We never dreamed the semester would turn out like this.
We all expected to come back from spring break refreshed, ready for a beautiful Hillsdale springtime, for exams and good weather, for professors to conduct classes outside, for walks across campus and in the Arboretum.
But the semester we expected is not what we received. Instead, we were sent home, and forced to text, call, and FaceTime our friends instead of seeing them in person.
In quarantine, we’ve learned to be intentional with our friendships. You can’t depend on just-so-happening to see a friend up the hill. Now, if you’re going to stay in touch, you have to plan to do it. This is a lesson we should all take with us. When things go back to normal, we should continue to be intentional in our relationships.
We’ve learned to not take things for granted, and we’ve learned to value simple, everyday moments. Seemingly mundane meals in the cafeteria mean so much more to us now that we’ve been deprived of them. Going to class, once a chore, seems more meaningful after resorting to online learning via Zoom or email.
Hillsdale College is, at its best, a community in common pursuit of truth. We recognize the value of what campus offers, especially now that we cannot be there. But even in the reality of coronavirus, we are blessed to live in an age of technology — we can see and talk with our professors and peers while separated by thousands of miles. We can entertain ourselves with fun — if not annoying — Instagram challenges between friends.
Quarantine has taught us to make the best of what we have, and come to terms with things that are out of our control. It taught us to be thankful for our health and the health of our friends and family.
We’ve learned a lot this semester, not just in the classroom, but outside of it, too. Let’s not forget what we’ve learned, but instead, take it with us for the rest of our lives. After all, that’s the purpose of a Hillsdale education.
