Natalie Mintz ’24

The COVID-19 pandemic has proven that the plans and goals many had set for this year will not always play out as expected. For Sarah Lawrence students, the pandemic has led to a surprising first semester of college.

Normally, first-year students would not be allowed to live off campus. With the summer’s steep rise of Covid cases, however, first-years were given the choice of whether to live on campus or to stay home.

If they chose to move in, they were required to quarantine for two weeks in their dorm after arriving. Additionally, those coming from high-risk states had to isolate off campus prior to moving in.

After the quarantine process was completed, school sanctioned events began occurring in phases. Masks and social distancing would also be required at all times.

*The MySLC website is like a new campus for remote students. Photo courtesy of Natalie Mintz.*

For many, the choice to learn remotely from home, rather than risk moving into dorms, came down to the fear of getting to campus only to be forced to move back home just months later. Ultimately, this concern was the deciding factor for Ajula Van Ness-Otunnu ’24.

“My senior year of high school was cut short,” said Van Ness-Otunnu ’24. “I saw many of my friends scramble to find a safe way to return home from college, so I didn’t want to be in that position.”

She added that, despite the challenges she has faced, “living at home for the fall was the best decision for me.”

International students, however, face another obstacle in moving on campus: obtaining visas. When Anita Anand ’24 was deciding on whether or not to move to New York from her home in India, she had to consider if she could acquire a visa on time.

“When the consulates did open, it was super last minute… I was just not mentally or physically prepared to just up and move halfway across the world,” Anand said.

For first-years, remaining home also meant letting go of the expectations of their first college experiences. What was supposed to be weeks filled with making new friends, exploring Yonkers and New York City and getting involved on campus became learning to cope with Zoom classes and navigating a social life online.

One of the most prominent feelings online students share is an overwhelming loneliness. While this is sometimes expected during the first weeks of college, it is especially hard to make connections online.

“If you were at a group event in person...you could turn to people and say ‘hi,’ but you can’t over Zoom,” says Lucy Knowles ’24.

Many first-years feel that online classes don’t facilitate friendships like in-person classes do. While online courses provide acquaintances, it is difficult to foster any meaningful relationships. After all, for many, friendships are not formed by simply discussing course material. Not being able to go to events outside of classes also amplifies this challenge.

Many first-years also find adjusting to the college workload difficult. Even those who were used to a heavy workload in high school have found the challenge of online work to be daunting. Kavya Sharma ’24, who took International Baccalaureate courses in high school, found she still is working to adjust to remote learning despite having to manage heavy workloads in the past.

Finding motivation to complete online assignments has been a struggle for many first-years as well. For Van Ness-Otunnu, this renders remote learning unsustainable.

“It’s very hard for me to focus and feel motivated in online classes – especially when I am not on campus with my peers and professors,” Ness-Otunnu said.

As Sharma puts it, school “feels fake” right now.

International students, like Anand, also contend with the added challenge of significant time differences. Instead of attending live class, some students must watch recorded versions. If they choose to attend classes, it can mean having to completely adjust to a new schedule, as it does for Anand.

“When I was picking my classes, I was just like ‘I’d rather take classes that I want,’ rather than ones that were earlier in the day… so I did end up with a 3 a.m. class,” she said.

Despite facing many obstacles, many students who decided not to move to campus agree that staying home was the right choice.

“For the sake of what’s going on in the world, specifically our nation, I think staying home is the safest plan right now,” said Ariana Belanger ’24.

First-Year Students Living at Home React to College Life During COVID-19