FEATURED: ADJUSTING TO A NEW REALITY

The Resilience and Courage of Guilford Students

BY KAREN ALLEY

Spring break 2020 started out like most: Students packed a duffle bag of clothes and headed to their parents’ home, a friend’s house or a vacation destination for a few days off from school. That’s when they got the message that due to the emerging COVID-19 pandemic, spring break would be extended another week. Shortly thereafter came the news that classes were transitioning to online, and students wouldn’t be coming back to campus.

While it was a stressful time for everyone, the impact on the senior class was great. They ended up missing out on a traditional commencement, graduation parties, art shows and thesis presentations. Fortunately, Guilford College students are resilient, and professors, administrators and staff were there to adapt to new options and provide support where needed.

Lele Graves '20

Photo by Erin Kyle '19

Lele Graves '20

Richmond, Va.

MAJORS: Art, Psychology

As a senior Art major, Lele was looking forward to her upcoming art show. “It’s the most celebrated thing of your major, and I’d been planning mine for a year,” Lele says. When she got the news that students wouldn’t be going back to class, she was devastated. “I was working on life-size monotype prints and had almost $200 worth of paper I’d cut up and put in a printing press. All I had to do was put it together in a collage, but I couldn’t even get to the studio,” Lele says.

She and other Art students had to do an about-face to finish their work, and Lele taught herself Photoshop to create artwork digitally. “Being able to continue to make art helped me cope, and all of the professors were so supportive.”

Lele also had a mandatory thesis class for the 3-week course period, where students learned about applying for grants, making art for businesses, filing income taxes and other important career information. “We learned a lot of practical things, but more than anything it was good to have each other for emotional support,” Lele says.

Lele is looking forward to a career helping children and families, but she hopes to still take part in a senior art show in some form. “A lot of us had to change up our projects for the pandemic, so it would be really interesting to get a chance to see everyone’s work,” she says.

Natalie Conrad '20

Greensboro, N.C.

MAJORS: Health Science, Biology

Natalie was looking forward to making the most of the culmination of her softball career. “It took me some time to adjust, mentally, that I wasn’t going to class or practice, and that my senior season had been cut short,” Natalie says. “I’m just grateful for our coaches — they were there for us 110 percent to answer all our questions and provide support.”

She started going to work with her father at ProTech Carpet Care, and also spent this time at home studying for the nursing school entrance exam and planning her upcoming wedding to Nick Warden ’19. “I’ve come to realize there’s so much more to life than playing a sport, and I’m really looking forward to the future.”

Andrew Munster '20

Winston-Salem, N.C.

MAJOR: Philosophy

Like many of his fellow students, Andrew’s biggest challenge during the pandemic was completing his academic requirements in a totally new work space.

“Our professors were very understanding and gave us the option of working for credit/no credit, which took a lot of the pressure off,” he says. Andrew, who has been accepted into Cleveland State University’s law program, was able to finish his classes, help his siblings with their school work and even deliver groceries to a grandfather recovering from surgery.

Despite the disappointment of missing graduation, he says his parents helped him realize he has big things to look forward to. “I’m excited about what the future will bring.”

Tenaja Henson '20

Tenaja Henson '20

Greensboro, N.C.

MAJOR: Community and Justice Studies

MINOR: Religious Studies

“It’s been a weird moment of transitioning out of college life but not going back home to our parents,” says Tenaja, who was living in an off-campus apartment when the pandemic began. So while their living space didn’t change, resources did. “I had been on a meal plan, so now I needed to figure out how much I needed to spend on groceries and find the funds to pay for that and other expenses,” Tenaja recalls. “You don’t realize how much you depend on the support systems of college until they’re gone.”

Tenaja tapped into the emergency fund set up by Guilford benefactors for help, and also continued to work as a facilitator for nonprofit organizations, albeit in a digital manner. This spring also reinforced Tenaja’s future plans. “I wanted a career where I could...create a support system or a vision for communities that are underserved, and this pandemic is showing us where that is very quickly.”