By Baylie McClafferty
The 2020-2021 school year was much different than most expected. Freshmen were entering a whole new chapter of life where they did not know what to anticipate. Upperclassmen were going into a year where everything they knew about Samford would be flipped upside down.
For coming right out of quarantining and facing the challenges of the pandemic, Samford students made the most of it.
As students navigated through the year amidst COVID-19, students learned a lot about themselves. Students learned that they can all overcome adversity and work with whatever situations are handed to them. There may not have been fall football or Step Sing, but students adapted to the new normal.
Samford’s administration did a remarkable job at adapting to college life to respond to the pandemic. Thankfully, the university was able to host a few events to connect people and maintain the Samford experience.
“The Lighting of the Way in November was one of the most pure and awesome events I have ever attended,” freshman Adrien Mercado said.
She went on to talk about how great the turnout was and how it got her into the Christmas spirit.
It’s events like the Lighting of the Way that brought Samford students together and created community amidst the beautiful brick walls of our campus.
“Spring football is a funny phrase to say. Even though it wasn’t normal, it still allowed us to do what we love,” sophomore linebacker Thomas Neville said.
The football team played seven games this spring, offering a new outlook on the sport altogether.
Many students and parents attended the games and encouraged the team. This football season was a highlight for many Samford students because it was the first sporting event they were able to go to in over a year.
Thankfully, Samford was still able to host movie nights and other campus-wide activities. Greek life was able to operate and host socially distanced dances and date parties and sporting events continued in the spring semester. Even though this year presented many challenges and changes, Samford University maintained the integrity of the Samford experience.
