Pandemic Fraternity

By Nusrat Jabeen

It was the spring semester of their senior year when the pandemic hit. The fraternity brothers were devastated when their university announced that all classes would be moved online and that students would have to leave campus within a week. They had been looking forward to their final semester together, and now, they were being forced to say goodbye prematurely. But the brothers didn't let the pandemic break their bond. They made a pact to stay connected and support each other, no matter what. They set up regular Zoom calls, where they would catch up on each other's lives and share their worries about the uncertain future. As the pandemic raged on, the brothers found creative ways to stay connected. They organized virtual game nights, where they played everything from online poker to virtual escape rooms. They even started a workout challenge, where they would compete to see who could do the most push ups in a minute.

But the pandemic also brought challenges. One of their brothers lost his job and struggled to make ends meet. Another was diagnosed with COVID-19 and had to quarantine for weeks. The rest of the fraternity rallied around them, sending care packages and offering emotional support. As the end of the semester approached, the brothers were saddened by the fact that they wouldn't be able to have a proper goodbye. No final party, no graduation ceremony, no handshake or hug to mark the end of their college journey. But they knew that their bond was stronger than any pandemic. They promised to stay in touch and meet up as soon as it was safe. And when they did finally reunite, they knew it would be a celebration like no other. Because in the midst of a pandemic, they had formed a fraternity that was unbreakable.

By Nusrat Jabeen