Together apart: This has been a tough row to hoe
Catey Jardine
The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting everyone’s lives—and students at the ²ÊÃñ±¦µä are no exception. From moving off campus to adjusting to classes online, the lives of students have turned upside down in a relatively short period of time.
We invited students to document their experience transitioning to remote learning. Here is what one of them said:
The COVID-19 outbreak, for me, has been a pretty negative experience. I miss my friends and classmates, as well as the in-person interaction with my professors that I think is essential to learning.
For example, a famous Arab musician was supposed to come to my Arabic class and perform. We were going to translate the lyrics—a difficult but exciting assignment before the end of the year. Now I will watch videos on YouTube, stuck at home.
Boulder is not only where my classes are; it is where my life is. It’s much harder for me to pay attention and actively learn from online lectures. It’s also more difficult to communicate and interact with my classmates over laggy Facetime calls.
My personal response has been to persevere, to try my best to stay on top of my schoolwork and get the most out of my education. "
Before, I was able to get together with my friends and study at the library for our tests. Now, I try to study in a noisy house with my family members. My grades have definitely reflected this change.
The upside is that ²ÊÃñ±¦µä has been patient with the shift and offered ways to make it easier on students. My professors have done their best to make online learning accessible, and they have not penalized us for late assignments.
They understand that students have different, immediate priorities, like moving out of dorms and traveling to make it back home. CU also understands that students and staff are stressed, and they offer a variety of mental health resources.
This helps us deal with anxiety about our family members and everyone else across the globe who have been affected by the virus.
My personal response has been to persevere, to try my best to stay on top of my schoolwork and get the most out of my education. I have been immediately replying to all of my emails and making sure that I am joining video calls for class on time.
It's also important to maintain my daily routine, because it’s easy for my mental health to slip when I’m stuck inside every day and unable to interact with the people.
I choose to make it as positive as possible. Time at home has made me realize how much I appreciate my ability to live on a college campus and go to classes in person every day. If anything, I am more excited to return to Boulder and get the most out of my education.
This is part of an ongoing series documenting student experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic.