Students blog

Similar to the experiences of many college students from around the world, my semester on campus came to an abrupt end when universities transitioned to online learning due to the COVID-19 global pandemic. I found myself in a situation that I had not anticipated and never experienced before. I was packing my belongings and moving back to my childhood home, with news of the cancellation of my summer internship and fall study abroad program weighing heavily on my mind. I spent my first weeks at home adjusting to a new class schedule, new academic requirements, and a new ‘normal’ in quarantine. 

Now, having finished my final exams and completed my sophomore year of college, I have had the time to reflect upon my experiences. Amidst these times of great uncertainty, the physical, mental, and emotional challenges that we have endured and continue to face prove to be difficult in a variety of ways. I cannot change the circumstances that I find myself in. However, I have found that there are ways in which I can practice mindfulness in order take care of my physical well-being, attend to my emotions, and learn to be present despite it all. 

Coronavirus (COVID-19) continues to be spread every day. This virus does not know young from old – anyone can be affected by it. Yes, we have a stay at home order in Michigan, but it will help things get better. Meanwhile, this does not mean we can’t have fun. To face these hard times, I have several activities I try to complete every day. These help me maintain a positive outlook and attitude.

• Creating a schedule to stay on track. It’s easy to fall behind in online classes. I allot daily time for studying, homework, and taking care of my family.
• Drawing and writing as much as possible. It serves as a creative outlet and brings me joy when I am in a bad mood. 
• Video-chatting with my family members who are in Italy. 
• Meditating because it helps me to sleep well and lifts my mood. 
• Getting outside in the sunshine as much as possible. 
• Putting on my favorite outfit and going for a drive, while playing my favorite music. 
• Running in the empty park because I enjoy smelling the fresh air.
• Looking to reliable sources for news and information. I check reliable websites like the Center for Disease Control.

Outside of these things, I always make time for fun. We all get busy with work and school, but making time for activities you enjoy usually lifts your mood. I make sure to start every day with a smile. This simple gesture reminds me to think positively.

I know by following proper safety protocols, things will get better. I try to stay strong for my friends and family who do not have this option. Together, we will get through this. Despite social distancing, love can still be spread. So, continue to spread love and care in your everyday life. 

“I’m just feeling so…STUCK!” I vented to my best friend (through a text message, of course). Within 4 days, COVID-19 had wrecked my plans for at least the next couple of months.

Now, I’m isolated from my friends and school community, while managing the burden of 15 hours of online classes and worrying about a global virus. You probably know exactly how that feels; everyone is in a similar boat right now. It’s enough to drive anyone crazy. But the good news is that we’re not alone and there are ways to make this more bearable. 

So how do you stop feeling like COVID-19 is holding you hostage? Here are four things that have helped me: 

(1) Breathe. Take a moment to let yourself pause. Set aside dedicated time to stop and rest. I’ve started doing yoga and having self-reflection each day. Having time that is intentionally set aside to be a quiet moment is important to regaining balance in an unbalanced time. 

(2) Try something you’ve never had time for. Develop new interests! Even if you don’t pursue them further, it’s a way for you to gain new experiences while you stay inside. I’ve begun learning a second language, developing new chess strategies and trying new recipes. If you feel like giving something a shot, go for it! What do you have to lose?

(3) Get creative. Take time to express your feelings. Whether that’s journaling, painting, or making music, be sure to acknowledge what you are feeling. It’s okay to be experiencing worry and sadness. Instead of just trying to move past them, allow yourself to express them in a creative way. 

(4) Celebrate the little victories. No matter how you’re feeling, you are doing well simply by choosing to persevere. This is an unprecedented time of change, and you are moving through it in the best way you know how. Celebrate the little things you accomplish; whether it’s getting out of bed in the morning or taking a final exam. You deserve a chance to recognize the good things you’ve done. A little celebration can look however you want it to. Maybe it’s making brownies. Maybe it’s watching your favorite show. As long as it brings you joy, go for it! You deserve it. 

Has anyone else’s world completely turned upside down? Yes? Mine, too – as well as every other college student across the world. I would have never imagined my education could change so dramatically in such a short amount of time. Campus closures due to COVID-19 changed not only my education, but my entire social life as well. If you are managing to not go insane, huge props to you! 

This is all very difficult, but I am doing my best to make it through this as I hope you are, too. I want to share what has helped me stay positive and motivated throughout this experience. Here’s a consistent schedule I try to follow every day to maintain a sense of normalcy. 

Set the Alarm

Waking up at a decent time is very important. This helps to get my day started and get motivated. I make a point to be up by 9 a.m. because I’ve noticed that if I wake up later than 10 a.m., the day is done before I’ve had a chance to be productive. I also like to have my day wind down around 6 p.m. so then I can relax, make dinner, and chat with friends in the evening. Keeping this timeline is a great way to establish balance in your life. 

Make Daily Goals

I suggest making a flexible schedule built around five things you would like to accomplish every day. For example, between the time I wake up and wind down, I try to work out, do something school related, read for thirty minutes, spend some time on my job with Pearson, and study for my certified public accountant license. No one is perfect and some days are better than others. I don’t always have to complete everything, but by having a goal, I find myself more motivated to get out of bed and get things accomplished!

Stay Accountable

Keeping track of what I am doing helps me stay on schedule. I created a document where I have each day listed in a row and I mark what I have done for each of my five daily goals. It might sound nerdy but it really works for me! Before I give in to the urge to lie in bed and watch Netflix, I will look at my document and see what I have slacked on before turning on my show. 

Go Outside!

I always carve out at least 30 minutes a day to be outside. Being cooped up in your house all day can get very dull. Going outside is a great way to get a change of scenery. If the weather is nice enough, I try to do my homework outside or take a walk. 

Sticking to a routine can help you stay in a positive state of mind in these chaotic times. I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy, both physically and mentally. All we can do is try our best and hope this will be over soon.

I couldn’t believe it was finally happening. After months of convincing my parents, filling out paperwork, and taking extra classes to make this possible, I was finally going to Australia. I was so ready to have the best semester of my life! As I began my study abroad journey in February, it quickly became one of the best months of my life. There was something about Australia; there was a certain charm to it that made me fall in love instantly. I had quickly made so many memories, and met so many people from all around the world, it was unreal. 

Then the virus hit. Something I would have never imagined would be an obstacle became a reality. I can’t even describe the emotions that went through my mind the week my mom told me to come home, but that week was one of the hardest weeks I’ve ever had to go through. After being home for 2 weeks now, I’ve had some time to process my experience. Maybe this will help give others some insight, too.

Like many students in this uncertain time, my life quickly changed with the spread of COVID-19. My school moved to virtual classes and most areas on campus closed. My on-campus job was suddenly not necessary anymore. My summer internship might even be affected. My friends and I all moved back home for the unforeseeable future, so we are all separated. With so much change going on in everyone’s lives, it is important to stay focused on the positive and try not to dwell on the negative. I am trying to make this a learning experience for myself, knowing that anything can happen and needing to be prepared for the unknown. 

Adjust to change

I am still adjusting to online courses, as this will be my first time taking an online course at Fresno State University. Although I am worried about how my learning will be impacted by taking virtual courses, I know that there are many resources online that I can utilize to make sure I understand the concepts. Many students are also worried they will have a harder time keeping track of their assignments. Keeping an updated schedule or setting reminders of when something is due will be key to success in a virtual classroom. I know in the end this will only make me a stronger student if I roll with the punches.

Focus on the positive 

The media tends to focus on the negative impact of COVID-19, however I think we need to try and look at all of the people who have recovered from it, too. As a college student, it is hard to focus on school at all with all of this going on. But I’ve realized that once I stopped scrolling through endless news updates, I was able to refocus on school and get more things done. It is important to know what is going on in regard to this situation, but we all have to keep our mental health in check. While it is important to keep up with current events, look for all the good happening in the world as well. Don’t just get sucked into a time warp where you are only doing homework or not doing anything at all; be sure to take time for you and the things you enjoy. 

These are uncertain times that seem to be constantly changing; it can be overwhelming. One thing I can do is remain positive and hope everything gets better soon. Students across the world have been thrown into a whirlwind, but by being flexible and focusing on the positive, we will make it through together.

This past week, I flew from my university in Orlando to my family’s new home in San Angelo, Texas for spring break. I was expecting to spend no more than five days here; however, little did I know that I wouldn’t be going back at all this semester. The COVID-19 outbreak hit me hard and was unexpected. As a student, I’m confused and struggling to see what will happen next. Because my family just moved to Texas this past year, this will impact me socially, as I don’t know anyone. It will also affect me in my studies, as I’ll be learning online for the rest of the semester. I realize that many other students are experiencing the same thing I am going through.

Social Impact

If you have been feeling as if you are alone in this, know that you aren’t. This is only my second time being at my new home in a different state. Unfortunately, I am already feeling lonely and miss my friends so much. I’ve also seen that others have started to feel symptoms of depression and anxiety because of being quarantined. Although I’m not physically near my friends, I have been constantly keeping in contact with them via FaceTime, phone calls, texting, and social media. I strongly encourage everyone to consistently reach out to friends and loved ones. This is vitally important during a pandemic like this.

Educational Impact

When I got the news that the rest of my semester courses would be online, I was flabbergasted. No more classes at campus or face-to-face interactions with professors and peers. As students, this will be one of the most difficult transitions; however, we should still continue to do our best to achieve greatness.  Continue to reach out to your professors if you’re struggling because they’re along for the ride with you as well. Luckily, Pearson has provided many online resources for students to use that will allow us to adjust more smoothly as well.

What’s next?

It’s hard to determine what’s coming next or what to expect. The whole world is in panic mode and it seems like I’m hearing more and more negative news every day. Despite this, I still encourage everyone to take a deep breath and to stay positive, optimistic, and strong. We’re all in this together!