A new beginning

Morgan Rooney
MSMU Class of 2020

(9/2020) For the first time in seventeen years, I will not be starting this fall by going back to school. It is crazy to think about because getting an education is the only thing I have ever known other than part time jobs just to keep me going. My last semester in college was cut short and I was able to join the workforce back home in Texas with my bachelor's degree benefiting me already. Being able to get a job lined up in the midst of a pandemic was super exciting and I’m so grateful that everything worked out how it did.

I remember the moment I got the email that instructed everyone to go home if they were able. I attended the career fair in hopes of making some network connections and getting an idea of what opportunities were out there. I knew in the back of my mind that I may not be returning, and I booked a flight to go back home to Texas the very next day. It didn’t hit me until later that I wouldn’t be seeing the friends that I made in college anymore. There would be no more Wednesday nights spent at the local pub, no more mass in the beautiful chapel on Sundays (which was a big factor in my attendance at the Mount), and no more walking around aimlessly while enjoying all of the beautiful scenery from the entrance of the grotto. As much as I felt like I was ready to graduate and move onto the next chapter of my life, I wish I got to cherish my last weeks on campus and do everything one last time without the fear of illness of future plans being crushed.

It has been great to continue writing in my career, especially in new formats that I have never put too much thought into before. However, looking around me hasn’t done much good in terms of optimism or encouragement. I am grateful that I could start my career in such a comfortable environment, but I’m saddened that I have to put other important aspects of my life on hold due to the pandemic. My heart will ache every day until it comes to an end.

I imagine how strange it must be to return back to campus during this time. Graduation was strange enough. Four different ceremonies were scheduled on weekdays over the span of two weeks. I wasn’t able to attend because there were no weekend dates scheduled and I had to put travel time into consideration all while I’m starting out my career. It would have been great to finally wear my cap and gown (and mask), but this year just hasn’t been ideal in terms of planning.

Even though I’ve finished my education for the time being, I am not blind to how further education has been affecting young adults. I’ve watched my younger sister prepare to move into her very first dorm and start attending college courses with more and more things changing. My family spent a weekend in Arkansas helping her to move all of her things into the small space that she is given. Over half of her courses are being taken online and there are so many limitations in the ways she’s able to celebrate her coming into early adulthood. Socializing is all so much different. Students aren’t allowed as many guests into their rooms. You cannot be without a mask. I have heard of friends who are being offered alternative housing options and others who have made the decision to live off campus because of the need to spread out. Boy are things different from four years ago when I started out. Still, even with all of these circumstances, I miss the excitement of going away to college each year and I am even more encouraging to continue my education in the future.

While this is something that I’m sure so many college students are experiencing as the school year commences, I have also noticed the workplace to be much different than I ever imagined it would be. I pictured spending much more time in the office. I thought that I’d be exploring the area around my office more to find the best places to eat lunch and make new friends and acquaintances. However, so many days are spent at home to protect others around me. This has allowed me to only appreciate the one day each week I’m able to drive twenty minutes to the office and sit at my desk to work at my monitor. I know things will change in the near future, but the eagerness I feel is becoming more prominent as time goes on.

It’s great that our technology is developed enough where we are able to continue to move forward in our education and career. I am grateful that I can work from home and continue to make a living even while the country is so hectic.

To those returning to campus, I wish you the best of luck. It may not be the learning environment that you thrive in the best, but I believe the quality of professors at the Mount is the best part about it. They challenge their students, but with proper communication, they are almost always happy to work with you in order to give you what you need to become successful. Communicating with professors about difficulties you are having always goes a long way. Most of them are there to help you and want you to succeed.

We may not see an end in sight right now, but just like everyone else, I’m eager for things to come to a close. With so many exciting plans and hopes to build myself a bright future, the elimination of this handicap would be a blessing that I never could have planned that I needed. For now, I just do my best with what’s given to me, take each day as it comes, and pray that things get better.

Read other articles by Morgan Rooney