It’s no secret campus looks immensely different right now — from class structure, to signs conducting the flow of traffic in and out of classrooms, to thermal scanning inside the Idaho Student Union Building. As life changes drastically on and off-campus, students still seek normalcy in their day-to-day life.
Music education major Ryan Egan is struggling to find normalcy in the once simple task of attending music classes.
“You’ll see a bunch of people practicing out on the Admin lawn here, finding ways to just play not indoors,” Egan said. “Basically, the largest ensemble we have now is eight people maximum. They’re real small compared to what we usually have.”
The Lionel Hampton School of Music is a small, close-knit student body of around 200. Egan said he’s used to seeing nearly everyone every day.
“It’s a little weird, everything just seems a little quieter and a little more lonely,” Egan said. “But I would say all the small interactions you have with people that you do see on your walk to class, really helped to just make you feel like you’re at home again.”
Sophomore Imanol Rodriguez, like many students, attends most of his classes from home.
“I’m just going with the flow, trying to follow all the rules,” Rodriguez said.
Right now, Rodriguez said he feels more than ever it’s important to have some sort of normalcy throughout the day to distract from all the adjustments.
“I usually go to the gym, just something to do outside of school,” Rodriguez said.
Freshman Abby Papaioannou said she doesn’t mind the online classes.
“I tell myself tomorrow will be a better day, so I just sleep,” Papaioannou said.
She finds normalcy in something as simple as getting ready in the morning, even if no one will end up seeing her unmasked face.
“I’ve been putting on makeup and making myself feel pretty on the outside even though I don’t feel good on the inside,” Papaioannou said. “If one doesn’t feel good, I’ll make the other one feel good.”
Story By Stevie Carr
Photos By Stevie Carr
Design By Taylor Lund