I don’t have to tell you how bad this reigning period of COVID-19 is; you definitely already know. Let’s face it, we all feel as though we are sucked into some sort of time warp. We’re neglecting the present while fixating on our unforeseeable future, trying to make up for the lost time that the pandemic ate away. So how are we supposed to cope and breathe when the pressures of college feel so hefty?
For freshmen, college may feel like a new awakening that is closely followed by fright. Sophomores, on the other hand, feel just as oblivious as the freshman, attempting to navigate new waters that they may have had the chance to tread, but what about juniors? That’s where time really becomes distorted. For many juniors, college seems to have happened in a blink of an eye, as they arrived just shortly before the pandemic began. Now, they are just a little more than a year away from graduating, left with adulthood peering over their shoulders.
College is glorified in too many ways to count. Whether anticipation revolves around one’s social life, classes, or freedom alone, every student has some expectation of their college experience. While this period can be enlightening for many, it also brings about struggles that most have not experienced before, ones that unveil new aspects of their identity and comfort zone. These aspects often involve or are accompanied by a new social realm that is both overwhelming and invigorating.
Many juniors feel as though they did not have the chance to pursue these personal discoveries and feel saddened by the lost social aspects that many of us have been longing for since COVID-19 began. Sophia A., a fellow junior at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, feels as though she “lost opportunities because of Covid” and wishes she had an extra semester to “build [her] friend group.”
Countless juniors are also navigating new living situations, as many are taking advantage of off-campus housing. This opportunity is one that a great majority of students have a yearning to take advantage of, yet it may pose a barrier. On-campus residency often provides a more accessible atmosphere to meet new people and bridge old ones, but it typically includes mostly underclassmen. Either way, the opportunity remains for all students, and many present juniors and seniors are making use of their remaining time to explore on-campus living more, especially considering the enduring costs of off-campus housing.
While many of us were ready to jump out of our pajamas and begin learning face to face, many students have realized the comfort and tranquility that coincided with online courses. Although our motivation depleted with little engagement through our screens, there was a certain control we had amongst the chaos of the pandemic, chaos that many students dealt with in their own homes.
The pandemic brought about a unique era of opportunity for connections within our own ‘units.’ The strengthening of familial bonds was an experience that many juniors, and students overall, cherished throughout their isolation. Although we may look back and regret the many ways we did not take advantage of the time, for many of us, it provided subconscious healing that we did not know we needed. However, as seasons blurred together, a vast majority of students felt their sense of self diminishing with no true distinction between the present and the future.
So, what do these resilient juniors suggest for underclassmen trying to make the most of their college experiences? Here are some common themes.
Try not to take everything too seriously, including your academics *gasp*. Being a student at a university comes with a pressure that we are not all accustomed to. It comes with responsibilities and a great deal of accountability that has forced us out of our comfort zones. With this being said make sure you take time for yourself and your personal joys on a daily basis. While you may feel as though you do not have the time because of the countless work you have, still find the time for just a tad bit of joy. This can include wellness activities — such as drawing, walking, or exercising — or it can entail socialization which you may neglect because of all your schoolwork. The reality is, this is time you do not get back, so sometimes it is okay to push the books aside and open your mind and hearts to others.
With that being said…
Maintain a good balance between planning and being spontaneous. This may be a hard idea to navigate in terms of where to draw the line with excessive planning. Even the simplest aspects of planning to maintain your balance between workload and social life can go a long way. Start out with keeping up with in-person courses and go to class as much as you can to avoid the spiral of falling behind.
Don’t be apprehensive about making friendships (easier said than done). While relationships can be quite odd to navigate in college, we all have to remember that we are in very similar boats. While many fears regarding friendships may loom in our heads because of high school, remember that college is very different. We have the opportunity to meet diverse groups of people and people who are definitely more socially awkward than you (we’ve all been there).
Step out of your comfort zone in social settings. In terms of party atmospheres, don’t knock it till you try it! While this may not be everyone’s cup of tea, if you have the opportunity and go with people you trust and enjoy, you can surprisingly appreciate each other’s company in a different light. But, it’s important to note that these social settings are not for everybody and that partying is the most glorified aspect of college life.
Regarding academic opportunities, build connections with your professors and apply to every internship, job, and travel experience that you are even slightly interested in. It doesn’t hurt to apply! The reality of college life is that we are now in a larger competitive field where many of us are looking for similar opportunities, so do not worry if you do not get the first couple of experiences that you applied for; it can be a long process involving a great deal of rejection.
While the pandemic continues to pose a lot of unknowns for students throughout the nation, it is important to grasp how every individual is healing in some physical or mental manner, attempting to escape the time warp that we still feel attached to. While college may be a beautiful environment to unravel yourself, find joy, and meet your current needs, it’s important to take a step back and recognize that you are on your own timeline.
The opportunities that juniors discussed are great to take advantage of and note, but the most important theme here is finding joy in the present, as you do not want to be chained to your unknown future. Gap years and semesters are 100% valid and have become increasingly more popular as we still cope with these strange and unprecedented two years. Take advantage of your own happiness; do it for you and no one else.
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