After the shortened fall semester, it is no surprise that both students and administration were excited about the extended break. For some, the break provided a chance to get jobs and earn some extra money; for others it gave them a chance to take a January term class or hang out with their family. Nonetheless, to many, it was definitely worth the condensed semester.
Emily Cothran ’22, a resident of Highlands hall in Founders, spent her break at home in Brentwood, Tennessee, working as a delivery driver for Panera Bread, which she thoroughly enjoyed.
“I liked to joke that I got paid to listen to music,” Cothran said. “I spent a lot of time in my car, so obviously I listened to a ton of music and a few audiobooks.”
Cothran is an Interdisciplinary Studies major with three concentrations: theatre, philosophy, and English. This semester she has the chance of slowing down and only taking 12 credit hours. Most of her semester is focused on her Capstone project, and in her opinion, the semester is going really well. Since she is a junior, Cothran has had the chance to learn from a large number of professors at Covenant, and this semester is full of classes that she is extremely excited about.
In contrast, both Anya Klumpenhower ’24, who lives on Balcony, and Isabelle Torokwa ’24, who lives on Rowan, semesters have been off to a bit of a bumpy start.
Klumpenhower’s semester has started with her being sick off and on throughout the first few weeks. So far her favorite class is also her most difficult one: Drama Arts and Christian Thought, a 400-level class with a lot of assigned reading. In her opinion, her semester has been “fine,” and she only says that it has been “fine” because of the fact that she’s been sick. In her eyes, she feels like she hasn’t experienced the semester just yet.
The semester has been much the same for Torokwa, who has been stuck in quarantine since day three of the semester. Over break, she spent a lot of time with her family, taking part in old traditions and making new ones with her family in Atlanta, Georgia. She spent a lot of her free time writing and even started learning guitar. She is a music major who is planning on minoring in business and is currently taking 18 credit hours. Her busiest day is Tuesday which is full of classes, rehearsals and work.
She got out of quarantine on Valentine’s Day and is excited to do something other than watch Netflix and classes through Panopto. Torokwa is most excited about taking Age of Europe with Dr. Follett and chorale with Dr. Finch. She is looking forward to late night Blink runs as soon as she has the time.
Torokwa said that, because it is only her first break, she doesn’t have anything to compare it to, but that “in a way I was thankful for that because last semester was pretty stressful. I was burnt out by the end of it and really needed time off. The long break also made me miss Covenant and my friends more so I was even more excited to get back!”
Overall it appears that many students felt the same; the break was long and enjoyable, but everyone missed their home at Covenant College, with its beautiful sunsets, scenic hikes, and Blink curly fries.