Due to COVID-19, William Jewell College has altered its plans to welcome incoming first-year students to campus. Among the most significant changes to programming, the annual Cardinal Day and Summer Fling events will be virtual in 2020. 

Cardinal Days will take place June 5, 6 and 20. Cardinal Day is a day at which incoming students can learn more about Jewell and are advised about their fall semester courses. Dr. Bradley Chance, professor emeritus and director of advising explained how this year the process will be altered. The events this year will last from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. via Zoom. As of writing, students can still register for June 20 Cardinal Day with this link.

The morning will host sessions from Student Life, the business office, financial aid office, etc. Rather than split students into groups to rotate between the meetings, there will be plenary sessions for each meeting that will take place with all students.

Advising will take place in the afternoon. Students will be divided into groups and placed in Zoom waiting rooms as they wait for one-on-one advising meetings.

In the waiting rooms, students will be able to interact with one another. When a student’s advising meeting is set to begin, a member of admissions staff will invite the student to join a private breakout room with an advisor – effectively escorting them to their advisors.

Advisors will be able to conduct meetings approximately similar to the normal format. As needed, advisors will be able to share screens and show students lists of courses through MyJewell. The primary aims of Cardinal Day have not changed, Chance said. Students will still be able to confirm or update their majors, create a schedule and register for courses. Advisors will be taught how to screenshot schedules, so students will be emailed their fall schedules after the meeting. 

After advising meetings, students will be encouraged to return to the waiting rooms to interact with their peers before the day officially ends. 

Although Chance is apprehensive about the many changes to the program and the potential technical difficulties, he is hopeful the days will be effective and relatively painless. He reiterated the amount of planning going into the event and his desire to maintain as many aspects of traditional Cardinal Days as possible.

“We’re trying to replicate as much as possible the way it was on the ground,” Chance said. “[…] [But it’s] one of those things where you can practice it all you want, but until you get on the field and play the game, you never really know.”

Admissions staff, some advisors and other key participants in Cardinal Day have already participated in smaller group training and planning sessions. In the coming days, all advisors will attend training sessions in order to prepare for the new format. Most of their training will consist of getting used to the technology to be used – including via Zoom, Moodle, Etrieve and other resources. 

Advisors will be taught how to use Zoom breakout rooms and how they should expect the day to proceed. They will have to adapt to waiting in Zoom rooms, advising students without pre-printed block schedules and learning how to communicate with other advisors via texting or Slack if they have questions about an advising meeting. 

Summer Fling will take place June 24 as a two-hour virtual event. Incoming students will have the opportunity to meet their peers, become familiar with campus and find a roommate. Because the typical 26-hour overnight event could not take place, Summer Fling will continue through the summer with different virtual events and social media activity on Facebook and Instagram. 

The June 24 event will include a virtual tour of campus; an introduction to the Jewell Orientation Instagram and Class of 2024 Facebook page; introduction to Greek Life, athletics and various student organizations; Tucker Leadership Lab interactive sessions; time to find a roommate; and a description of further summer programming.

As 2020 Summer Fling will not include an overnight portion or trips into Kansas City, the orientation event will be conducted at no charge to incoming students. All student registrants will receive Summer Fling t-shirts and goodie bags. Incoming students can register on the New Cardinals Moodle page, admitted student website or using this form by June 10. 

Katie Parrott, senior biochemistry major and 2020 orientation director, explained the goals of Summer Fling and its new format. 

“Our Summer Fling and Orientation programs are designed to give First Year students an opportunity to meet their peers, upper-class students, residence life, and Student Life staff. Specifically, Summer Fling is intended to give students an opportunity to find a roommate for the academic year, while also introducing them to the social expectations of our campus. However, due to the effects of COVID-19, we are unable to hold gatherings with a large number of people out of respect for our most vulnerable populations,” said Parrott. 

Mentor groups and other orientation activities will be altered in order to account for social distancing guidelines. Rather than having incoming student mentor groups of approximately 15 people – with two mentors and about 13 incoming students, each group will have a maximum of 10 people – either with eight incoming students and two mentors or nine incoming students and one mentor. 

Mary Dickerson, director of the first-year experience, described the role of first-year mentors in this time. 

“The mentors will be more engaged virtually throughout the summer with our new Summer Fling schedule. We still have the expectation the mentors will go through at least the first semester in providing guidance and support to their mentees so this hasn’t changed,” said Dickerson.

As the College has announced their intention to open in August, an in-person first-year orientation is set to happen in the days before classes start. At the moment, the orientation team is preparing for contingencies including having a fully on-campus orientation, a hybrid in-person and virtual orientation or a fully virtual orientation. 

Parrott expressed her enthusiasm to help transition incoming students to Jewell despite the trying circumstances of COVID-19.

“Even though this is not the most ideal way to meet our [first-year] students, my team and I are remaining optimistic. In my opinion, there’s nothing that works better than shifting our attitudes from gloom to bloom through gratitude! I am thoroughly convinced that there is good in every situation, no matter how awful it may appear. More than anything, we are grateful to be given the opportunity to virtually connect with the class of 2024 in June! Looking ahead, we are hopeful to be back on the Hill, in community, come August in order to implement our Orientation Program the traditional Cardinal way!” Parrott said.

“We remain optimistic and will encourage students to embrace the Jewell community. We are hopeful that we will start in the fall and finish our semester on-campus,” Dickerson concluded.

As I write this, I have been on the Hill for a grand total of three weeks. Since orientation I have: made friends, written four essays, attended my first fraternity party, visited Downtown Kansas City, stayed up far later than I ever intended to, become a member of multiple campus organizations, gone home for a weekend, eaten half the food I brought with me, gone through my study playlist on Spotify several times, learned how to play poker and participated in an active shooter drill. How does this all happen in three weeks?

Welcome to the first-year experience.

As someone who has never left home for more than two weeks at a time, the concept of uprooting myself from my suburban Kansas community and attending a college half the size of my high school was rather daunting. Suddenly I am expected to be self-sufficient. 

I can stay up late in the lobby with friends if that’s something I really want to do. I can go to Liberty Square and study at Hammerhand if I need to get away from campus. There are so many options, so much freedom in college. This isn’t particularly unique to William Jewell College. Any college student can stay up late or go to a coffee shop, but I know for certain that it wouldn’t feel the same anywhere else.

Before I go to bed, I like to look at the Snapchat stories of my friends from high school. The majority of them went to the University of Kansas, the biggest public school in Kansas. They take a bus to get to their next class on the other side of campus.  Their classes consist of hundreds of students in one large lecture hall. While I know that many students like the lifestyle of living in a community that size, Jewell has a different kind of lifestyle. The community here, although smaller, is so much closer than I could have ever imagined.

I never walk anywhere alone here. I had this fear that campus would be deserted, or that I would never branch past the friends I made at Summer Fling. I’ve made friends with upperclassmen, something that was unheard of in my high school. My former friends in larger universities have hardly met anyone in a grade above them, let alone befriended them. 

I eat meals in the cafeteria with a different crowd every time. When I watch “Bachelor in Paradise” with the other first-years in my dorm, it’s with different people every time, yet we always have so much fun together. There are so many spontaneous gatherings around campus that it’s almost impossible to run into a group where you don’t know anyone. I’ve never run into a situation where I felt ostracized because there was no one I knew.

I am in CTI 100 and CTI 150 at the moment. I have never taken these kinds of courses before. For once, I am required to think outside of traditional classroom norms and step into how I can apply what I’ve learned to the world beyond the classroom. 

My thinking has already changed, and I’ve only been in class for three weeks. I firmly believe that these kinds of classes are what makes Jewell such a unique community to be part of. Because these classes promote critical thinking, I believe this is why Jewell students are so highly renowned in this country. 

My grandfather, who works in a bank in Oklahoma, works with several Jewell alumni. He maintains that they are some of the most open-minded individuals he has worked with. People like Bill Snyder, former Kansas State University football coach; Robin Carnahan, former Missouri Secretary of State; Zel Fischer, a judge on the Missouri Supreme Court; Terry Teachout, a famous author; and Tom Coleman, a member of the House of Representatives in Congress, are all making waves in our country as William Jewell alumni. 

I truly believe that all of us have the ability to become as notable and successful as these people with the unique experiences that William Jewell has to offer us.

These are the reasons why I chose William Jewell. I am confident that William Jewell will prepare me for the future in ways that no other college or university could offer. I am so glad to be able to share this experience with every student here, and I know that we will go on to do amazing, wonderful things in our community and abroad.

College can seem daunting, but it is also filled with some of the best years of your life. You receive the opportunity to grow, learn and discover who you are as an individual and form connections and friendships that can last a lifetime. Below is a set of my top tips on how to thrive at Jewell your first year.

Effort = Success 

Here at Jewell, classes can seem impossible at times. Jewell will challenge you mentally and push you to expand your knowledge and thinking in ways you never thought possible. I encourage you to never give up because even if something may not be your strength, hard work and effort will always earn you recognition from your peers and professors. Listen and learn as much as you can because Jewell does help shape you as a critical thinker, and in life that will set you apart from the rest.

Keep your eye on the prize

It is easy to become distracted at college by social activities, sports and extracurricular activities. However, keeping your goals clearly outlined each day and week will help you stay organized and keep you on the right track. I find that keeping a planner or a large calendar on hand helps me prioritize my day and keep myself accountable.

Know when to ask for help

Sometimes life can hit you all at once, and it’s important to be able to identify when you’re struggling and ask for help. There are a multitude of resources at Jewell that can help you in various areas that you may be academically or emotionally challenged. Jewell has tutors and academic advising that can help get you back on track. However, your professors are the best resources, and it’s important to let them know if you’re struggling or need help in specific areas of study. Jewell also has counseling services if you need help with your emotions or mental health.

Always make time for self-care

 It is important to always put not only your health, but your mental health as a priority. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in college, especially if you are overcoming homesickness. I enjoyed making a journal in order to keep my life in perspective. It can also help to do things that bring you joy or comfort.

Meet people in different social groups

At Jewell, it’s easy to interact only with people in your social group or sports team. However, I have made some of my closest friends by interacting with others that weren’t in my social circle. It’s important to diversify your social interactions – you may discover things in common with others that you wouldn’t normally.

Take time to enjoy your college experience 

College moves quickly, and as I reflect on my time Jewell as a senior, I wish that I would have pushed myself to become more involved in life at Jewell. I encourage you to go to sporting events, join a club or take a class that challenges you. Your experience at Jewell is what you make of it, so lean in and enjoy your time. I wish that I hadn’t spent so much time worrying about every detail of my life. Being in healthcare, I have seen life, death, tragedy and miracles, so if you are to take any of my advice it would be to slow down and enjoy the journey.

The end of the year is approaching and with it comes the end of my first year of college. I can honestly say that I have never learned more in a year than I have as a first-year at William Jewell College.

Yes, I’ve learned how to write papers fast and who John Stuart Mill was. I’ve learned about discrimination in the United States, how to calculate interest and I’ve studied a multitude of British literary works. If you want to learn those things, take the classes.

There’s another kind of learning that happens as a first-year – the kind that doesn’t always happen in the classroom. These are some of the lessons I’ve learned in my first year living away from home.

Growth doesn’t mean starting over

When I got to college, I felt like a completely different person. I mourned for all the activities I participated in in high school and for the life I used to live.

Then I realized that I still was that same person, I was just getting to experience a whole new aspect of life. I still possessed all those happy memories. I still had my old friends and my family – I was just getting to add to my circles. New experiences don’t delete the past – they just add to it.

People aren’t replaceable

On a conceptual level, people clearly aren’t replaceable. Everyone is unique – but it can be difficult to remind yourself of that in practice.

I hunted for people with qualities similar to my friends from high school. I attempted to find new friends who were like my old ones – but those people don’t exist. It can be difficult to make friends unless you keep your mind open and get to know someone as an individual, not as a replacement.

Once I started spending time with people with an open mind and quit comparing them to people I used to know, I started to value them for their own unique qualities and form true friendships.

Doing laundry is not difficult

This is a little embarrassing, but my mom always did my laundry in high school. Pop culture makes a big deal over college kids messing up their laundry once they get to college, so I expected it to be some complex art that I would have to master.

Then I got to college and I realized you just throw in your detergent, throw in the clothes and hit start. Then you dry what can be dried and hang dry what can’t. It’s not hard. Now driving in downtown Kansas City is a different story – I’m still working on that one.

Therapy isn’t just for depression

The transition to college is difficult for many people – I was no exception. I had been at school for about two months and I was sad frequently for no apparent reason. I felt like nothing was actually happening to me, like I was in a dream.

I don’t have depression or any other diagnosable mental health disorder, but I just didn’t feel right. I decided to take advantage of the free individual therapy that William Jewell offers. I am so thankful that I did – it helped me to process my emotions and I learned a lot of tips to deal with anxiety.

I always thought that I wasn’t “sick enough” for therapy. A lot of people don’t seek out counselling because they don’t want to deal with the stigma of mental illness or because they don’t have a mental illness. There shouldn’t be a stigma around something that can improve life quality so exponentially. Therapy can be helpful for getting through any kind of big life adjustment – there isn’t a measurement that determines whether or not your trauma is “severe enough” for therapy.

It’s okay to be alone

I came to college with my mind occupied by one goal: to make friends. Some of the most common college advice I got was to be extroverted in the beginning and go out of my way to meet people.

This left me feeling like I constantly needed to be talking to people, eating with people, and studying with people. I felt like being alone meant that I was failing at my task to make friends.

There is nothing wrong with being alone sometimes. Some alone time can be very beneficial when adjusting to a new situation. Go drive off campus to a coffee shop alone for an afternoon or – gasp – eat alone in the cafeteria. That is allowed – and nobody will think you are weird.

One of the best parts about college is the independence it provides. If you are constantly with other people, you don’t get to experience how liberating it is to have the freedom to do your own thing.

Friends are a crucial aspect of college life, but don’t force them. Get involved in a few activities and friends will come naturally – and don’t be discouraged if it doesn’t happen the first week of school. It might not even be until second semester, but friendships will eventually happen. For now, relish some alone time.

The world is full of talent, that doesn’t discredit your own

Jewell is teeming with smart and talented people. If you are the type of person who places their self worth in achievement, this can be terrifying at first. I felt like I was surrounded by geniuses who were valedictorians and student council presidents and played three sports in high school. I suddenly felt like I had no identity – the achievements in high school that I found my value in evaporated in comparison to my new peers’ accolades.

I soon began to learn that just because everyone else is an overachiever does not mean my skills are of any less value. I felt like the dumbest person in a lot of rooms, but that didn’t mean I didn’t have anything to bring to the classroom.

To be surrounded by talent is to be surrounded by people to learn from. Just because you have room to improve does not mean where you are at isn’t pretty spectacular.

You don’t need an end goal

College kids are asked pretty frequently what they want to do with their degree after they graduate. I am very much a planner and to not have an answer to this question used to scare me.

I’m learning, however, that an end goal is a rather unrealistic concept. Life is completely unpredictable. We can’t know what ideas will someday strike us or what opportunities we might be presented. I try to make decisions as they present themselves to me so that I will be the best prepared for a variety of careers that interest me.

It is okay to not have the future figured out – even if you did have it figured out, it would find a way to surprise you. Take classes that refine skills that you already possess or that teach you skills that you think could be useful in a career that interests you. Try to enjoy the learning itself without constantly concerning yourself with how the learning will apply. Involve yourself in things related to a variety of careers to test the waters and see if you might enjoy that field.

If you feel lost, that’s okay. College doesn’t need to be a step-by-step guide to the one job that you will have until retirement. College is a time that overflows with opportunity and learning, and while neither of these things will always tell you exactly what you should do, they can form your path towards realizing your passions and making an impact on the world.

My first year of college was a tumultuous time. There were moments that I hated and many more moments that I loved. I wouldn’t trade any of the experiences I had for anything. I learned so much about myself and about the world this year and I hope to have passed a little of that on to you.