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Res Hall Reflection: Establish a Productive Routine

Mechanical engineering major Jordan Siatuu advises that it is important to develop a daily schedule.

UNLV mechanical engineering major Jordan Siatuu. (Josh Hawkins/UNLV Photo Services)

Editor's Note:

  UNLV photographer Josh Hawkins recently visited with some of the 180 students still living in the residence halls. To combat the coronavirus pandemic, UNLV moved to remote teaching for the remainder of the semester and asked residents who could to make other living arrangements. To encourage social distancing, those who couldn't leave were reassigned to single rooms without roommates or suitemates.    

Jordan Siatuu is a third-year mechanical engineering major from Mauna Lani, Hawaii.

How has your routine changed since COVID-19?

My biggest concern was schooling. I used the resources like tutoring, which is not accessible any longer. And the gym was big. I used to play volleyball three hours a day and don’t have access to that anymore.

What do you do now that you don’t have access to the gym?

I recently started getting into a much more productive routine. Last week I did nothing, but now I am getting into working out every day, getting back into studying consistently — finding substitutes for what I used to do.

Do you like having your own room now?

I am an RA so I have always had my own room, but it is kind of a load off my chest since I don’t have the duties of the RA now.

Have you discovered anything new about yourself?

No, not really. It’s more or less staying consistent with the things that I already liked to do beforehand.

What’s been one of the most pleasantly surprising things about this change?

I have a lot more time on my hands now.

Was there a moment when this became real for you?

I think the meeting we had on the Wednesday of spring break when all RAs were told we had go if we had a place to go. I was thankful that I was able to stay.

Staying here works out for you?

I feel that I would be less productive at home. I have a job waiting for me for the summer and it is just a matter of when I will be able to get home, but I felt I needed to stay here to complete the semester.

Has there been a moment that has stuck out for you in the last few weeks?

Nothing has changed ever since it's closed. This is life now and I probably won’t see everyone until fall semester now.

Is there a shoutout you want to send to anyone?

Thank you to housing for keeping me here and thank you to my family for understanding my decisions. My family is very accepting and trusting but they still worry.

Any advice to fellow students, wherever they are?

Be proactive. Make sure you are doing what you can right now because once this is over there is going to be a lot of people who come out differently. You’re going to build routines and lifestyles around quarantine. Make sure it’s a good one.

Topics:

coronavirus, campus life

Campus Units:

Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering,  Department of Mechanical Engineering,  Student Life,  Division of Student Affairs

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