Kyran Cates

Reporter

Not long ago, one could leave their house without delay, dash to their car to visit with friends or quickly pop into the store for a snack. Now, every interaction holds an air of seriousness, and every journey out into the world poses risks to our health.

Since March 2020, life hardly resembles the day-to-day we all used to take for granted. Masks, social distancing and the constant worry of infection became an integral part of our day-to-day nearly overnight. Schooling takes place online, grocery shopping can be done from home and socializing occurs digitally. COVID-19 changed the way our society functions, and one can only wonder if things will ever look the same.

For many young people, it seems the traditional college experience they were expecting was ripped away from them out of necessity. Rather than homecoming or a week of welcome, students were ushered into their first days at Idaho State University with a complimentary mask and a COVID-19 screening.

While the United States is still struggling to lower infection rates and vaccinate the most vulnerable of the population, many are optimistic the worst of the pandemic is behind us. As individuals begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel, college students wonder what the future holds for them in a post-pandemic world.

After the drastic appearance of COVID-19, it is abundantly clear that the risk of new illnesses and future pandemics is not entirely improbable, which leaves us to question if wearing face masks in public and on-campus will become a permanent social norm.

“Mask-wearing is extremely common in other parts of the world and I think that it would help our culture. However, the fact that there are people that refuse to wear a mask in the middle of a pandemic and ‘make fun’ of others for wearing a mask leads me to believe that this won’t happen,” said ISU junior and nursing major, Megan Snow.

For the time being, there is little way of knowing what the future holds, but until the majority of the population is vaccinated, we should all expect to wear a mask whenever we leave our homes or dorms.

After COVID-19, whether you’re sick with the common cold or the flu, people feel that masks should be an integral part of everyday life out of courtesy for others. Even after the vaccine is fully distributed, wearing a mask will be a viable way to keep those around you safe and healthy.

Masks are not the only concern students have when it comes to long-lasting pandemic behavior. Following over one year of social distancing, discussions of unregulated socialization peak the interest of everyone within earshot. Visiting groups of friends, family outings and communal activities now seem like distant memories rather than everyday occurrences.

Keeping in mind that vaccine distribution in the U.S. is moving painstakingly slowly, how long should people expect to be socially distanced on campus and within the community? Since 2020, the length of social distancing has been extended repeatedly.

“I think social distancing will stick around as long as COVID-19 restrictions are around in Idaho. There’s naturally a lot of people going to class on campus and, until the governor retracts the COVID-19 restrictions and allows large gatherings to occur without a maximum occupancy, we’ll likely be distancing on campus,” said ISU senior and nursing major, Ariana Chapman.

Socializing is a basic need for all humans, but it’s vital to our health that, for the foreseeable future, we maintain a physical distance when sharing emotional intimacy.

Although numerous negative things have come from COVID-19, the option of online classes may be a positive outcome. Classes on Zoom allow students to attend lectures and participate in class discussions from their dorms, their hometowns and even from other countries.

ISU’s accessibility has grown infinitely with the addition of online classes to the in-person learning option. Students can learn without the worry of spreading or catching potentially harmful bacteria, and one’s distance from campus is no longer an issue. Although some students prefer learning in-person, having an online alternative allows anyone anywhere to further their education without even leaving their bed.

“I dearly hope the expanded Zoom options stay available, but I’m unsure if they will. People should have the option to stay home and learn from a distance if they’re feeling physically or mentally unwell, especially now that we know we are more than capable of doing so with the help of Zoom,” Chapman said.

One of the biggest uncertainties facing students today is the future of the college experience. Having friends in your dorm, attending sporting events and meeting new people used to be fundamental aspects of college life. Now that COVID-19 has reshaped society, we have to wonder which changes will stick around permanently.

Instead of dwelling on the past, it’s important to remain hopeful and imaginative for the future. It may be a long time until life begins to resemble what we used to expect, but change is a natural part of life, and it’s best to simply adapt when faced with unpredictable scenarios.