bonfire for example, which made them feel better. But Kathryn said that by the end of summer, most friends left for college when the academic year began, which sometimes causes her to reconsider her decision to take a gap year. “It does kind of make me have a few regrets about the gap year, just as people are leaving and I’m seeing everyone get excited in their dorms. It does kind of make me feel a little left behind.” Pia said she relied on her friends from home and from college for support during stay-at-home orders. Additionally, the biweekly African Student Association meetings and first-year academic support group meetings held on Zoom helped her feel connected to her Lehigh communities.
“I feel like it’s not safe right now...I wouldn’t want to be part of an outbreak that might occur.”
Kelton and Sebastian both said they turned to the family member they live with for support. Sebastian’s mother is a psychiatrist and Sebastian found her informed support helpful. “Most of it has just been supportive and she’ll say, ‘You’re not alone in this entire situation, and you’ve got to realize that this isn’t just happening to you, and I’m just so sorry...I know it sucks, just try to maintain contact with your friends.’” He said he had been writing down things he is looking forward to in the next few months as a coping mechanism since the annual international trip he takes with his mother over the summer— this year to Southeast Asia— was canceled. Sebastian said next year, he and his mother plan to travel to an area in Africa. The students all reported changes in physical activity, along with their “normal” routine. Many have found that they are less active due to no or reduced commuting, fewer events out of the house, gym closures, and canceled sports seasons. Sebastian mentioned that his workout routine got “worse, then better for a month and a half,
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then worse” as everything initially shut down at the start of the pandemic, then gyms temporarily re-opened in his county, only to be shut down once again. Kelton agreed that it’s more difficult to motivate himself to workout at home and wearing a mask at a gym is not appealing. Kathryn, on the other hand, found that her shift in routine allowed her more time to dedicate to being physically active. She loves to hike but rarely had the time during a usual school year to go, and took advantage of her flexible schedule this spring to head to the hills. Additionally, she tried out her parents’ spin bike during the colder months and found that she really enjoyed it. Like Kathryn, Kelton took up a new hobby. He began drawing, which he took up with the help of Bob Ross videos. Sebastian, Kelton, Kathryn, and Pia were forthcoming reporters on many of the dynamics that students everywhere are likely experiencing —fears, uncertainties, and hardships, along with stories of coping and adapting. Kelton said, “At this point, you can only hope that it gets better and that’s what you’ve got to work towards.”