AUSTIN, Texas – Classes resumed for several Texas colleges and universities this week, including the University of Texas at Austin. While thousands of UT students have opted to attend their classes from home, there are thousands who have returned to campus as well.

Sage Griffee moved into San Jacinto Hall over the weekend. The UT freshman was at the University Co-op bookstore the day before he was set to take his first-ever college class. Griffee found the majority of his required reading is available online, as too are his fall semester classes.

“All my classes are online this semester,” said Griffee. “I have two classes that meet over Zoom, and then I have three self-paced classes.”

The Houston native had debated possibly completing his first semester of college from the confines of his parents’ house. He had several friends who decided to do their online classes at home, and one decided to take a gap year.

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But being on campus his freshman year meant too much to Griffee for him to pass it up. He wanted the classic freshman year experience, whatever that may resemble during a pandemic. For Griffee, the importance of physically being on campus had much to do with him being the first in his family to go to college.

“My dad and my mom didn’t go to college, and so for me it was such a big deal going to my freshman year that even though it might be a little bit more dangerous--I was just so excited to get to UT,” commented Griffee.

Griffee says his social interactions have remained relatively low-key during his first week living on the Forty Acres. He’s been sure to wear a mask everywhere and only congregate in small groups. While Griffee was offered the opportunity to live in a dorm room alone, he opted for a roommate, one he’d never met.

Sage Griffee and his roommate David Easter. (Photo Credit: Sage Griffee)

“I don’t know, I feel like I’d be almost like lonely by myself,” said Griffee. “So, I really wanted a roommate, just to go along for the ride.”

It’s an interesting ride navigating college life in a COVID world.