The First Year of College Can be Tough; The Pandemic Makes it Tougher

It’s no secret that college first years grapple with emotions of homesickness, and disorientation. It is easy for them to feel disconnected from the school or those around them when they first move onto campus. Yet as the coronavirus pandemic has prevailed into another semester, these emotions and feelings continue to stay heightened for many. In fact, 1,142 first years at USD were enrolled in fall 2019, and only 997 were enrolled in 2020 — a significant 12.7% decrease, which indicates how COVID-19 has affected students’ perspectives and decisions about how to proceed with their education. While under normal circumstances, first years might be spotted sitting in front of La Paloma with new friends or lounging on the quad lawn and soaking up the sun, these activities are now a less familiar sight.