(Photo made April 21, 2020, by Jeff Carrion, University Photographer, Marketing and Communications)
Latoya Clark, Facilities Project Coordinator
As a current graduate student of DePaul's Clinical Mental Health Counseling program, I have a great support system that has been helping me get through these difficult times. One way I'm coping with this unique time is by normalizing my schedule. I've been trying to stick to the routine I had prior to all of the restrictions due to COVID-19 in order to create some sense of order during this time.
The basis of many of our jobs in Housing involves catering to the students living on campus. Without the students, our daily tasks are affected.
Summer is a busy season for our team. Since the residence halls are mostly empty now, we have the opportunity to begin our summer work early.
I live on campus, so I'm used to seeing the campus empty in the summer. It's a little weird seeing it empty so early in the year. I've been telling myself it's an early summer break in order to adjust to not seeing students around.
I miss seeing the university open and seeing people around campus. When school opens, I'm hoping to see a community that's here to engage and support each other. I'm looking forward to the new normal and people connecting to make this community better for everyone. I'm looking forward to the students taking pride in being a DePaul student.
Taylore Mountain, Housing Operations CoordinatorI have a really strong team. I'm very appreciative of my supervisor and I think her leadership has helped the most with all the transitions.
My primary duties are supervision of student employees, so without our students on campus it's been very quiet. Normally we ensure that the residence halls are safe, that the residents have what they need and that parents know their children are safe on campus.
We only have one residence hall that is currently in use. For now, we're focusing on training for the fall and what that might look like since we don't know what's going to happen.
Right now, I miss the student interaction with the students I supervise and seeing them on campus.