Undoubtedly, COVID-19 has taken a toll on everyone’s lives. I thought after the ruined 2020 spring semester, I would return to my college to continue learning despite the brooding pandemic. However, two weeks before my move-in date, I scrambled to change my status as a full-time, on-campus student to a distance learner. The choice wasn’t my own; due to terrible luck and the unforeseen circumstances of COVID-19 staying for more than a few months, my professors made the executive decision to change their class formats to online only. While I had the decision to try to change my schedule, I didn’t want to settle for classes I wasn’t interested in simply to justify my stay at college. Like anything in life, distance learning has its ups and downs; here is how I’ve navigated my fully online semester.
Believe it or not, distance learning has some hidden perks. The great part about distance learning is the amount of money I unknowingly saved from staying home. Since you aren’t paying for room and board, the price of tuition gets cut a great deal. While the sticker price is still not a pretty number, it gives my parents and I some financial relief for a year. Another positive aspect of distance learning is the ability to work a job without restrictions. When I was an on-campus student, I had no access to a car, so my work options were limited to what was within walking distance. Now, with my car at home, working a job has become much easier. The only downside is sharing a car with a sixteen-year-old brother who is unwilling to share his new prized possession.
However, distance learning hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for the period I’ve been doing it. The disconnect from your friends and people on campus is tough. The first few weeks of the semester were especially hard to get through. I scrolled through what seemed like endless photos of happy roommates and friends being reunited while I felt like the loneliest girl in the world. Even though the point of social media is to connect people, watching everyone experience something you’re missing out on is a hard pill to swallow. It’s even difficult to remain connected with my closest friends since our schedules often conflict. Even if we can’t be fully in each other lives, the little things, like short Facetimes and texts, help make the distance between us feel not so far.
I would best describe distance learning as an independent journey. In most scenarios, you’re on your own to navigate the challenges of college life in an environment that isn’t suited to handle them. Even though distance learning put many obstacles in my path, I’ll admit that I’ve grown a lot through the process. For once in my life, I’m doing things on my own for myself, without anyone telling me what to do. I’ve also been able to see the people who truly care and support me even if we are miles apart. Distance learning may be tough, but it’s only a temporary period, and soon enough I’ll be back on campus to enjoy my years as an upperclassman.