“I think it’s starting to feel more ‘college-y’ again, unless you compare it to Madison, then no.”

Elliot Kite, 20, is a Marketing major at UW-Milwaukee. Kite, a Junior in college, was born and raised in Wauwatosa, Wis. Even though he says his college experience was hampered by the COVID-19 pandemic, he did not allow it to ruin his experience. It did, however, allow him to gain perspective and reflect on his expectations.

Olivia Kopesky: Going into college, what was your expectation, and how was your freshman year because our got cut short?

Elliot Kite: The beginning was a little rough because we were moving out, but thats hard for everybody, a new environment. It was really fun though. And when it got cut short, it was really sad.

Q: How did you feel when classes began to go online?

A: I remember this so vividly. I was at work and my manager told me they extended our spring break. I thought ‘that is crazy, this is awesome.’ But I thought there was no way in heck we wouldn’t go back. Once we got the email saying we weren’t going back I was not super sad at first. But once online started and I was with my family is when I thought ‘oh my god, this sucks.’

Q: When you came back to school [post covid], did you feel as though there was a lack of college atmosphere at UWM?

A: Yes. Freshman year I remember walking to parties and the streets were full. It’s like you’d run into a million people. I think it’s starting to feel more “collegy” again, unless you compare it to Madison, then no. I think it is what you make of it too.

Q: Do you think now that the mask mandate is over that the sense of isolation has gone away?

A: Yes, I do. You actually get to see people. You get to see their facial expressions. It feels really nice to see people and it feels more “collegy”.

Q: Moving forward do you have any expectations that you want to fulfill in college?

A: I do want to study abroad. But I do feel like I’ve fulfilled my expectations. I went to parties like everyone else. You just don’t realize it until you’re out of it; you don’t know it’s so good until it is over.