Seeing COVID-19 from a Student's Perspective: Part 2

Our new series, Seeing COVID-19 from a Student’s Perspective continues with Ella Foster, a college freshman whose year was interrupted by the pandemic.

With the school year ending, what would you say was your biggest challenge of the 2019-2020 school year?

Aside from adjusting to life at college as a freshman, my biggest challenge this year was coping with the shock of moving back home early and continuing college classes online. Suddenly we were in the midst of a pandemic and I was in my old bedroom attending college classes at the desk I thought I would leave behind as the one where I used to do high school homework. At college, my learning would continue outside of the classroom by attending professor’s office hours and having study sessions with my peers. At home, I was suddenly all alone. My biggest challenge was adjusting physically and mentally back to life at home while trying to maintain stamina for my college courses. 

What is something you wish teachers would know about distance learning?

I wish my professors knew that even though all their students were at home in quarantine, we did not necessarily have more time on our hands for their coursework. Many professors assigned extra reading and assignments, assuming that students had more time to focus on their studies than they typically did at school. I wish my professors understood that at home, students have many more responsibilities as a part of the family unit than they do living alone at school. Many students also live in households with poor wifi, unhealthy relationships at home, or other disadvantages which can be hindering to a student’s capacity to learn. Distance learning isn’t a time to overload students with work, assuming they’re bored at home; it’s a time to be even more of a support for students, allowing flexibility in the curriculum.

How has the pandemic impact you the most?

I consider myself very extroverted, finding my energy and motivation by spending time with my friends and peers. Though I’ve enjoyed spending time with my family at home, the pandemic has affected my mental health while living in isolation away from those who used to inspire me everyday. 

Did you have any internships, college plans, or jobs fall through because of the pandemic? 

I had applied to several internships and part-time jobs that all notified me that they were cancelling their program or closing their stores. I have many friends who also had internships cancelled or shortened due to the pandemic.

How have you been staying in contact with your friends from school?

My friends and I love using Zoom for movie nights and game nights. The clubs and organizations that I’m a part of on campus also kept up with regular meetings over Zoom, which was really nice. Looking forward to club meetings allowed me to feel some regularity to my life during college quarantine. Even my Residence Director hosted game nights for my residence hall so that I could see some familiar faces with whom I lived with back at school.

The country is reopening but COVID-19 is still a risk. How has this impacted your summer plans? 

I’m not one to book-up my summer with vacations and get-aways months in advance, so I didn’t have many summer plans when the pandemic hit in March. But I do enjoy spontaneous trips or weekend adventures that I have not been able to do because of closures from COVID-19. It sure doesn’t feel like a normal summer since I am still mostly contained to my house.

What do you think about going back to school (whether high school or college) in the fall? 

I’m really excited to go back because I love life at college, but I’m honestly scared at the same time. I know people my age who have recovered from COVID-19 but still have respiratory issues and I know the virus is something I do not want to contract. Although my school has outlined plans for social distancing in the classrooms and cafeterias, I’m not sure what will happen if students are commuting to school and bring the virus onto campus. I’m also going to be a Residence Advisor next year and it is still unclear what the parameters of my job description will be for keeping residence safe and socializing at a distance. 

How have your education plans been changed, if at all, by the pandemic?

Personally, my education plans have not changed much, though I did weigh the benefits and consequences of taking a gap year next year before deciding to continue pursuing my bachelor’s degree at my current institution. I have many friends, however, who are re-considering going back to college in the fall. 

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