COVID-19 Has Changed Students’ Plans
Bluefield College spent just one week back on campus after its Spring Break in March before the college had to cease its face-to-face instruction and move all classes online for the remainder of the spring semester due to coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. College campuses and schools around the world had to do the same in order to slow the progress of the virus.
Since then, the plans of many students have been significantly changed. College athletic events for spring sports were cancelled, friends were separated, and the graduating class of 2020 lost the opportunity to celebrate the culmination of their studies with a spring commencement in May.
“I am unable to come home because there are so many cases in my area, which led to making the decision of staying on campus,” said BC exercise and sports science major Mark Batoon about the ways in which the pandemic has affected his life. “It was also disappointing to hear that I won’t be able to finish my senior season in tennis and track and field with both seasons cancelled because of this pandemic.”
Batoon said his plans after graduation have also been delayed due to the virus. The company he was supposed to work for after graduation informed him they won’t be hiring until things return to normal.
“In regard to personal plans, I was unable to attend the Cherry Blossom Festival in my hometown (Washington, DC),” Batoon said, “and a concert that I was supposed to go to in May is now postponed.”
Another graduating senior, Emily Carlisle, said her summer plans have been cancelled or delayed, thanks to COVID-19.
“I had trips and concerts planned that are now cancelled,” Carlisle said. “I’ve been applying for jobs, and the hiring process has been temporarily paused due to the pandemic. I worked to graduate a year early, and now the plans for graduation have had to change.”
Even though it is a frustrating time, Carlisle tries to focus on the positives.
“Every time I get frustrated, I’m reminded there’s a gift in this,” she said. “For me, there’s time to spend with family, time to rest, time to spend with friends without schedules interfering, even if it is only over FaceTime. There’s time to sit with the Lord and get to know Him and His goodness in a new and fresh way.”
Carlisle added that this experience is a reminder that the Lord is in control, working and moving in ways we may not ever fully understand.
“Yes, COVID-19 changed all my plans for my last semester of college,” Carlisle said, “but the plans were never mine anyway.”