One Year Ago

One year ago we were on Spring Break. Well, not much of a break. I was working on moving all of my on-campus classes to online classes. Not difficult. Just disappointing because they are two very different things. What can be accomplished in one is just not possible in the other. There is a different set of skills to succeed in an online environment, a higher level of maturity and independence. 

I feel bad for all of those students who have not been able to make the pivot or who have not returned because we are still (one year later) 100% online. When will we get them back? It is going to take a regimented campaign to bring those students back to campus. 

I have been vaccinated. The Johnson and Johnson jab. Could not wait. There are medical requirements for being on campus (students must have certain vaccinations). Will the state add the COVID vaccine to the list? Over 530,000 dead and there are still people in our community who think COVID is a hoax. Who thinks wearing a mask does nothing; who thinks wearing a mask is an infringement on their freedom. A restriction. Pantyhose, girdles, and bras are restrictions. Masks are not.

I have spent a lot of time and money on my number one hobby: Dungeons and Dragons. Buying and painting miniatures, getting new books, and other paraphernalia. 

And I've spent an inordinate amount of time avoiding people in public and seeing my family over Zoom. Probably not unlike many of you.

Over 500,000 Americans died this year. When I was retooling my on-campus classes I would not have guessed the destruction to so many families were in the wings. 

Here we are, on the last day of Spring Break 2021, and I am working on my online classes for the Summer 2021. If I were to bet, I would say that the college will offer some on campus classes this Fall. I am just not sure if the students, who are more often than not unvaccinated, are ready to come back on campus. I know I am ready to come back and I am ready to see my students.