Back To Normal

I am slowly approaching my senior year of college. My college is officially going back to in-person events at full capacity. With that comes moving into my sorority house, tailgates, football games, socials, and in-person classes. There are going to be things to do, places to go, and new people to meet. This year will be full of new experiences.

I realized, though, this year will also be filled with old experiences that will feel new. Being back in a crowded lecture hall is going to feel so unusual. The last time I was on campus for in-person classes was my sophomore year. I haven’t been to a football game or been in a crowded student union in a long time.

I’m a senior trapped in a freshman’s body.

The thought of a full year, packed with events and people, seemed slightly daunting to me.

Before COVID, I honestly felt like I could not be alone. Alone time made me uncomfortable. I needed to be constantly busy and be surrounded by people. My weeks were crammed with plans, running from one job to a club meeting right after, and the weekends were filled with friends and traveling.

Post-COVID, I was so alarmed to see how much my behavior changed. I found that my social battery (which I didn’t even really know I had) drains, and it drains fast. The idea of running all over from place to place seems exhausting. My way of recharging used to be surrounded by people, but now recharging and relaxing involves me. And just me.

As we ease back into a more “normal” lifestyle, let’s have patience with ourselves and other people.

What we all went through was not an easy thing (that’s the understatement of the year.) We have all been changed by the past year in ways that we may not even realize yet.

If you have noticed that you’ve changed – that is ok.

If you haven’t noticed any change in you at all – that is also ok.

If you realize that you need more alone time than you ever have before – this is marvelous.

If too many social outings exhaust you, if a lot of stimulation is overwhelming, or if you get tired when around a lot of people – that is amazing.

If you jump now at the opportunity to hang out with people, if you’ve missed being busy and need to be around people constantly – this is great.

If you are only going to say yes to things from now on – that is incredible.

The pandemic changed everyone, and everyone is going to react differently to those changes moving forward. I wanted to write this article as a bit of note to remind you to have patience with yourself and other people as we all begin to go back to “normal.” Normal might look different than it did before.

I was saddened at the thought that I wasn’t just excited for my senior year – I was also a little nervous. But then I remembered almost everything that happened last year. The isolation, the uncertainty, feeling scared, angry, and restless.

Since experiencing all of the things that COVID brought with it, life will be different now. We’re different now. But, I wanted to remind you (and myself) that there is nothing wrong with that..