To ensure the safety and wellbeing of students, faculty, and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020-2021 academic year at Gustavus Adolphus College looked different. An increase in online courses, adjusted residential living practices, and modified co-curricular activities meant that the hallmarks of the Gustavus experience—from the hands-on learning to the close-knit community—faced a temporary pause.
Recognizing the impact the pandemic had on our campus, Gustavus offered a tuition-free ninth semester to students who were enrolled full-time at the College throughout the 2020-2021 academic year. Three of these “super senior” Gusties offered their insights into the unique ninth semester experience and the opportunities—as well as the challenges—it created.
Why take a ninth semester? In most cases, it allowed them extra time and flexibility to complete their major requirements. Amber Simon ‘23, a double major in Physics and Chemistry, said, “If I had graduated last spring, I would’ve been one class short of the Chemistry major.” Similarly, Sage Kiefer ‘23, a triple major in Studio Art, Spanish, and LALACS, said she didn’t want to be too overwhelmed with cramming in classes last spring, so she took full advantage of the additional time the ninth semester afforded.
The ninth semester also benefited students who didn’t follow a single track through their college career. Jamie Miller ‘23, an Environmental Studies major, went from studying Physics to starting a whole new major his junior year. Echoing Kiefer, Miller said, “I would rather complete a whole science major in two-and-a-half years than try to fit that all into two years.”
Although the ninth semester has given our super seniors more academic breathing room, it also has shifted their social landscape. “All the new faces give me a sense of disconnect,” Miller said. “I used to have 10-15 people to say hi to when walking to class, but now, I no longer see the familiar faces I grew up with in college.” This is even more pronounced for Miller because he lives off campus. “I am [at Gustavus] for a maximum of two hours a day, and then I go back home,” he said.
Kiefer has experienced similar social adjustments, saying that this year made her realize how strong her community was last year, summing it up with, “This year, it has just felt weird.” And although Simon mentioned simply feeling “old” this year, she expressed how grateful she is that the people she has surrounded herself with have been very welcoming and made her feel included. “I’ve been forced to meet new people and have definitely expanded my social circle,” she said. “It’s been good,”
Because they’re spending less time in the academic realm of college, many super seniors have had more time to reflect and prepare for their life ahead. “[The ninth semester] has definitely allowed for a lot more introspection and thinking about the future,” Kiefer said. “I spend more time alone, going on walks and doing art.” Miller added that the extra free time has allowed him to figure out his hobbies and plan the next couple of steps in his life. “I’ve definitely learned what I like to do when I have nothing going on, which is important for adult life because it can be so easy to get wrapped up in work and forget your passions,” Miller said. “I need nature. I need to climb rocks and trees.”
On the other hand, Simon was surprised to find that she is just as busy and involved as she was in previous years. In addition to taking Biochemistry and Badminton, which she needs to graduate, Simon is also taking Organic Chemistry III, completing an independent study project to develop a lab, and auditing a statistics class. “[Although] I didn’t think I’d be quite so busy, I’ve been offered a lot of great opportunities I couldn’t have done had I not taken a ninth semester,” she said.
Upon leaving Gustavus, Kiefer plans to visit Mexico for six weeks and study energy healing while building an art portfolio. “I want to go out and see the world, have new experiences, figure out what’s next, and maybe gain more fluency in Spanish,” she said. Miller plans to return home to Chicago and save up some money before moving to Bozeman, Montana. “I either want to work at a ranch and lead wilderness expeditions or do some other type of seasonal work in a state park,” he said. “If none of that pans out, I could also bartend, which is the job I have back home.” Simon is applying to graduate school for either chemical engineering or materials science. In the spring, she plans on substitute teaching at the high school level, likely in the sciences.
While the ninth semester was an unusual experience for our super seniors, their variety of interests, experiences, and future prospects still hold the essence of what it means to be a Gustie. As we send our super seniors off, we’re excited to see what amazing things they accomplish in the years ahead.
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