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Sometimes it’s nice having so much space, but Phillips ’21 misses her friends and the energy of �ʼһ���’s campus at full throttle.

The COVID-19 pandemic sent most students home in March to finish the semester remotely. About 130 remain on campus for reasons that include travel restrictions, hometown outbreaks, financial hardship and family members with medical issues.

Phillips didn’t go home to south Florida because her mom’s cancer battle has compromised her immune system and she didn’t want to pose a risk to her.

“I know we’re in a safe environment here, and we’re practicing social distancing, so we should feel like we have nothing to worry about,” Phillips said. “But it’s kind of stressful and anxiety ridden, too.

“Not having all your friends on campus reminds you of what’s going on in the world,” Phillips said. “They’re opening beaches up in Florida and a lot of people are not practicing social distancing there. I’m scared for my family when they need to go to the grocery store because other people are being so selfish.”

Roy Toston ’20 stayed at his on-campus apartment because his mom has multiple sclerosis. His roommates went home. so he’s alone. He has a few friends on campus he sees—from a safe distance—at dinner. He exercises and occasionally does school work outside to get him out of the apartment.

“It’s kind of lonely, there’s not a lot of interaction, but I have friends in much harder situations,” says Toston, a Bonner Scholar and Terry Fellow.

“I’m really thankful to be at �ʼһ���, the school has been really supportive,” he said. “It really is like a ghost town, though. I only see townspeople out, not students.”

Like their classmates now at home, students attend class, talk to professors and socialize with friends through Zoom. As the semester’s end nears, they’re finishing papers and projects and gearing up for finals.  

Phillips, a biology major and Posse Scholar, says she’s having a harder time focusing on her school work since the campus emptied. She can’t go to the lab to work on her research.

“It’s really hard for me to maintain my routine when no one is around holding me accountable,” she said. “I’m a hands-on learner—Zoom is my worst nightmare, I feel like everything takes me longer now.”

She says she keeps reminding herself to be thankful that she’s safe, eating good food and able to get outside for walks and exercise breaks.

“I’m trying to stay positive and not think of things that are out of my control,” she said. “It’s not great, but it’s not terrible.”

Phillips says she’s become more creative about finding bright spots. She’s hosted Zoom mini-concerts, singing along with far away friends. On the weekend of the cancelled Spring Frolics, she set up a DJ table in her room and hosted a remote dance party.

“I’m an extrovert and it’s really hard for me not to be around other people,” Phillips says. “I don’t want to slip into a depressive vibe, so I try to do what I can to avoid that.”