Despite knowing that I only have online school because of COVID and its variants, it does end up affecting my mental health. Online school feels very different than that of being in person since I tend to be away from the college atmosphere and go live back at home. Being home and being away at college is very different for me since I’m now used to living with friends rather than my family. These are some of the ways that my mental health is affected.
- It makes me feel lonely (I feel like I’m forced to be alone when I do my school work)
When I go back home since classes are taken with just me in the room so when I tend to struggle with the material, I feel as if I’m the only one. Since I can’t see my classmates I don’t know whether they are comprehending the material or if they’re just as confused as I am. Many times when classes are online I don’t know anyone in them and branching out seems scarier than in person since most people don’t turn on their screens. This makes me feel as if I have to work by myself and I don’t really ask for help which, in the end, just makes me feel alone.
- I’m less communicative, more to myself
With classes being online and me branching out less, I also began to stop talking to my friends. Since I live back home when classes are online, I have less friends there and I kind of just start shutting everyone out. I stop reaching out as much or evening trying to see friends. I focus more on being by myself when in reality I need to be with others.
- Closer with my family than with friends
One of the good things about classes being online is that I spend more time with my family. Since I go home, I tend to be with them more. I know this makes everyone happy since my brother and I are much older now and so we’re both going to different schools in different cities meaning we rarely get to spend so much time together. It allows me to better my communication with them as well as our relationships.
These are the ways that online school affects my mental health. Thankfully classes are now in person and I won’t feel the negative effects anymore. Sadly, I won’t be with my family but I’ll get to fully experience college again!