vitztum is a veteran when it comes to staying focused on the court and in class.
“All my classes are online so it’s nice to be able to work on classes throughout the day,” he said. “Basketball wise, I just make sure to work out a couple of hours a day and play hard during the games.”
Compared to past seasons, the Tigers have spent the majority of their season on the road.
“It is nice to have online classes just for the fact that I never miss anything because I always have the option to listen through ZOOM. It has been difficult to find time to do homework and study because we have been on the road a lot and don’t have as many home games as last year.”
Prior to each game and practice, athletes must undergo a COVID screening set of questions and temperature or take a COVID test.
“The testing hasn’t been bad because we do it before practice so we are already at the facility.”
Quinten Rock is in his second semester of freshman year studying Criminal Justice. Although he hasn’t gotten the normal first-year college experience, he’s quickly learning the demands that college upholds. On top of being a student, Rock is also playing major minutes for the men’s basketball team. His break was cut short due to basketball season.
“I mean, I wouldn’t even technically count as coming back to campus considering I’ve been here even over break. But I mean, I’m excited for classes to begin and hopefully I do good this semester,” Rock said. “[I’m] more excited than stressed. And adjusting has been interesting especially with everything being online and everything so, overall it’s been good just taking day by day.”
Being a freshman athlete comes with its ups and downs, and COVID doesn’t make the adjustment any easier. Rock’s attitude through it all has kept his hopes high.
“I think I adapted quicker than I thought I would to everything going on. Like for example, every morning when I wake up I have to go on my phone and give myself a COVID screening asking all questions concerning COVID and they have to be a no, or else I get a red circle and have to get tested again,” Rock said. “If a green circle pops up then we are good to go. We get our temp checked by a trainer when we first come in, and one COVID test every week.”
FHSU faculty is working with students to ensure the highest education while teaching online, something Rock sees a benefit in, especially for student athletes.
“The school part has been easy with everything being online. Makes traveling and school easy this year so that’s good for us athlete,” Rock said..”And having a shorter Christmas break sucks but we are doing what we love so can’t really complain.”
Just like students, FHSU faculty have similar feelings regarding the upcoming semester.
“The faculty really missed in-person classes and labs. We all turned into ‘ZOOM zombies’. However we did the best we could under the circumstances and managed to make the most of it,” Chemistry instructor and lab manager Steven Reed said.
Reed has the luxury of having a hybrid course where students meet half in person and half online.
“Actually having an in-person lab this semester and seeing the students really makes you appreciate the importance of one-on-one learning for everyone,” Reed said.
Professor of Biological Sciences, Eric Gillock, misses the interaction with students.
“I’m glad to be back this semester and am still adjusting to our post-COVID reality. ZOOM meetings are OK, but I greatly miss the discussions and interactions that naturally flow in classrooms full of in-person students,” Gillock said.
Overall, these confusing times have brought campus closer together as a Tiger family and reminded everyone not to take the small things for granted – yes, even sitting in a lecture hall.