The evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic changed the landscape of how we live, socialize, and work. In a matter of days — sometimes hours — life began to change for many Boilermakers. The cascading events during the last two weeks of March created a new normal for my family and me.

Three days before our son Mason, a sophomore, was scheduled to arrive home from Purdue for spring break, the University announced they were moving classes online — at least temporarily — and that students could choose if they wanted to return to campus when school resumed. Mason quickly lobbied to return as planned. Unsure of what to do, my husband Jeff (LA’93) and I began discussing all the possible scenarios. Do we let him fly back? If he returned to campus, we knew we would need a plan in case we needed to move him out quickly — no easy task considering the 10-hour drive to Purdue from our North Carolina home.

The following day, our daughter’s university announced that they were extending spring break by a week. Emma’s classes would move online for the rest of the semester and students were encouraged not to return to campus.

Daily updates continued at what felt like an hourly pace.

Did you have to move a student back from school this spring? Share your story in the comments below.

The next day, North Carolina announced that public schools would be closed for two weeks. In addition to navigating the constantly changing environment for our college kids, we had to consider how the school schedule was changing for our two girls in high school.

March 16 was a pivotal day for our family.

Having just started working for a tech startup, I was notified that they were struggling to keep up with the impact of COVID-19 and unfortunately, they had to eliminate my position along with many others. While disappointing, it wasn’t entirely unexpected. Customers had begun canceling events, new projects got delayed, and our company eliminated nonessential travel. After hearing the news, I found myself strangely calm and resolute. Getting upset or angry about it would not change my current situation — the best option was just to move forward.

With hardly a moment to get my brain around my professional situation, Purdue announced they would be moving to online classes for the rest of the semester. Students who could move home were strongly encouraged to do so.

It was time to put our contingency planning into action.

Road trip to West Lafayette

The trip to Purdue was somber. As a Purdue alumna and a three-generation Purdue family, we have a deep love for and connection to the University. On the way up to campus, I reflected on the previous year’s move-out and how different the circumstances were.

Moving in Mason’s first year had been a whole family affair, all six of us loaded up in the minivan. Mason and I went into his dorm to check in while the others waited in the car. A very nice student went over all the information and gave him his paperwork and key. His next three words captured the moment — he smiled, looked Mason in the eye, shook his hand and said, “Welcome to Purdue.”

Of all my memories at Purdue, this is certainly one of my most cherished.

At the end of Mason’s freshman year, we moved him out with a much thinner crew — sparing the girls the 20-hour round trip. While Mason finished his last final, Jeff and I waited at Harry’s, celebrating a great first year.

This year was just as memorable, but in a wholly unexpected way.

We arrived on campus the evening of March 25. I couldn’t believe how deserted the campus looked. Stadium Avenue, normally in constant motion — pedestrians, cyclists, and cars. Today, only empty sidewalks. It took my breath away.

I could not recall a time when I had ever seen so few people on campus. While we fully supported the University’s decisions, it was still heartbreaking that this was the necessary next step. And although we were both disappointed, we fully acknowledged the impact on other students was far greater. Canceled internships and study abroad trips, athletes not finishing seasons, seniors missing graduation.

We found Mason’s dorm equally as sparse and his room already half empty. We packed up Mason’s things, holding on to hope that maybe in the fall the narrative would be different.