42 | FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 

T

his past semester, and year, has 
been unconventional to say the very 
least. At the start of the fall 2021 
semester, I expressed my excitement and 
anticipation to return to a semi-normal 
college experience at Wayne 
State University, with a fresh 
appreciation for the little 
moments in life that make 
days so sweet. Now that I am 
beginning a new semester yet 
again, I thought it prudent 
to check in with myself and 
reflect on the ups and downs, 

achievements and tribulations, and emo-
tions of the last semester. 
This past semester was unlike anything 
I had experienced before. At the beginning 
of the fall semester, I looked forward to my 
return to campus, to spending time with 
my fellow students in the Hillel Lounge, 
studying in the library and simply walking 
to and from on campus. 
I was well aware of the multiple safety 
precautions implemented by Wayne State 
in order to keep the student populace safe 
from the still raging pandemic. Masks were 
and still are required in all indoor on-cam-

pus buildings, and a vaccine mandate was 
implemented to ensure that students would 
be well protected from contagion. Because 
of these precautions, I was optimistic, 
knowing I could safely revel in the little 
moments I had missed so much. 
Initially, all went well according to this 
hopeful plan! I was greatly enjoying my 
newfound freedoms and opportunities on 
campus. My journey toward increased inde-
pendence, which had stalled when I abrupt-
ly had to move home my freshman year of 
college, began again. I was mindful of the 
public health protections implemented by 
wearing my mask whenever I was indoors 
and ensuring that all Jewish Student 
Organization (JSO) events my board and I 
organized over the course of the semester 
followed the proper safety guidelines. When 
I could, I got my COVID vaccine booster 
shot. 
However, nothing could compare to the 
feeling of walking into a classroom, sitting 
down at a desk, and taking notes during an 
in-person class for the first time in a year 
and a half. It suddenly felt like such a priv-
ilege to be able to ask my professor ques-
tions without the barrier of a Zoom screen 
and to listen to the boisterous discussions 
generated by my peers without the ambient 
buzz of a computer speaker. This was the 
moment I savored most, the ability to just 
participate in an in-person class, and forge 
new friendships and relationships with my 
classmates and professors. It is something I 
will never again take for granted in my final 
two semesters at Wayne State. 

Loren Safta
jewish@edu 
writer

for college students 
by college students

An Unconventional 
Semester in Review

COVID challenges cultivate resiliency and adaptability.

COURTESY OF WSU

Wayne State 
Medical students 
gather for brunch.

Wayne State 
Jewish Student 
Organization 
at their virtual 
Chanukkah party 
December 2021.

COURTESY OF WSU

