Community members far from campus home

 

     Now, black fences cover school entrances. Signs on each fence read “CAMPUS CLOSED.”

     With no one on campus, the tumbleweeds blow through.

     Haverford closed its doors on March 12, following Governor Wolf’s public announcement regarding school closures, and students retreated to their homes, seeking cover from the inevitable attack and wondering if that day was the last for the remainder of the school year. 

     COVID-19 brought an abrupt halt to campus life, postponing spring sports and canceling extracurricular activities. It left the classrooms vacant, the halls empty, the library quieter than normal, the cafeteria silent, and the sports fields stagnant. 

 In these unprecedented, uncertain times, a positive outlook may bring hope to rekindle what the campus and what we all miss the most: each other.

     It didn’t take many words for Headmaster Dr. John Nagl to summarize the current physical status of campus. 

     “The Haverford community is dispersed… there is nobody home, and it’s sad,” Dr. Nagl said. “It’s like the end of the world.” 

     Like the rest of the community, Dr. Nagl feels disconnected.

     “I miss seeing the faculty face-to-face, I miss Henry’s omelets, I miss lacrosse games, I miss track meets. I miss the baseball team. I don’t get to see the bats swinging. I don’t get to see the crew team down the river,” Dr. Nagl said. “I miss hallways full of boys and lunchrooms full of boys. It’s not the same.”

     Similarly, upper School Head Mr. Patrick Andrén misses the boys on campus and the additional connectedness that makes the campus atmosphere hum. 

     “It is a lonely looking place right now,” Mr. Andrén said. “I miss the energy and the excitement of being on campus every day. Being able to see classes, performances, games, and assemblies is part of what makes working at a place like Haverford so special. While I know the faculty and staff are working very hard to maintain the strong community and individual relationships that make the Haverford experience so special, we understand it is not the same.”

     For Sixth Formers, time away spent away from campus and classmates hurts the most. But these uncertain times provide room to reflect for Sixth Formers like William Boyes. 

     “I’ve had time to reflect and think about what Haverford has meant to me, and how I miss being in the walls of Wilson Hall, Ball, and Centennial,” Boyes said.

     Boyes notes that Haverford has offered much beyond its academics.

     “[The crisis has] given me more time to be with my family, but I’m away from my second family, whom I would consider all my friends at school and some faculty and staff I really appreciate,” Boyes said. “It makes me appreciate the strong friendships I’ve made at Haverford.”

In these unprecedented, uncertain times, a positive outlook may bring hope to rekindle what the campus and what we all miss the most: each other.

     While Sixth Form experiences dwindle, Third Formers are just beginning. For the newcomers, their virtual experiences for education demonstrates the value of the physical classroom, a lesson they can keep close as they continue through Wilson Hall.

     In these unprecedented, uncertain times, a positive outlook may bring hope to rekindle what the campus and what we all miss the most: each other.