With few students around on campus, the environment of the Capstone and Tuscaloosa quickly shifts from the usual rush of the fall and spring terms to a much quieter setting.
Some students choose to stay on campus to take in-person summer classes during the three week May-interim period and the longer summer term. Lucy Díaz-Drake, a senior majoring in social work, Spanish and African American studies, takes classes to keep up with her degree plan.
“Since I have three majors, I don’t have enough room during fall and spring semesters to take all the classes that I need, so I use summer to take classes,” Díaz-Drake said. “It makes it less pressure, and I can focus more on each class that I’m taking.”
Summer classes are taken over a shorter period of time than regular 16-week courses, forcing the workload and pace to be condensed. The intensity of summer classes can be difficult, but students generally do not have a full schedule; usually, students only take a couple of classes accompanied by their other responsibilities.
“This summer, I have an internship as well as a summer class, and balancing my schoolwork on top of things that I need to do for my internship is definitely a challenge, but it’s going well so far,” said Sophie Nix, a senior food and nutrition major.
Although campus feels isolating, students find meaningful connections in small class sizes. The recurring social interaction during classes creates a familial atmosphere that eases feelings of loneliness.
“There’s not a lot of people in the classes, so it feels like you really get to know the people that are there with you,” Nix said. “You get to know your professors really well and build those connections.”
In addition to students taking summer classes, Bama Bound orientation sessions began in late May, bringing incoming students and their families to campus. This requires that the student orientation leaders, also known as Avantis, stay on campus to assist in introducing incoming students to campus.
Livan Lucas, a junior majoring in accounting, is a second-year Avanti staying on campus for the summer. He said he chose to be an Avanti to feel closer to the school environment and make connections.
“I love the fact that after all of this, I know that I helped at least one person, and to me that is self-fulfillment, and I think I definitely get a lot of satisfaction from doing so,” Lucas said.
Lucas stays busy after working as an orientation leader by clocking in at Chick-fil-A. He said when he has time, he goes out to eat or watches movies with other orientation leaders, and it makes him feel less lonely.
“I was drawn to stay on campus because I knew that I was going to have a new set of friends that I was going to make during this summer,” Lucas said. “I love being surrounded by the culture in Tuscaloosa.”
The tranquil environment on campus allows students to create connections and bond over their experiences. Whether it is taking summer classes or leading orientation, students share a similar atmosphere on campus.
“I do love the actual fall and spring semester, but I just gain a different perspective and a deeper appreciation for campus when it’s calm and empty,” Lucas said.
