IYONNA WILLIAMS
B.S. in Information Sciences and Technology Class of 2022
U
pon deciding to enroll at University Park last fall after spending two years at the Altoona campus, Iyonna Williams was looking forward to the ultimate Penn State experience. But when the pandemic extended month after month—causing the University to enforce public health practices like social distancing and switch to primarily remote and mixed-mode classes— Williams soon realized that her Penn State experience would be much different than she’d hoped. “I thought I was going to experience what it’s like to go to a big university,” she said. “I was ready to meet new people, go to events, join different clubs, and everything
like that. But because of the pandemic, none of that could happen. I don’t even leave my house much, because I’m so scared of getting COVID. It’s definitely a bummer, but I’m trying to make the best of it.” Like many students, Williams, a third year student studying information sciences and technology, feels fatigued after a semester and a half of virtual classes. “I mean, I love computers,” she said. “I love spending time sitting at a computer. But I would love to have that in-person experience as well.” Despite the challenges, Williams has taken advantages of opportunities to connect with her new campus and community.
She and her roommate have made a point of exploring State College as much as they can with social distancing, and she became involved with the IST Diplomats, the college’s student ambassador program. She encourages other students, especially change-of-campus students, to do the same. “I’m not sure how long this whole COVID thing is going to go on, but always try to keep a positive mind when navigating through the college experience, because it’s going to be different for years to come,” she said. “So just make the best out of the situation and find things that you enjoy doing.”
Winter 2021 19
