“I feel like they try to get students engaged by sending out weekly emails and stuff, but I think that’s very high school.”

Caylee Pearson, 20, is a sophomore at UWM studying Business. Caylee started her college career online and faced many struggles and feelings of isolation her first two years here at UWM. With the mask mandate being lifted she’s optimistic that the atmosphere on campus will shift.

Haley Timmerman: How would you describe your freshman year experience?

Caylee Pearson: Horrible. It was all online and I lived in the dorms without a roommate. I starved because there was no food, and nothing was open except for off campus. So, I moved home and still did online school. Which sucked because I hate online school.

Q: How did covid impact your experience at UWM thus far?

A: If we didn’t have COVID I would have seen more people around the dorms and gotten to know more people on your level and in the same grade as you. Because a lot of people weren’t on campus half the time. I would leave for weeks and not come back for weeks because I didn’t have to be here. I was paying for it, but it wasn’t coming out of pocket at the exact time. I didn’t have a car, so I couldn’t go anywhere. We had the shuttle, but I was wearing a mask and didn’t want anyone to talk to me, and then I would go back to my lonesome dorm.

Q: How would you describe the atmosphere on campus here at UWM?

A: I would say we have a lively and crowded campus. There’s lots of people always walking around, in any kind of weather.

Q: Do you think UW-Milwaukee has good school spirit?

A: Yes and no. I feel like they try to get students engaged by sending out weekly emails and stuff, but I think that’s very high school and I don’t want to do it anymore. There was only one time I was thinking about going to a game with my roommates, but I was doing homework.

Q: Do you think not having the mask requirement has changed the atmosphere on campus?

A: Yes, I do. I have had two people come and talk to me now that I don’t wear a mask. Now that people don’t have to wear masks it’s much more interactive. Since we can see each other’s faces, it is more inviting and personable. However, in terms of feeling isolated, I don’t think that’s completely gone. We lacked a whole year, and we don’t know what actual college is like. Because of Covid, we haven’t had super interactive things on campus like Pantherfest for example. We have having it this year, but I feel like not as many people are interested in going. I probably won’t go, but I would have if we had it my freshman year.

Q: How is your experience with in-person classes so far?

A: Good. I like them way more than online. I feel like it does get me outside and keeps me in a routine. It has also gotten me more involved now that I am getting up and going to class. It’s also nice seeing people I know around campus. I can also tell that the professors are happy to be in person as well. I had a professor last year for math and all I ever saw were his hands. I wish that class were in person I’m sure it would have been much better.