Written by Abbey Williams // Photo provided by Bailey Hammond
With December graduation approaching, some seniors are reflecting on their time at Harding. For most, their college experience was affected by COVID-19. COVID-19 changed how students socialized, attended class and adjusted to their new surroundings.
Senior Bailey Hammond said COVID-19 protocols were enforced strictly at Harding.
“COVID-19 affected my freshman year by altering our entire perception of college,” Hammond said. “The guidelines of social distancing were taken seriously: You weren’t allowed more than three people in your dorm, most large classes were taken in the Benson or College Church auditorium, small classes had plexiglass on the desks, any social gatherings had consequences of quarantining [and there was] online chapel.”
Hammond said the pandemic was unavoidable, but the seniors adapted.
“Looking back as a senior, I believe I have enjoyed my Harding experience, even with COVID-19, Hammond said. The pandemic isn’t something Harding could have avoided. 2020 was a time everyone can say they missed out on something, but my freshman year has made me grateful for my Harding experience post-COVID-19.”
Senior Tanner Shumate said some aspects of COVID-19 brought seniors together, and friendships were uniquely made because of the COVID-19 restrictions. Shumate said one of these instances was in his freshman Bible class.
“In that class, we had about three or four people who became close because we weren’t allowed to talk to the other people in the class,” Shumate said. “So whenever we were leaving, they ended up becoming kind of this friend group that [has] still lasted until this year, here three years later. But ultimately, it pretty much just made it difficult to get to know anybody in any of the classes at any time.”
Shumate said he still had a good experience at Harding even with all the regulations.
“My freshman year was really affected by COVID-19,” Shumate said, “But overall, the same heart that Harding has was still present. It was just harder to find it and to go about it safely.”
Senior Mattie Powers said some Harding regulations included Plexiglas barriers in classrooms, stickers on the ground to designate where to stand in line for food in the Student Center, face masks and an altered club process. She also said that wearing masks made meeting people difficult.
“You had to wear a mask everywhere you went, which kind of discouraged people from talking,” Powers said. “Plus, you only know people’s eyes. Like you don’t know their whole face. So that was really hard. And then since there were no events on campus, you couldn’t meet really anyone unless you got into a club.”
Powers said she doesn’t look back on her beginning at Harding negatively.
“I think it was a good learning experience,” Powers said. “I think that now with our [return] to normalcy, things are just as fun and you just got to make the most of the situation you’re in and just not focus on the negative.”
