A new normal

Morgan Rooney
MSMU Class of 2020

(5/2020) Nearly four years ago, when I started my higher education at the Mount, I pictured the day I would finally finish and earn my degree. I looked forward to going to senior formal, senior banquet and walking across the stage when my name would be announced. I had friends and family who had already spent hundreds on their airline tickets to congratulate me and celebrate with me. There was a family celebration planned on the day of graduation with my favorite meal to celebrate my many years of hard work. Little did I know that all of that would change so quickly.

Mount St. Mary’s University has confirmed that there will definitely be a commencement ceremony when it is safe to do so, however, the date of this event has yet to be determined. Regardless, I am excited for that day to come and I’m glad that my senior class and I won’t be deprived of such an exciting and well-earned event.

While there is only a couple weeks of classes left until I complete my courses, I am heartbroken that I don’t know when I will be able to celebrate my accomplishments. I wish I knew that my last day at the Mount would have been my last. I understand now why people say, "live every day is if it was your last," – on a less serious note of course.

On top of all of this disappointing news, all students at the Mount transitioned to online, remote learning. While I feel as if certain things about an in-person class are missing, I think remote classes have been working fairly well. Certain classes have more work while others have less than before, so in the end the workload mostly balances out.

Classes have been much different since we haven’t been able to meet in person. The biggest difference in my classes has been that we are unable to meet for rehearsal in my string ensemble, therefore all performances and rehearsals have been cancelled for the remainder of the semester. This has been the most disappointing change for me. Certain classes have given out reading assignments online with questions to answer. Other classes consist mostly of writing assignments such as essays. I’ve had professors do recorded lectures and even a few conferences. While the video conferences were awkward at first, I’ve warmed up to them and I think that they have worked fairly well so far. While none of us originally signed up for online courses, I think the transition has gone well.

I really appreciate being able to do my assignments on my own time. As someone who is not the most productive in the morning, being about to work on my in class assignments in the evening or at night has been helpful for me. I spent a few days clearing out the spare room at home, painting it and making it into a home office that I can comfortably do my work in with no distractions. I’m proud of how everything turn out and I look forward to hanging up my degree over my desk once I receive it. I think I’ve been fairly productive while everything has been locked down.

This change of plans has brought about a few challenges. Because I am in a different time zone, the first few weeks were confusing. The website that we use for our assignments did not automatically transition to my computer’s new time zone and I turned in a few assignments and hour late. I also find that it is more difficult to keep organized with due dates. Fortunately, all of my professors have been extremely accommodating and understanding. I feel as if I am adapting to remote learning well despite the few downsides.

I am grateful that this is happening during a time when we have the technology available to do remote learning. This way, I don’t feel like I am losing any time when it comes to earning my degree that I have worked so hard for for many years. Things are just concluding in a different way which I’ve learned to accept.

Working on the Emmitsburg News-Journal in addition to my courses and searching for jobs has taken up most of my time and kept me busy. Day by day, I am finding myself less annoyed by this situation and instead embracing it as a time to improve and better myself. I’ve spent more time working, exercising, eating better food and managing my stress better. I’ve even picked up a few hobbies that I haven’t done in a while. I like to think of this time as one to take a step back from all the hecticness in life and ready myself for what comes next.

This isn’t to say, however, that I don’t look forward to when this is all over and I can begin making plans again. As social beings, I believe that a healthy social life is important to thrive (when it is safe to do so). I’ve have so much time to think about what comes next. I want to be able to see my friends again and get to the "real world" as I would call it. I’ve spent the past 17 years of my life going to school and learning each day. I think it would be fair to say that this month will be the biggest milestone in my life (so far). While there’s been a few hiccups along the way, sometimes that’s what keeps life interesting, even if it doesn’t always go our way.

While this is a very unexpected and not an ideal way of ending my college career, it is what it is. I am definitely appreciating the little things that are happening. I look forward to receiving my cap and gown so I can take photos and celebrate with my family. I’m looking forward to framing and hanging my degree above my desk. Most of all, I’m looking forward to a time when things become a little more normal.

Read other articles by Morgan Rooney