Photo collage: Oakland sights

wear her mask to protect herself and others from unvaccinated people.

“I am worried about the actions of some people but it's the type of thing where you'll always have people that won’t do something for the good of others, and there's no good way to solve it or know whether they're truly vaccinated or not,” Carter said. “So it's a type of thing that you have to watch out for your own safety, know yourself and just have good judgment.”

Zwick said the “goal” of the University is to provide an in-person experience, but Pitt’s administration has not reached a decision about the further lifting of guidelines due to changing virus conditions and vaccination distribution.

“With the goal to provide an in-person experience in the fall term, our senior leadership team is carefully reviewing a number of options related to the vaccination of our community,” Zwick said. “We know that students and families are eager for a decision, but changing virus conditions, vaccination rates, and vaccine accessibility and availability worldwide make it difficult to know what to expect for our students, faculty and staff who come from a breadth of situations across the globe.”

Cantu said while he hopes everything is back to normal as soon as possible, he maintains his “recipe” for resilience through interacting with people.

“My recipe to be resilient is to just try to develop friendships that can remedy your lack of in-person interaction, while obviously maintaining COVID precautions, because I think a necessary part of enjoying University life is that social aspect for most people,” Cantu said.

Carter said she hopes both incoming first-year and current students take time to “slow down” this fall semester, and appreciate the return to in-person activities.

“Just take time to slow down and cherish everything that's happening around you and stay present and in the moment, because it goes by so quickly,” Carter said. “I felt that my first year of college was taken away from me due to the pandemic and I can’t get that back, so I’m looking forward to appreciating the years of college I still have ahead of me.” Pitt students are looking forward to the in-person activities and opportunities that will be available this upcoming year. Joy Cao senior staff photographer