By: Rebecca Capozzi | Staff Writer and Treasurer
The feeling in the air right now is all too familiar. The feeling of being uneasy, upset, and unsure about what the future holds. We all felt this way in March as we were all being sent home for what we thought was a month. Now, here we are again. Thankfully, there are less unknowns this time around. This is just a precautionary measure to stop the spread of COVID-19. All we can do is keep our fingers crossed that the spread will slow enough for us to return to campus in January.
For now, we are going back to remote learning. Luckily, it is only for a few weeks, but this can still be difficult for some students. Remote learning took a lot of getting used to back in March, and it will definitely be an adjustment again. At least we have some experience under our belts.
I am going to share some advice that I wish that I knew back in March, and what I had learned by the end of last semester. Of course, everyone is different and different things work for different people. These are things that I definitely plan on keeping in mind over the next few weeks, and I hope can help you
1. Do not wake up 1 minute before your class starts. I normally give myself 15-20 minutes before my classes start so that I am not half asleep once class starts. During this time, I quickly check my phone, brush my teeth, and set up what I need for class, including my laptop, charger, notebook, and textbook.
2. Do not attend class while you are lying in your bed. I think that the reason for this is obvious, but I understand why it is so difficult. Especially in the winter, the last thing I want to do is get out of my warm bed. However, it is so much easier to concentrate when you are not in your bed. First of all, it is so easy to fall back asleep if you do not leave your bed, and no one wants to be the kid who is obviously asleep during class. Also, professors always assume that the students who are lying in bed are sleeping. So, if you are sitting up and looking attentive, you are guaranteed a higher participation grade than the students who look like they are asleep during every class.
No one likes that awkward, 30 second silence when your professor asks for a volunteer to answer a question and everyone just sits there and stares at each other.
3. Wear headphones during class. Unless you have your own private area to take class in, I highly recommend wearing headphones. In my house, I have to take class at my kitchen table since I do not have my own room or desk for me to take my classes. Since I am in my kitchen, my parents and siblings are constantly walking in and out. Whenever I do not have my headphones in, my parents or siblings will walk in and start making comments about what is going on in my class or they ask me questions about the class. This is extremely distracting. So, I wear headphones so that they cannot hear what is going on in the class. Headphones also help when you want to ignore what your parents or siblings are saying. I just pretend that I cannot hear them!
4. Treat the class as if you are in-person. What I mean by this is that if you are a student who normally takes a lot of notes during class and actively participates, continue to do so! No one likes that awkward, 30 second silence when your professor asks for a volunteer to answer a question and everyone just sits there and stares at each other. Also, I am sure that in your in-person classes, you are not allowed to use your phone. So, try to avoid using your phone in your online classes as well. I know how difficult this is, and I do find myself on my phone at least once her class. But I instantly regret it once I realize that I have no idea what happened in those five minutes of class. I plan on leaving my phone in a separate room during my classes these next few weeks, and I hope you do the same.
Would you rather get an 85 on an exam or a 0?
5. Keep a set schedule. I know how difficult this can be, especially when you are at home. So many things can come up, like wanting to watch something on TV, your parents asking you to do something, or doing something with your friends or siblings. So, it is important to set times when you have to be doing work, and make sure that your friends and family know when. For example, if you have a couple of hours between classes, set that time aside to do some work. Make sure that everyone in your household knows this so that they do not try to make plans with you or bother you. You also need to make sure that you stick to this schedule. Do not make any plans during these times, because you will then be behind on your work
6. Continue to study for your exams. I know how tempting it is to want to cheat on exams when you are at home. But, at the end of the day, is that really doing anything for you? For many of our classes, we need to apply what we learn in the real world. If we’re not helping ourselves to actually learn the information now, it is only going to hurt us in the future. Also, it is super obvious to professors when students cheat, and they can easily give you a 0 on the exam. Would you rather get an 85 on an exam or a 0?
I think that if anything, it is so important to make this situation as normal as possible. Try to do what you would do if you were on campus and in your in-person classes. Even though this is an unexpected change, there is no reason to make the transition harder than it already is. If one thing from this article resonates with you, I hope it is that you should keep routine. Routine always keeps me on track and gives me a sense of comfort. I hope this, and all of my other tips, help you to ease your anxiety during these difficult times.
Cover Image: “Note Taking (79/365)” by Chung Ho Leung is licensed under CC BY-ND 2.0
