Before the semester began, I was super excited to be back on campus. Zoom University was draining, unfulfilling, and just unnatural. Upon coming back to in person classes, I soon realized that it would not be the pre-COVID college I was anticipating.
I knew we would have to wear masks, which I’m more than okay with. What caught me off guard was the blatant disregard from professors for students’ stressors during this time. Of course, this does not apply to every professor, but I feel as though it applies to the majority. Not only are we coming back in person after almost two years of remote learning, but we have a million different other issues on our plates to worry about other than school. Everyone is aware that college is stressful, but I’m feeling like this is a different type of overwhelming. The attitude from professors is almost ruthless.
Many students find themselves either positive with COVID or exposed to someone who is positive, making it unsafe for them to come to class. Most professors do not have a Zoom option. If a student becomes positive for COVID and must quarantine, they are missing two weeks worth of class. Although many professors are understanding of this, many are not and will not make accommodations. The “figure it out” attitude from professors is cruel and piles on already established stress on students.
Students are not used to being in an in-person environment anymore. Coming back is shocking, stressful, and overwhelming. The majority of students, myself included, are already feeling suffocated and it’s only the fourth week of the semester. My hope for the future is that professors will become aware of the pressure they are adding on to students during this time and find a way to adjust their perspective.