COVID-19 Spring and Summer
Dreams for obtaining a degree can be interrupted for decades, as was the case for Dan Bible, or for a matter of
years or months. It can be easy to get derailed in normal times, let alone a pandemic.
COVID-19 upended our world. Period. For college students around the world, the impact was cataclysmic. When
every day feels like Wednesday, how do you find motivation?
For Cumberland resident Jasmine
Clark-Rhodes, 20, the move from
in-person to online courses in March
was tough. Without a schedule, she
felt adrift and began procrastinating on
coursework. She missed the interactions
with her classmates and professors.
“It was stressful, hard to stay focused,
and difficult to keep up with assignment
deadlines. I stress a lot and I’m the worst
procrastinator. I had to reorganize myself.”
She soon turned to her mother, an
instructional assistant at Washington
Middle School, for help.
“She’s my biggest cheerleader and
more like a best friend than a mom,”
noted Clark-Rhodes. With assistance,
Clark-Rhodes refocused and developed
a daily routine. “When I got it, it was
simple. I ended up passing all of
my classes.”
As a teen, Clark-Rhodes volunteered
with Camp Bright Start through the Y
and enjoyed working with children and
adolescents with special needs. After
graduating from Fort Hill High School
in 2018, she enrolled at ACM with the
hopes of entering the college’s nursing
program after completing her general
education requirements. But she
found herself increasingly interested
in becoming a social worker and/or
counselor for youth in need.
Clark-Rhodes enjoyed the small course
size of her summer sociology class,
and registered for a mix of in-person,
flex, and online courses in the fall. She
hopes to eventually transfer to a four-year
institution to earn her bachelor’s degree
in Social Work.
Shane Dick, 34, waited a long time
to become a college student. Originally
from Johnstown, he’s lived in Cumberland
for the majority of his life and graduated
from Allegany High School in 2004. His
best friend’s untimely death three years
ago inspired him to make changes in his
own life. He enrolled at ACM in fall 2019.
This spring, he wasn’t about to let the
COVID-19 pandemic alter his plans to
become an Addictions Counselor.
“The transition to online learning in
March was challenging at first because
I wasn’t familiar with all of the technology,
but like most things it became easier
over time. As a non-traditional student,
I found the extra time to be an advantage
not a hindrance. It’s been a chance to
catch up on things I missed. When the
whole world is stopped, you have time,”
explained Dick. “I worry about my friends
and others during this time. We’re really
all in this together, but alone. The isolation
can be difficult for people to handle.”
“Having the ability to show up, go to
class virtually or in-person, and do the
work during a pandemic taught me a
lot about perseverance. I know I have
the determination I need to graduate
from ACM.” He credits the Pathways
for Success/TRiO program for providing
extra support and encouragement, and
champions the program to others.
“I believe ACM is doing all they can to
support students during this pandemic,
especially programs like Pathways.”
After taking an online government
and in-person sociology course during
the summer ’20 session, he’s enrolled
in online and in-person courses this
fall. Dick expects to graduate next
year and pursue his bachelors at a
four-year institution.
5 ACCESS ACM / Reimagining Dreams
Growing up in the District of Columbia,
Zakiyah Felder, 19, came to ACM in fall
2019 after graduating from Central Senior
High School. For her, the college’s move
to online learning in March meant that
she had to leave on-campus housing
at Willowbrook Woods to return home.
Like many students’ experiences,
it wasn’t an ideal situation. While she
thrived online in her biology course, she
missed the in-person instruction and
interactions of other classes. For the
Human Service Associate major whose
goal is to become a social worker and
work with foster children, it was difficult
to adapt to the changing format.
Fortunately, Felder is part of the
Pathways For Success/TRiO program,
which she explained provided her with
additional support during the tough spring
semester. “I hope to help other students
through Pathways’ student mentor
program. I didn’t know what exactly
I wanted to do when I came to ACM, but
I knew that my education was important.
My grandfather motivated me because
he was a lifelong learner. He had the job
he wanted, but never stopped learning,”
noted Felder.
Living in Frostburg with roommates
over the summer, she fared better in her
summer session course and is enrolled
in fall in-person courses. “It’s been a great
experience this summer even though we
had to wear masks. We made it work.”
If there was a silver lining to having
additional free time, Felder practiced
self-care and worked on her side passion,
an organic skincare line that she’s been
developing. She’s named the company
“Capris Care” in memory of her mother
and is working with a friend to set up
her online store.