by Shadman Rahman ’24

Starting a new semester online gave me flashbacks to my freshman year. After spending my entire first year online and getting a taste of one semester in person, it seemed like a step back to be back online. It was a simple reminder that the pandemic was still ongoing and, at the time, was increasing in cases. Although being online was not ideal, it wasn’t all that bad. It allowed me to get used to what each of my classes would be like in terms of coursework and expectations. As a result, the transition from online to in-person was seamless. Furthermore, as a commuter student, having online classes was advantageous because the only commute I would have to do for virtual school was from my bed to my desk.

Additionally, this time felt different. Being virtual for only two weeks was symbolic of sorts in our transition to being back to normal. It was a reminder of what was done in the past to ensure the safety of our Pace community. It also served as an indicator that this will not go on forever and we will be okay. After those two weeks, being back in person was terrific because Zoom can never truly replicate a classroom environment and Pace’s energy. It’s always a unique experience trying to figure out where your classrooms are and getting to see your classmates in person rather than through a screen. For many first and second-year students in college, we haven’t experienced a full in-person school year since high school in 2018-2019. Being back allows us to get the real college experience and interact with those around us. It is also important to note that this semester will also bring nicer weather as we move further in it. All in all, I hope you all have an amazing and healthy spring semester.