Actualities of Senior Year: Lack of Social Life

Max Kurinsky and his roommates take a trip to Colorado for fall break. Photo Courtesy of Max Kurinsky.

Senior year of college is a time of celebration for most people. It’s the culmination of four years of higher education — something people have poured immense amounts of time and money into.

The COVID-19 pandemic started in March of 2020. Ruining the end of the class of 2020’s senior year and a majority of the class of 2021’s. No more parties or game nights with friends, instead they’d remember their senior year by online classes and Netflix Watch Parties.

For senior engineering major Max Kurinsky the pandemic meant the lack of a social life for his last year at Loyola University Chicago. His 21st birthday party was scheduled for March 20 — the day Chicago shut down in person gatherings.

“It killed all the party plans we had.” Kurinsky said. “It killed all the in person gatherings we had planned. Being able to celebrate finishing up … it doesn’t feel like we’re going out with a bang like we would have wished.”

Luckily for Kurinsky, he said he lived with three of his best friends, which allowed him for some indulgence in social activities. He said the pair of them would host movie nights, game nights and even just go for walks together.

His main focus was just staying safe. However, he still missed the friends he didn’t live with and all the social activities that come from senior year.

“It’s been important to have the occasional zoom with friends and do your best to see people safely,” Kurinsky said. “It’s making the best of it and making sure you’re reaching out even though it might seem isolated.”

Beck Burchett, a political science major, had similar sentiments as Kurinsky. Although when Loyola decided to cancel in-person graduation Burchett was not upset.

“I didn’t want to go to graduation when there was a pandemic,” Burchett said. “I don’t care about strangers walking across the stage. Give me my diploma and goodbye.”

Burchett said while he didn’t like the online learning aspect of his senior year, his grades didn’t suffer. All of his finals were completed by the end of day Dec. 4 and he was even able to go and visit his family more.

Much like Kurinsky, the biggest short falling of the year was not being able to see his friends.

“I would’ve liked to see my friends more,” Burchett said. “Just to be able to bump into people on campus. Not having to make official plans just the spontaneous social life that comes from having friends around you all the time.”

Both of the 21-year-olds are hoping to be able to spend some time in Damen next year as it was a place a lot of their college memories were made.

They don’t have high hopes for next semester, but Kurinsky still had a few requests for anyone who was listening.

“I’d like a vaccine. I’d like to be able to sit in Damen and watch people walk around. I only see my roommates now and they’re boring. I just want a bustling campus life again.”