“Even in separate rooms, it feels like we are always together and it’s hard.”

Kiarra Sprinstroh is a junior at UW-Steven’s Point. Last year she had all her classes online, so she stayed at home with her parents. This semester she has classes in person, but chose to continue living at home due to the high cost of apartments and the uncertainty of COVID-19. She drives 1.5 hours every day to campus.

(Jamie Winsted) Why did you decided to stay at home?

(Kiarra Sprinstroh) Apartments are expensive, especially where I had to get it in Plover, and I wanted to stay home. I have a nephew, so I wanted to stay home with him, and I love my job in Appleton.  My family is nice enough to let me stay at home and save money.

(Jamie) How do you feel about your decision to commute to school every day?

(Kiarra) I would say I’m so happy about it. The drive is a little annoying, but I’m very glad that I decided to commute from home.

(Jamie) Do you ever feel like you’re like missing out on the “college experience”?

(Kiarra) Sometimes it feels weird that I don’t have any friends on campus, but I have friends here in Appleton. I knew more than likely wouldn’t be friends with a lot of people I met in college, I’m not really good at making friends.

(Jamie) How does it feel to have some classes in person?

(Kiarra) I definitely like having at least some classes in person. I learn better in person so I’m doing better off in my classes and the social interactions make it a lot better for me. Just being able to go to a classroom and engage with the students and the professors helps me in the long run with learning.

(Jamie) What is the experience been like, living with your parents?

(Kiarra) It’s been good. I’m not home often so I don’t see but they’ve always been very supportive. There is some tension in the house sometimes though.

(Jamie) Why do you say there is some tension? What was hard about living at home?

(Kiarra) It’s hard because we never really have our own personal time, but we got used to it. Even in separate rooms, it feels like we are always together and it’s hard.  Sometimes I feel it would be better to have more Independence if I was living on my own. I’d have to learn to live by myself and be my own person, but I can’t always do that here.

(Jamie) What was the hardest part of the pandemic for you?

(Kiarra) Probably just having to adjust to everything being different. I mean not being able to go in person for schools was probably the hardest thing. I lost my previous job because of the pandemic, but then, you know, I started my new job, which is probably one of the best things I ever did.

(Jamie) What’s the hardest part about commuting?

(Kiarra) It’s definitely time-consuming but just being able to actually be on campus makes it worth it. It’s frustrating but it’s just a part of my routine now I’m just used to it.

(Jamie) Anything that you’d like learned through your experience through all of it?

(Kiarra) Never get comfortable with the situation you’re in and just go with the flow. You never know what’s going to happen.

(Jamie) You said I didn’t feel like you as happy, what do you think lead to that feeling?

(Kiarra) I like seeing people and seeing my friends so during the pandemic, we couldn’t go out as much and things weren’t open as much, so we weren’t able to have that full interaction. Before I started my new job I was just home all the time and I wasn’t getting out and I was just stuck in my life, not really doing anything. So I started thinking too much about certain things and it just lead to a spiral.

(Jamie) What helped in that situation?

(Kiarra) Definitely starting my new job since it gave me something else to do. It gave me the chance to see people and met a lot of cool people.

(Jamie) How do you balance working and commuting for school?

(Kiarra) Right now I’m going 7 days a week non-stop between school and commuting so it can be a lot depending on the week and how busy it is. Sometimes I feel like it’s a lot and I get overwhelmed balancing schoolwork, family and friends, but I know that it’s the right decision for me right now. I know in the end it will work out even if I have to take a day off of work every now and then just to have a personal day, but I think even if I do feel a little burnt out, it’s the best decision right now.

(Jamie) What helps you not feel burned out?

(Kiarra) I read a lot and see my family, especially my nephew, which helps. I’m just making time for myself so I sometimes I take an hour and watch a TV show or a movie. I make sure I find time for myself and seeing my family rather than doing work in school constantly. It really helps that I have something else to do and look forward to.