March 9th 2020 was a beautiful day. Warm and sunny, nice enough for shorts and a t-shirt if your blood ran hot. It seemed like everyone had gotten the same memo that day: Skip your classes. Spend time with your friends.

It was Adam’s birthday, a great excuse to meet up with our friend group on the quad. It was filled to max capacity. Hundreds of students milled about, throwing footballs, kicking the hacky sack, launching frisbees, studying on the steps of the chapel or just lazing about in the grass.

The sun kissed our faces as we laughed and hugged and ran our fingers through each other’s hair. Excitedly speaking of upcoming Spring Break plans and how beautiful the day was. Good weather this time of year was rare — best to spend it together.

In only a matter of days we were informed that our Spring Break would be extended. Universities around the country had already begun shutting down and so, with the false promise of the 30th weighing heavy on our backs, the mass exodus of the dorms began

So off to Vermont I went, leaving behind more than I could comprehend. Hoping for an escape from this nightmare, which seemed so tiny only a month ago. The solace lasted a four hour car ride through the Adirondacks, where most residents seemed unbothered by the impending end of the world.

As “break” went on the reality of the situation began to sink in. Everywhere I turned there were info signs on the virus. Billboards reminding us to Stop the Spread. A constant stream of news updates that got worse with each passing day.