Sarah Heydinger photo by Nicole Centofanti
On Wednesday, March 11, I received an email just as every other student did about the actions that would be taken on Bluffton’s campus because of COVID-19. Starting Monday, March 16 classes have transitioned to online learning. On March 16, I received another email telling students they would have to move off campus permanently until April 13, the day we are scheduled to return to Bluffton after Easter.
I am a pre-art therapy major with a minor in education, an athlete on the women’s volleyball team, and I am employed through three different departments on campus. I work as a student assistant for the education department, a custodian for Neufeld Hall and a journalist for The Witmarsum.
I decided that moving back home during this time was the best option overall and it gave my parents a little more reassurance having me with them. The stressors for me came first with the thought of my studio classes and campus jobs. How am I going to complete my work from home? I have no access to a studio due to everything being shut down, and my parents did not want me to take over a part of the house with a bunch of my pottery supplies.
Although I still get to take on hours for writing for The Wit, losing my other two jobs will add up later because I try to make most of my payments for school on my own since when I am home my parents do a lot for me. Without the monthly paycheck from my other jobs, it will be difficult trying to find other ways to make money right now. Even though I know I have to save money, just as any other college student would, sometimes slips up and the one good thing about being stuck at home is not having to spend any money on food. I get home-cooked meals every day. Yay!
Another thing that will be difficult for me is the online classes and no schedule. I thrive on a full schedule that is already drawn up. Being at school, I knew my schedule perfectly. It began in the morning with volleyball, then work followed, lunch at noon, classes in the afternoon and lastly, it was five-plus hours spent in the studio. Now, it is so free that it is almost chaotic to think about what to do and when. Even though some people may enjoy this freedom, it is not my cup of tea.
I have been able to create some rules as my “schedule” to make sure I get everything completed.
Rule number one: do not let yourself sleep in until noon.
Rule number two: look at classwork during the original class time.
Rule number three: work out at least once a day.
Yes these are short and there are few but if you are like me and more hands-on, it is difficult to do these online classes and just sit here for a few hours. I enjoy a more face-to-face interaction and having the ability to listen to my peers, but keep a positive attitude, right?
This transition feels different than coming home for any other type of break because of how unexpected it has been and not being able to work for my other campus jobs. At least I can still be useful for one, The Wit.
My studio class of ceramics will be completely different than I expected, but I plan to create whatever I can from my basement of few supplies. It will definitely be hard to work without the studio supplies that I depend on from Bluffton’s ceramics studio, but with a few out of the box ideas, hopefully, some great things can be produced.
