he said, noting that “the surge in mental health
need has been ongoing for a number of years.”
Still, he said the college was anticipating an even
greater need for counseling and similar services
among this year’s freshmen. They’ve missed out
on some “pretty significant milestones.”
Madison Zurmuehlen got over a ditched prom
and delayed graduation ceremony, but arrived
at the University of Missouri-Kansas City to find
other disappointments.
She’s on an athletic scholarship, but soccer
season was moved from fall to spring.
She said daily practices, with masks, are “the
one thing I look forward to,” so it was tough
when campus sports were canceled for two
weeks after an outbreak among student
athletes and staff.
To stay safe, athletes are discouraged from
hanging out with other students, and aren’t
allowed to go home except for Thanksgiving
break, she said.
She misses her family in the St. Louis area, and
spends lots of time in her dorm room, either
attending virtual classes or just hanging out with
her roommate.
Her coach recently sensed that the team was
stressed and arranged a virtual session with
a therapist.
“He let us say how we were feeling in the COVID
times and gave us ways to feel better about it,”
Zurmuehlen said.
“What felt helpful,” she said, “was knowing
my other teammates were going through the
same thing.”