“Students are feeling lonely because they are not getting involved. They’re scared.”

Pablo Monzon Paz is a hard-working, self-motivated junior majoring in IT Management at UW-Milwaukee. He views everything in life as a challenge, including the disruption caused by Covid. Guided by his faith and perseverance, Pablo embraced Covid as an opportunity to learn more about himself, flip majors and propel himself toward a brighter future rather than letting it derail his college experience.

Bob Zwaska: You started at UWM at the height of Covid in the fall of 2020. What was that like?

Pablo Monzon Paz: I loved it. I prefer taking classes online. It allows me to be more focused and more grounded. It didn’t slow me down.

Bob Zwaska: Why do you think some students are feeling a sense of loneliness or isolation coming out of Covid?

Pablo Monzon Paz: They are not getting involved. They’re scared. They need to join clubs, join other aspects of the UWM community rather just coming to class and going home. If you don’t do anything, what’s the point of coming to campus? UWM offers lots of opportunities for students to take advantage of. There are clubs, committees, fraternities. They can fix it.

Bob Zwaska: What else would help a student who’s feeling isolated?

Pablo Monzon Paz: Get a job or volunteer. There are lots of opportunities on and off campus. If possible find something that’s tied to your field of study or find something that helps the community. I volunteered at the Red Cross. Find a way to help your community.

Bob Zwaska: What else can students do for fun to connect with others?

Pablo Monzon Paz: We have a bowling alley, a gym, a basketball facility. Lots of stuff is available.

Bob Zwaska: Are things feeling more normal again for you?

Pablo Monzon Paz: Things never seemed abnormal to me. It’s stuff that happens in life. Every one hundred years there is a pandemic. Just something you need to live through. It’s normal. Don’t let it get you down. I believe in God and I feel he protects me. Even if I get Covid I feel it doesn’t matter because God will help me get through it. It’s just part of life. I believe that whatever happens I’m in God’s hands.