To all college students, you made it. You successfully made it through the fall semester while in a global pandemic, when it may have seemed like all odds were stacked against you. Personally, this semester has been one of the most challenging yet. Finding the motivation to get out of bed and actually log into Zoom, or do any class work for that matter, was a real challenge some days. This semester has been one of the most unprecedented semesters that I am sure anyone will ever experience in their college career. I am here to tell you, just in case no one has, I am so proud of you for making it here.
College is challenging. College during a global pandemic is even worse. But, despite all the pressure of what was going on in the world you made it. It’s okay if your grades weren’t what you expected. It’s okay if some days you could barely put in any effort. It’s okay that you may not have given your best academic performance this semester. It was hard. Learning in an exclusively online environment is not easy for some people. This style and format of learning can be very isolating and overwhelming. It’s normal for us to struggle.
Looking forward to spring semester, I am wishing you all the best of luck as we continue in this format of learning. One thing I want to stress is the importance of acknowledging when you need help. It’s okay to email a professor or meet with them if you have no idea what’s going on. For me, I struggled a lot with this throughout all my years in college. For some reason, I always had this idea in my head that I was too good to ask for help, or it would make me look dumb in some way. That’s not true. Don’t be afraid to actually reach out to someone who might be able to help you. It doesn’t have to be academic either. Like I said, this year has been a rollercoaster and sometimes we just need someone to go to.
Again, I want to say I am so proud of you for getting through this semester. I am proud of you for not giving up even though some days it might’ve felt like you did. Going into winter break, I hope each and everyone of you truly takes time to relax and enjoy time with family or friends. Take your mind off the stress of college and truly give yourself a breather. I also wish the best for each one of you going into the spring semester. Just think you already made it through one, just one more to go. Remember to take time for yourself. Don’t let school and academics consume your life. It’s okay to take breaks and to give yourself some time to mentally recoup.