First Person: How Current Laurentians Made the Most of This Semester

Located in the foothills of the Adirondacks, St. Lawrence University has been experiencing a year like no other! During these unprecedented times, SLU has found a way to still give a college experience to hundreds of young adults despite the irregular circumstances.

Us Laurentians have had the unique privilege of being rather isolated in both a safe and quaint community, which has made us even closer since the onset of this new normal. Recently, I spoke to members of this community to find out how they made the most of their free time, as well as how they adjusted to the new circumstances! 

Alec Helmer ‘24

Question 1: How is your first-year experience so far?

• Honestly, it's really great so far. I have heard about all of the great things normally happening this time of year, but I hardly would know the difference based on the experiences I have had. I am super excited about what is to come.

Question 2: How are you and your peers making the best of your free time?

• Socializing has been a lot different than I imagined, but so far I have made so many great friends. The community is so welcoming, and it encourages me to want to know everything there is to know about campus and what other opportunities are available for the student body.

Question 3: What are the positives you are taking away from this semester so far?

• The Crew team has been something that has been great for me this year in terms of staying in shape and making friends. It seems like the athletic teams on this campus become so tightknit, that you are being welcomed to a family. It is also great because I am taking classes I may not have otherwise known about, and it turns out I like them a lot. In general, it is just really comforting to think about how great of a time I have had already, and there is a lot less going on than there normally would! 

Question 4: What is the highlight of your semester?

• Our team got permission from the school to hike Whiteface, and our coach agreed to let us skip Saturday practice in order to do so. As long as we hiked the oars to the top, then he would be happy to let us do it. Experiencing the beauty of the Adirondacks so close to campus really makes you appreciate the location.

Asa Krieger ‘22

Question 1: How has your year been so far as a junior on campus?

• I feel pretty lucky having friends in the townhouses, as well as having the outdoors as a place to safely meet and see people. I feel that I really have not missed out on much because of our ability to adapt to these new regulations. We got a fire pit and some lights for outside, and we have more chances to connect in more safe and intimate ways than in the past. I really do feel like this has been the semester I have connected with the most people. 

Question 2: How are you making the best of your free time?

• Outdoor activities have been at an all-time high for me personally! I have also been picking up piano thanks to the lessons offered here in the Noble Center on campus. I finish up homework, I go to the practice rooms and really relieve stress by being able to think in a different way than I would for school work. It really helps with the whole theme of connection here, as I think I am really starting to connect with this instrument!

Question 3: What positives can you take away from this semester?  

• The community has really shown their resilience as well as their adaptability, and it is really reassuring. It made me realize that I chose the right school. We have been following rules well enough that we are able to experience school and be present with my friends all while following safety guidelines. It gives me a newfound appreciation for this school and the community that accompanies it.

Question 4: What is the highlight of your semester?

• I have been talking with someone who works at Dana, and we see each other quite frequently. We have very occasional political discussions that get very intimate, yet respectful. This individual confided in me that they have not voted in over 45 years, because they feel they are a drop in the bucket; however, these discussions have led this individual to register and vote for the first time in decades. We still have very meaningful discussions on the topic, but that moment where they told me they sent in their ballot, I was almost brought to tears over how much our conversations impacted each others' lives. 

Emma Henshaw ‘21

Question 1: How is your senior experience so far?

• Despite all the new regulations and the changes, the community and the attitudes have not changed at all and it is awesome to see for my last year at SLU. It really is impressive to see how the student body has come together in order to make this the best year it can be!

Question 2: How are you and your peers making the most of your free time?

• The people that I live with really love cooking, as well as doing family dinners and lunches. We spend all of the time we can outside while we still have this beautiful NoCo weather. It has been super valuable to know that we can still experience such great memories with the people closest to us despite the circumstances.

Question 3: What positives can you take away from this semester?

• It is so impressive we have remained on campus this whole time despite people's doubts. In general, being able to do classes in person as well as connect with my professors has been so incredible. Considering many of my friends from home have not had the same experience, I think we all are super fortunate.

Question 4: What is the highlight of your semester so far?

• For my SYE project on nutrition at SLU, I was able to launch our survey despite the fact not everyone is present. We were still able to collect more than enough data, and I am personally very proud of that. My SYE focuses on the protein consumption and availability of protein on campus, specifically for athletes. We want to focus on how protein availability affects different athletes, and how people feel the diversity of meal options either help/ don’t help their health and diets

The remarkable thing about all of these interviews to me was the consistent emphasis on how the community has been stronger than ever. Any current or former Laurentian you talk to will sound like a broken record when you ask them about the St. Lawrence Community. There is no stronger bond than that of the Scarlet and the Brown, and it is echoed by the words of our community members. We have defied the odds up until this point, and I have no doubt that this is a semester no one will ever forget.