College Life In 2020
Outside of Hornbake Library in October
Black Lives Matter Blvd. after Joe Biden was announced winner of the 2020 election
Ami and Lauren on a quick run to IKEA
Tree beginning to change colors outside Hornbake in October
A tree without its leaves outside Hornbake in November
Akshay tired after a long week of work
Extreme social distancing in the hallway
A group day trip to DC
For my photo essay I choose to focus on the theme of being outside. It seems like for this past year, everything we have experienced has been from outside and from a far. We cannot be physically close to our loved ones, our friends, and practically anything else. This does not mean we cannot be involved in events, we are just forced to have a different perspective than we are used to. Throughout this semester I kept this photo essay in mind while trying to keep a conscious mind of what I was observing and how I was observing it. While walking around campus I would frequently pass the library or other academic buildings, they all looked very nice, however, due to COVID, I was not allowed to enter them. I think this is a good metaphor for being a college student in 2020, especially a freshman. I spent all of high school preparing for what college is like, and now that I’m here I am locked out of the typical college experience. This experience is in sight for me, as time goes by there seems to be a little more hope. I know that one day I will be able to get into that building and have the college experience that so many before me enjoyed.
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Another thing I choose to focus on is the experience of making and having friends in college. I think COVID-19 has created a bond among many students as we are all struggling through experiences together. In addition to the exhaustion of a normal college workload, in 2020 we are faced with the moral dilemma and responsibility of balancing having fun and being safe. What I do for fun has changed a decent amount due to the pandemic, I think I have become more thankful for simple human interactions. I have now found fun in the smaller things I do with my friends, such as plating mario cart in a lounge. One of my favorite things I did this semester was going to a flea market in DC. This normally small outing was big to me as it was one of the first times I left College Park in months.
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All I can say is that being a college student in 2020 is different. I cannot say if it is definitely better or worse, just different. It has forced me to take a new perspective on life and reflect on how I interact with those around me. I am almost grateful to get this experience as it allows me to grow and reflect in a way that many people do not until much further in life.