Kellen McDonald learns lessons during month-long quarantine

by Paul Lambert

Kellen McDonald was growing tired of his time in his prison-like conditions.

Wake up. Breakfast. Class. Eat. Class. Work. Eat. Sleep. All in a cramped room in Granite. That was the routine for McDonald, who was in and out of quarantine for 29 days, from February 10 to March 10.

It was bad enough going from a spacious Lakeview townhouse to a cramped freshman dorm. Making matters worse for McDonald, a junior, was the fact that the day after initially being released from quarantine, a close contact tested positive, sending him back to Granite.

“I actually hated when I had to leave Granite, because I was actually comfortable,” he said.

Without anybody in the room with him, McDonald realized it would be up to him to stay on track with his schoolwork, something he had struggled with in the past. 

“I taught myself how to get myself out of bed and how to be motivated, because you really do have to motivate yourself, when you’re in Granite, to do stuff,” he said. “It’s more than tempting just to nap all day or play video games or just watch Netflix.”

McDonald was able to avoid those distractions. He got ahead in his classes and got a short break from working his job.

Before quarantine, McDonald spent every weekend at the Raven’s Nest, routinely not getting back to his Lakeview townhouse until 11:30 at night. Coupled with schoolwork, McDonald found himself in a mental fry.

“When you’re working so much and trying to keep yourself busy, pulling 70 hours a week, you don’t have much time for yourself,” he said. “[I learned] that I have a lot more patience and more strength that’s needed to get through COVID than that’s on the cover of things.”