Prompt 2
There are many difficult things that have come with going to college in the middle of a pandemic. The biggest challenge for me is keeping track of my confusing class schedule. Out of all my classes, only one has a regular scheduled class time. Although it is hard to keep all of my class times and locations straight, using my planner and writing everything down has helped a lot. It is also more difficult to find motivation to do assignments and turn things in on time. With so much learning not taking place in the classroom, sometimes it feels like I'm not in school, even though I am. I have had to work harder than usual to keep up with my class schedule and the new online assignment components.
My college experience has changed due to the pandemic. Before March, there were multiple games to attend a week, events to go to, and people to meet. While all of these things still exist at my college, they aren't what they used to be. For sporting events, students must reserve tickets in advance, but there is a limited number of spots. Activities are still offered, but everyone must wear a mask and many tasks revolve around COVID-19 themes. Personally, I have found it harder to meet new people. Before classes start, I like to talk to the people around me and get to know them. This is a little harder to do when you are sitting six feet away from the closest person and while wearing a mask that blocks most of your voice. There have been many challenges and changes to my college experience, but McPherson College has done a great job of keeping activities and sports going and trying to maintain their small college atmosphere.
Before the pandemic, there were many events that seemed "normal" to me that I took for granted. Having classes in person was never something special or amazing, but now I realize how important it was to me. Classes have changed to not being in person all the time, and even the one class that is in person seems to have a different atmosphere with everyone wearing masks. Also, going to $2 movie nights at the local theater and bingo is fun, but it seems so different now that you can't really sit next to people or socialize. Due to changes like these, it has made it harder for me to have a social life in college. Last year, I struggled to find time for fun between all of my classes and involvements on campus. This year, not being able to talk to new people in class or go to as many events has really affected my social life. Although nothing in college is "normal" anymore, I'm just trying to make the most out of my experience.
Meghan Smith
Sophomore
This year is a whole new college experience. Challenges topple over one another with school, work, family and my own health. One of the most difficult parts about this year is working a part time job with full time job hours. As cool and scary as it is to be a part of this pandemic, I get to learn how to stay healthy, do my best in school, and move up the ladder of importance in my job. Although this pandemic has been nerve wracking, and hard, the pandemic has also brought good and bad news for me. For instance, I got promoted to a supervisor at Freddys Frozen Custard and Steakburgers in McPherson, Kansas. The downside is working hours I’m not used to and getting minor times where I don’t feel good.
What I have thought to be normal, has changed. I’ve learned that I’m anemic, which makes it more terrifying during this pandemic. Anemia is having too little iron in your blood and not creating enough to keep in your blood flow. Being anemic has made me miss classes for appointments, sit out of fun activities, and fall behind in classes. With the pandemic at hand, classes move twice as fast, which means twice as much homework and studying hours in a week. If I miss a class, that's missing two classes each time.
The pandemic has made my life a little crazy. When I’m not at school, I’m at work. Those are the main two things I have with the pandemic. This pandemic has brought worrying into my home with my dad recovering from having cancer. We don’t want to make it worse by somebody catching covid in our house. As much as I love to hangout with my friends, my family is top priority to keep healthy. Which is why I go to work, and school, and minimize my activities outside of those two main points of my day.
Alyssa Lambert
Junior
I think the most difficult part about school today is there are a lot of distractions aside from being in a pandemic. The technology we have today is a blessing and a curse. Because of Covid-19 we’re able to have hybrid courses, both online and in class. In my opinion, learning in a difficult way is better than not learning at all. However, since some courses are online and not easy, students see that as an obstacle and don’t want to try as hard. I find this ironic because technology appears to be our best friend with social media apps such as Snapchat, Instagram, Twitter etc., but the second we must learn using technology, it’s a whole different story.
Thinking about how Covid-19 has changed by college experience, I can’t think of anything that sticks out to me, but once I need to communicate with my professor or find it difficult to get involved on campus, my opinion changes. I don’t like being able to see my professor’s face or classmates face. I don’t like not being able to smile at people on the sidewalk. Class isn’t scheduled as often, which is nice but I’m ready for things to go back to normal.
Going anywhere without a mask pre pandemic was normal. I didn’t have to question whether or not something was open/closed due to Covid-19. Making sure you had a ticket to a sporting event on campus was not normal. You could just pay and walk in. Now since there’s limited seating tickets need to be ordered to make sure you have a spot in the stadium/gym.
Since I’m a transfer student, this is all I’ve known McPherson College to be. I think it’s difficult to interact with others, and to communicate while maintaining social distancing. But I am looking forward to the day that this is all over so I can genuinely see how great McPherson College is.
Elle Barrett
Sophomore