In a time of technological advancement, everyone is addicted to phones, online school is not all that great. Constant reminders to “flatten the curve, abundance of caution,” — no meetings, events, sports, bars, travel restrictions. The biggest impact, college. Where time management is so crucial, I wouldn’t even know what day of the week it is. It becomes a cycle of turning in assignments and sitting at home all day. The college experience has been stripped away. Under the pandemic, college will be in uncertainty as more and more students feel lost in opportunities and their future. Government funding for universities has significantly gone down as tuition rates jumped up. These changes call attention to America’s prejudice and social inequality that affects me and my peers around me. This paper will highlight the experiences of myself and my roommates discussing topics on college during the pandemic and its effects on mental health, family, relationships, and the future.
The experiences of the students in the documentary Hungry to Learn reflected much of what my friends and I felt. The absence of abundant support from universities, professors, and the government affects every student individually. Generally, most students were not working this semester whether they were laid off or unable to find a job. All three of my roommates including myself have now been out of job, the income used for food and other expenses. Like Shaquara’s story in the documentary, food insecurity became a familiar feeling. Eating three meals a day is not common among college students. My roommates and I are lucky to even eat two meals a day. Those meals, however, consist of cheap frozen meals and fast food delivery orders. Still, we are so lucky to be able to have any type of means to obtain food, while others rely on food pantries that have shut down or provided fewer resources. These food pantries will never solve the problem. It does not prevent hunger. The options are limited and every student has access to these pantries. There needs to be a redistribution in resources to provide additional pantries and options for students who are in desperate need.
The importance of communication with professors is needed more than ever. Generally, most of my professors as well as my roommates have been very understanding and flexible. Some professors have made it more comfortable for some students than others. The constant reminders from them that strict deadlines are not going to be in place, alleviated much of the stressors. However, some professors were slower to respond to emails and posting material online. The use of slack and medium in this class made it much more comfortable and accessible this semester. By visualizing seeing classmates material and discussing hands-on, it brought the sense of a real classroom to life.
The sudden loss of jobs and opportunities is a frightening thought. Not only does it affect us currently, but it also impacts our outlook on our futures. The job market and economy are going down, as stresses for plans go up. A social network is a privilege that I experience that is not afforded to everyone. My uncle was able to afford a position as an intern at his Law Firm starting the end of the fall semester. This opportunity would not be possible without the network. My roommates expressed their concern about finding internships and jobs after graduation. There becomes a mutual feeling of hopelessness as many of us question the importance of college and why we came here. With thousands in debt, I question if college was the correct pathway for me, or if the influence of pressure and societal norms put me here today.
The topic of mental health goes hand in hand with the college during the pandemic. Discussing this topic was a heavy one for my roommates and me. The state of everyone’s mental health alleviated from stressors regarding jobs, school, finances, and family. For many students, struggling with depression and anxiety is an everyday thing, for others, they are just starting to experience this. My roommates expressed their frustration with others “complaining about being depressed.” These feelings were not to say everyone’s emotions are not valid. However, since social isolation and quarantine, people are easily and loosely using phrases like, “I am depressed, and “I have bad anxiety.” For people who are just starting to develop different mental health issues, it can be easy for them to overlook the severity of another’s situation. This is all to say, students experience mental health problems during this age, and with the pandemic, college students are feeling at an all-time low.
The stressors and frustration that correlate with mental health is the concept of online school in general. Students are struggling to turn in assignments by the due date. My two roommates expressed their stories regarding DRS and accommodations. They both struggle with ADHD and have always relied on the DRS department. One roommate expressed her gratitude for the department with quick communication. However, my other roommate expressed her anger towards the department. The lack of communication from DRS and the professors made it extremely difficult for her to get the accommodations in order. It became months into the semester before everything was settled. My roommates stated that communication and accommodations are dependent on the professor. It is unsettling to know that students in need of accommodations could be deterred from even getting any. Understandably, due to COVID the staff and faculty have significantly gone done. However, there is a need for balanced communication from departments like DRS whose purpose is to accommodate their students.
Let’s admit it, school from home is not fun. The productivity level in myself and my roommates have significantly gone down. You would expect there to be more time and energy, however, it becomes the opposite. My one roommate is a landscape architect major who mostly went to the Ambler campus throughout the week. Learning on campus was a privilege she never knew would be stripped away. Those early mornings, 6 am bus rides is something she misses as well as the environment where she studied, and the faces she saw which are no longer unachievable anymore. My other roommate, a secondary English education major, can no longer have hands-on experience teaching in a classroom. To graduate, she is required to submit 30 hours of teaching. With the move to online classes, the experience was not fully there. My roommate explained that her role became more of an observer than an actual teacher. In-person, she would have spent time in between classes communicating with the teacher and socializing with the students more. However, the reluctant participation from the students ended up making it more difficult for my roommate to assist. She is lucky to have the opportunity to help teach online but is uncertain in her teaching career under the pandemic.
To focus on myself and my college education during the pandemic, I have re-established relationships with friends and family. The idea of family and family bonds have never been strong in my household. This pandemic has allowed me to value relationships as many loved ones of friends have passed away. It also allowed me to think more presently than looking far into the future. Every day becomes a cycle, so thinking about what is going to happen a week away is not on my mind. I have learned to take each day as a new day and to live more in the present than the worries of the future.
The stressors and impact of the pandemic are crucial to a student’s college education and experience. These feelings are presented all across the country as students are in more fear and doubt than ever. The importance of education and its reliance on funding has been downplayed. Generally, student’s motivation and more ethics have gone down as professors are struggling to manage online classes and participation. Case by case, professors must accommodate a student’s emotional support as well as clear communication and instruction. Much of this is easier said than done. Redistributing funds into education can help create better resources and programs for students during this time.
On the topic of money, families are struggling to live paycheck to paycheck. The stimulus provided by the government and the some who obtained unemployment is still scarcely using their funds. The idea of public safety is not well stressed enough. Our President first claimed the virus as a joke, publicly reluctant to wear a mask, our country started with the lack of stress on the severity of the pandemic. With another “lockdown” in place, families are struggling more than ever as no second stimulus check was distributed. We are simply accustomed and still transitioning with fewer social interactions. Students are individually experiencing a different type of college experience as staff, faculty, and students are making the best of the circumstances.
