With the closure of colleges and statewide Stay at Home Order due to the COVID-19 outbreak, some students must adjust to life quarantined with older siblings who are home from college.

Senior Alex Rosen’s brother returned home from Truman State University in early March for spring break, then stayed home after in-person classes were cancelled for the remaining school year.

“I’m pretty close with my brother, so it’s nice having him home again,” Rosen said. “We’ve been using this opportunity to bond a little more.”

Rosen and his brother spend time self-quarantined at home to play games, watch movies, and cook lunch together. Before Rosen’s brother graduated from Howell, they used to go out to the movies every Tuesday as a family.

“I think the best thing is just doing everything as a family again,” Rosen said. “It reminds me of the years before he went to college.”

For junior Rawan Alhussein, having her brother home from college comes with benefits and drawbacks.

“I’m glad to have my brother back because he helps convince my parents to let me do more things, plus we have movie nights together, but he also drives me insane,” Alhussein said. “One time, while I was sleeping, he walked into my room at three in the morning, turned on the lights, and started straightening his hair with my straightener.”

“My brother can be a lot to deal with, but I still love him,” Alhussein said. “At the end of the day, we can always turn to each other for support.”