BY: Esclavon Prewitt

MONTEVALLO, Ala. – Many students are adjusting to returning to campus differently due to the effects of COVID-19. One thing that is obvious about the environment of the campus is that it is a different environment than last year.

One student Jaycey Bowling detailed in particular her return to campus this year and how it impacted her everyday life. She has had many problems due to Covid-19 since her arrival on campus in the fall of 2020. 

Bowling ( a sophomore) thought that transitioning into college she was going to have fun and meet a lot of people. Due to COVID she started dreading her college experience and made transitioning into college difficult.

“Last year (when I arrived) it was such a ghost town and coming back on campus this year and seeing new faces are a big difference,” Bowling said. The University of Montevallo did not have many students living on campus, just mostly athletes and international students. The campus was very empty, there was plenty of parking and you could tell that the campus was dealing with a pandemic.

This year you can see many people walking around campus and you see many new faces when you explore. There is truly a big difference just in the campus population.

Last year was a difficult time for most freshmen socially. Jaycey said, “ I just hung out with my roommate most of the time…it was a lot different trying to make new friends and hang out with people”.  

Jaycey Followed behind that and said “ this year it’s a lot different I get to hang out with all these people on and off campus”

This year the University is allowing things like social events, visitation, hanging out off-campus, and even in-person classes with less limitations. These are things that help students during these times meet with new people and enjoy their college experience.

Bowling is also a student-athlete, Covid affected a major part of her freshman year from being afraid of not having a season at all to having to social distance and wear a mask to meets. This upcoming season is a very promising one for bowling. The NCAA and the University are more relaxed with protocol when it comes to athletes and COVID. Bowling stated that she and her teammates are very excited about the upcoming season.

Jaycey Bowling at her first outdoor track meet

Bowling said that the majority of the student body is taking this semester well and is hoping by next year the restrictions will decrease even more and that there will be more events on campus and as college passes for her COVID eradicates and she can enjoy her full experience.