So, we had our first scare with Covid, but thankfully no covid. My son, who is the last one of my 3 college kids I’d expect would have the scare, called me last Tuesday to say he had a stuffy nose. Yep, “you got covid” I tell him. He scheduled a test for himself that afternoon, which was very easy. Many parents in the FB groups are complaining how difficult it is to get tests - not true! So not sure what their kids are telling them. There are also many parents who openly admit to telling their kids not to get tested, regardless of having symptoms because they don’t want anything to go remote. Shame on them.
Anyway, his whole floor he’ stelling me has colds of some sort so ofc I’m thinking it’s all over. My daughter at Cornell has had big breakthrough cases, but got it under control. I do wonder how many of those studenst had JNJ because that was who did some of their vaccine clinics last Spring. So, my son starts telling me that people who tested in the am on his day were negative, yet he’s still waiting. Stays in his room all day and misses classes (more on that in a minute). The next day, misses classes again while he is still isolating in his room, by then no more stuffy nose, and tells me he is sure now he doesn’t have covid but a cold. Reason being is that everyone who has gotten tested that he knows is negative and those on his floor that did self tests also were all negative. Finally 28 hours later, he got his negative result. Whew relief but what I will say I learned in this process with him is to have a plan, know the process if he had to go to Q, etc. and now we do. He even had his bag packed and ready to go.
As for classes, it turns out that in his major EECS (CS which is under Electrical Engineering Computer Science) the lectures are all recorded and you can go to any lecture you want. He had already decided the week before that he was going to switch to a different one because his professor in his words (sucked), so he viewed the one he wanted to see and said he was amazing. What a great option that you’re allowed to go to any lecture. He has a set Lab that you’re allowed to miss 2x/semester, I’m assuming for covid issues or anything really. In the past it was optional, now it’s a part of the grade. Fortunately he didn’t have it those days so no big deal. So his 2 EECS classes he was able to watch the lectures on video both days. His History class attendance is mandatory but if you email the teacher you watch a video lecture and have to answer questions proving it, and lastly his Math meets 4x week and that one is not recorded. He asked the professor if he would and the guy said he doesn’t find it good to record but will email him later. My son found someone to get notes from but I was so impressed later when he told me the professor reached out to him and let him know he made a 30 min video after class for my son only on what they went over that day. Not something I would ever expect from a huge public school, but really grateful The second day he didn’t but my son was familiar with the material and knew he could see the professor in office hours by then and wasn’t going to Quarantine. Now I still just hope no covid in the next year because it is a big headache and lonely in quarantine from what parents have said.
In other news he is having a ball, running around like crazy, trying restaurants, going to the football games, joining clubs, and being a college student. I think as of now he has found the perfect place for him.
The funniest story to add is that he went to some Engineering fair on Wednesday once he got the negative test and called me later to tell me how he got a free memory stick, pens, cup, water bottle and shirt and there was free food. And in his words “not one of those crappy shirts made of the harsh material”. Then on Thursday, a text “I got another free shirt!” His 7th free shirt he told me. No wonder Michigan has such worldwide recognition, lol.
He can have his fun for now, we’ll see how it goes in October once tests start but as of now, he has so much free time. He can’t believe how much less work he has than in high school. I told him not to get too used to that.
Hope everyone else’s kids are loving their colleges too!!
. I don’t think he’s partied too much and kinda wished he had before school started. They’ve had dancing on the lawn and movie on the lawn on campus and karaoke but that is not my son’s thing. He would do it but with his close friends.
So crazy! Can’t take us mommas anywhere because we are so well connected and we know everything. And see everything with eyes behind our head.