"It's definitely difficult," says Victoria Smith. 

That's Allegheny College sophomore Victoria Smith describing her last year as a student. She only had one normal semester of school, before COVID sent everyone back home last March.

"I don't have real knowledge of what a normal semester is like," says Smith. 

Smith, now back on campus realized how much things have changed. Last year she joined a sorority, but like everything else, it was pushed virtually, and that has taken a toll on her mental health.

"There are days where the last thing I want to do is join another Zoom call," says Smith. 

Smith calls it Zoom fatigue. She says she's exhausted, like many others trying to navigate this new normal.

"There are days where I just like I do not want to be on Zoom, like any more but there's no other way for us to do this and it's like really tiring," says Smith. 

Smith like many other college students just want things back to normal and back in person.

"Just hearing all of the 'no's' has definitely made me frustrated and it made me very disappointed because there were so many things I wanted to be able to do," says Smith. 

 

This last year has been full of change for everyone. For college students especially, this year has been met with isolation and now no spring break. Usually it's a time to reset your body and mind students have been feeling overwhelmed, like Smith. 

"Everything I'm doing is based on going to a Zoom call," says Smith. 

For students like Smith, she lost her creative outlet to see friends and express herself. One program out of Edinboro University it aimed to help students express themselves and cope with their feelings.

"Because we all have baggage, and especially now going from one Zoom meeting to the next with barely a potty break in between then it's good for us to have that moment as a transitional period to come in, close the door, sit down, relax," says Shelia Lorenzo De La Pena. 

That's Art Therapy Counselor Shelia Lorenzo De La Pena. She teaches coping through art and says anyone can do it to be able to escape what's going on around them.

"The awareness of what's going on with you, what thoughts are in your mind, and just putting that on paper it's almost like writing a to do list for yourself when you go grocery shopping. You take it out of your head you take it out of your body you put it on paper and you put it aside and now you're like OK," says De La Pena. 

She says if you don't know where to start, don't worry. It doesn't have to be painting or drawing. It can be something as simple as taking a picture.

"Going outside and maybe finding one thing that to you means beauty and you just take a picture of it, whatever it is. It can be moss on a rock, it could be a bird and the way it's flying in the sky and just sharing that with a group of friends," says De La Pena.

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health emergency you can call 9-1-1 or NAMI at 814-456-1773. Crisis Services is also available everyday at 814-456-2014.