9 minute read
An Unconventional Semester in Review
COURTESY OF WSU
for college students by college students
Advertisement
Wayne State Medical students gather for brunch.
COVID challenges cultivate resiliency and adaptability.
This past semester, and year, has been unconventional to say the very least. At the start of the fall 2021 semester, I expressed my excitement and anticipation to return to a semi-normal college experience at Wayne State University, with a fresh appreciation for the little moments in life that make days so sweet. Now that I am beginning a new semester yet again, I thought it prudent to check in with myself and reflect on the ups and downs, achievements and tribulations, and emotions of the last semester.
This past semester was unlike anything I had experienced before. At the beginning of the fall semester, I looked forward to my return to campus, to spending time with my fellow students in the Hillel Lounge, studying in the library and simply walking to and from on campus.
I was well aware of the multiple safety precautions implemented by Wayne State in order to keep the student populace safe from the still raging pandemic. Masks were and still are required in all indoor on-cam-
pus buildings, and a vaccine mandate was implemented to ensure that students would be well protected from contagion. Because of these precautions, I was optimistic, knowing I could safely revel in the little moments I had missed so much. Initially, all went well according to this hopeful plan! I was greatly enjoying my newfound freedoms and opportunities on campus. My journey toward increased independence, which had stalled when I abruptly had to move home my freshman year of college, began again. I was mindful of the public health protections implemented by wearing my mask whenever I was indoors and ensuring that all Jewish Student Organization (JSO) events my board and I organized over the course of the semester followed the proper safety guidelines. When I could, I got my COVID vaccine booster shot. However, nothing could compare to the feeling of walking into a classroom, sitting down at a desk, and taking notes during an in-person class for the first time in a year and a half. It suddenly felt like such a privilege to be able to ask my professor questions without the barrier of a Zoom screen and to listen to the boisterous discussions generated by my peers without the ambient buzz of a computer speaker. This was the moment I savored most, the ability to just participate in an in-person class, and forge new friendships and relationships with my Loren Safta classmates and professors. It is something I jewish@edu writer will never again take for granted in my final two semesters at Wayne State.
COURTESY OF WSU
Wayne State Jewish Student Organization at their virtual Chanukkah party December 2021.
As the weeks flew by, and September became October and morphed into November, I settled into a comfortable and enjoyable routine. I would meet in person for my class on Tuesday evenings, attend in-person history club meetings and lead in-person JSO meetings. My days were brightened by forays into the student center to get a coffee or excursions with my brother to visit the Detroit Institute of Art.
A SPEEDBUMP
Unfortunately, this lovely routine would, at the end of November, undergo a drastic change. The COVID positivity rate spiked, and Wayne State was forced to close many on-campus amenities, and my in-person classes became virtual.
Events that the JSO had previously planned also pivoted online. While this change was disheartening, it was nothing I hadn’t done before. Although I briefly lamented the loss of my newly forged routine, I carried on with the understanding that the safety of myself and my peers far outweighed my disappointment of not being on campus.
As winter break began, I was again met with the disappointing news that the winter 2022 semester would be virtual, at least through January. While this news left me melancholic, it also allowed me to come to a new realization, one that I will hope to take with me into the new semester and later in life.
Sometimes, despite our best hopes, expectations and efforts, life throws us a curveball and we are expected to catch it with grace and poise. While it may be disappointing, it is nothing we cannot handle. I have realized over the past semester that dealing with rapid change is a skill that I and many of my peers have developed over the past two years.
With so much uncertainty, learning to become flexible in one’s plans and expectations has become a natural necessity. This was not a skill I cultivated on my own. With the support of the amazing staff of the Hillel of Metro Detroit, my professors, friends and family, I learned to be resilient and adapt to change. The Jewish people are nothing if not resilient, strong and adaptable.
So, I would like to close with this message, that though rapid change and uncertainty are frightening, disheartening and even horrifying at times, it is nothing but a dark tunnel we will get out of together.
Despite all its challenges, it felt wonderful to spend the fall semester on campus, and while I know that my future semesters will bring more unanticipated changes and challenges, I know now that it is nothing I cannot conquer, especially with the support of all those I love cheering me on.
COURTESY OF WSU
Hillel of Metro Detroit students at Pizza and Trivia night.
Loren Safta is a junior majoring in public health at Wayne State University.
PHOTO CREDIT: JAMIE BUSH + CO. AND L AURA HULL
UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT & AUCTION HOUSE
ICONIC 20th CENTURY FURNITURE,
FINE-ART, HOME DECOR & LIGHTING
Support Local
Businesses
3325 ORCHARD LAKE RD, KEEGO HARBOR, MI
248.481.8884 www.leshoppetoo.com
UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT & AUCTION HOUSE
Free preliminary art appraisals Wednesday’s 12-4 with Terri
NOW ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENTS FOR FALL AUCTION
PHOTO CREDIT: JAMIE BUSH + CO. AND L AURA HULL SUMMER STORE HOURS TUES–SAT Noon–5pm | MON closed SUN and evenings by appointment only ICONIC 20th CENTURY FURNITURE, FINE-ART, HOME DECOR AND LIGHTING UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT & AUCTION HOUSE 3325 Orchard Lake Rd, Keego Harbor, MI
248-481-8884 WWW.LESHOPPETOO.COM
ICONIC 20th CENTURY FURNITURE,
HOURS Let our experienced team at Le Shoppe Too & FINE-ART, HOME DECOR & LIGHTING TUES–SAT Noon–5pm | MONChanging Hands closed
Support Local SUN & evenings by appointment onlyhandle your Estate Sale
Businesses needs. Your items can be valued and consigned or auctioned at our store. We offer 3325 ORCHARD LAKE RD, KEEGO HARBOR, MI hands free-hassle free estate sales. 248.481.8884 Call Leslie Weisberg today for a free consultation www.leshoppetoo.com
248.709.9648
ICONIC 20th CENTURY FURNITURE, UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT & AUCTION HOUSE NOW ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENT for our upcoming auction April 3
FINEART, HOME DECOR & LIGHTING
Free preliminary art appraisals Wednesday’s 12-4 with Terri
NOW ACCEPTING CONSIGNMENTS
PHOTO CREDIT: JAMIE BUSH + CO. AND L AURA HULL
FOR FALL AUCTION UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT & AUCTION HOUSE SUMMER STORE HOURS
TUES–SAT Noon–5pm | MON closed SUN and evenings by appointment only 3325 Orchard Lake Rd, Keego Harbor, MI
248-481-8884
WWW.LESHOPPETOO.COMICONIC 20th CENTURY FURNITURE,
FINE-ART, HOME DECOR & LIGHTING
Let our experienced team
Support Local Businesses HOURS TUES–SAT Noon–5pm | MON closed at Le Shoppe Too & Changing Hands SUN & evenings by appointment onlyhandle your Estate Sale needs. Your items can 3325 ORCHARD LAKE RD, KEEGO HARBOR, MI be valued and consigned or auctioned at our store. We offer hands free-hassle free estate sales. 248.481.8884 www.leshoppetoo.com Call Leslie Weisberg today for a free consultation
248.709.9648
UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT & AUCTION HOUSE
PHOTO CREDIT: JAMIE BUSH + CO. AND L AURA HULL Free preliminary art appraisals Wednesday’s 12-4 with Terri UPSCALE CONSIGNMENT & AUCTION HOUSE
TUES–SAT Noon–5pm | MON closedICONIC 20th CENTURY FURNITURE,
SUN and evenings by appointment only FINE-ART, HOME DECOR & LIGHTING 3325 Orchard Lake Rd, Keego Harbor, MI
248-481-8884
WWW.Support Local LESHOPPETOO.COM
Businesses
Let our experienced team
HOURS at Le Shoppe Too & 3325 ORCHARD LAKE RD, KEEGO HARBOR, MI TUES–SAT Noon–5pm | MON closed SUN & evenings by appointment only Changing Hands handle your Estate Sale needs. Your items can 248.481.8884 www.leshoppetoo.com be valued and consigned or auctioned at our store. We offer hands free-hassle free estate sales. Call Leslie Weisberg today for a free consultation
248.709.9648
Free preliminary art appraisals Wednesday’s 12-4 with Terri
TUES–SAT Noon–5pm | MON closed
248-481-8884 WWW.LESHOPPETOO.COM
Let our experienced team HOURS at Le Shoppe Too & TUES–SAT Noon–5pm | MONChanging Hands closed SUN & evenings by appointment onlyhandle your Estate Sale needs. Your items can be valued and consigned or auctioned at our store. We offer hands free-hassle free estate sales.
Call Leslie Weisberg today for a free consultation
248.709.9648
DFAA:DFAA: 248.672.3207
Let our experienced team at Le Shoppe Too & Changing Hands handle your Estate Sale needs. Your items can be valued and consigned or auctioned at our store. We offer hands free-hassle free estate sales. Call Leslie Weisberg today for a free consultation
248.709.9648
changinghandsestates.com
WE ARE OBSERVING ALL STATE COVID-19 GUIDELINES & RESTRICTIONS
FEBRUARY 10 • 2022 | 43
DetroitFAA.com
WE ARE OBSERVING ALL STATE COVID19 GUIDELINES & RESTRICTIONS
Let our experienced team at Le Shoppe Too & Changing Hands handle your Estate Sale needs. Your items can be valued and consigned or auctioned at our store. We offer hands free-hassle free estate sales. Call Leslie Weisberg today for a free consultation
248.709.9648
changinghandsestates.com
WE ARE OBSERVING ALL STATE COVID-19 GUIDELINES & RESTRICTIONS
DetroitFineArtAppraisals@gmail.comLet our experienced team at Le Shoppe Too & Changing
WE ARE OBSERVING ALL STATE COVID19 GUIDELINES & RESTRICTIONS Hands handle your Estate Sale needs. Your items can be valued and consigned or auctioned at our store. We offer hands free-hassle free estate sales. Call Leslie Weisberg today for a free consultation
248.709.9648
changinghandsestates.com
WE ARE OBSERVING ALL STATE COVID-19 GUIDELINES & RESTRICTIONS
DetroitFAA.com DetroitFineArtAppraisals@gmail.comDFAA: 248-672-3207 DetroitFAA.com DetroitFineArtAppraisals@gmail.com Let our experienced team at Le Shoppe Too & Changing Hands handle your Estate Sale needs. 248.672.3207
WE ARE OBSERVING ALL STATE COVID19 GUIDELINES & RESTRICTIONSLet our experienced team at Le Shoppe Too & Changing Hands handle your Estate Sale needs. Your items can be valued and consigned or auctioned at our store. We offer hands free-hassle free estate sales. Call Leslie Weisberg today for a free consultation
248.709.9648
changinghandsestates.com
DetroitFAA.com
DetroitFineArtAppraisals@gmail.com WE ARE OBSERVING ALL STATE COVID19 GUIDELINES & RESTRICTIONS Your items of high value can be: Auctioned • Consigned We offer hands free estate sales Call Leslie Weisberg today for a free consultation: 248.709.9648 changinghandsestates.com
