It’s no secret that life got flipped upside down for every human on the face of this earth when the coronavirus rolled in. Though everyone was affected in various ways, this article will focus on the high school class of 2020 and their transition into University. The unprecedented change resulted in the cancellation of traditional events, such as graduation and prom, and even took a toll on our schooling, restricting our first-year university experience to an online universe. Though I must give credit to the professors and school board for their efforts to make students feel at home, there has been some disruption in the process of transitioning. Even in normal times, university is an abrupt change from high school. Accentuated by the arrival of COVID-19, first-year students from across digital campuses illustrate their personal experiences of university in a pandemic:
Question: How would you describe your transition from high school to post-secondary education? What effect did COVID-19 have on your schooling?
Mila Schiavo (Social Work): “I feel that the transition was actually smoother than what it was supposed to be. Going from high school to university is a huge step that I think most of us can say we aren’t completely prepared for (workload, overwhelming new experiences, a large campus to get used to, things like that). This being said, being online made this transition a bit smoother because we didn’t have to focus on all of the aspects of independence besides the work portion. I think probably the most difficult thing is time management. With all of this free time, we are inclined to feel like it is expendable whenever, but online school only seems like it is optional. I assure you, it is not, and you still have to do everything within deadlines with a bit more flexibility in some cases. I personally balance a job and school while still trying to maintain my mental health (or whatever’s left of it) and social life, like most students my age. But as things begin to get more difficult in later years, I wonder if the transition will be just as smooth, especially when we go back to school. Covid has already affected so many aspects of my life, but I’m more of a homebody anyway. Motivation is a struggle and I have to work extra hard to push myself to complete my goals for the day’s work. Once we go back to being in person, I feel it will be an even larger adjustment. I actually switched my program for next semester from psychology to social work with a focus in sociology, something that I’ve been thinking about for a while and honestly was the more appealing option for me. Although I am excited, I know I need to begin volunteering during the pandemic. It is a little scary and I wonder what places are even willing to take volunteers now, which puts a strain on my future application for further years of schooling. Either way, I need to take it day by day. That’s all we really can do right now.”
Stephanie Mba (BFA Acting): “My transition was a little hard. When Covid hit, I stopped paying attention to my work in high school which definitely brought down my grades a lot. Then once university started, I knew I had to be serious so it was a huge leap back into school for me. Luckily, I have some in-person classes which is definitely keeping my sanity intact because without it, I’d definitely be so unmotivated.”
Anonymous (English Language and Literature and Political Science): “I am currently a citizen and resident of India, and due to Covid, I was unable to move to Canada to attend University. This situation was unexpected; I had no idea what I would be facing. As soon as classes started, it was difficult for me to even procure books, let alone know what was going on in the class.The major problem was books and they were difficult to procure because in my country, there is no access to required books, making it very difficult for me to do assignments. But all was not lost because a very good and selfless student helped me get the right materials for the assignments and it helped me a lot until I got all my books. She did not even once complain and never even mentioned that it was difficult for her to send me pictures of the pages. Because of this student, I was able to complete all my assignments in time and never missed any due dates. It has been some experience. But with all the help I got, it became quite easy for me to complete everything.”
Caitlyn Pinto (Justice, Political Philosophy, and Law): “As everyone knows, the transition from high school to university was a big one, but what made it especially hard was the fact that it was all online. There is no doubt that COVID-19 has affected everyone’s lives, but some might even say it has affected students’ lives the most. Without having others around you, it can be lonely sometimes because you feel as if you’re teaching yourself 5 university classes. Making friends also seemed like a difficult task as well. Most of us were going into a school where we didn’t know many people, so having to meet new people online seemed like a challenge. Usually, the universities would have Frosh Week (a freshman community event), which helped with the friend-making process but sadly, that couldn’t happen. Luckily, I was able to make a couple of friends online and we’ve been getting through this semester together. During times like this, it’s more important than ever to have good friends by your side because it does get a little lonely and you wind up feeling so isolated from everyone else. Although it has been a tough transition, I’m thankful for having good professors and understanding TA’s because it’s comforting knowing that they understand everyone’s situation and can accommodate us.”
Shane Peters (Environmental Studies): “Honestly, my high school experience wasn’t great being from a small town, so the transition is definitely more relieving than anything else. Even with the schoolwork. I quite enjoy doing it online because it gives me a chance to get better at managing my time. Covid just took away the social aspect I think, which sucks for our first year because we should get that first-year experience; but things change and there’s nothing we can do about it. I like having the extra time anyway. I didn’t think much of Covid until the outbreak because I didn’t talk to anybody I didn’t know. At least I’m getting a year out of the way for my degree though; glass half-full mindset!”
Eva Sansotta (Dental Hygiene): “I would describe my transition from high school to post-secondary school as one that was at first challenging. This is because instead of having four classes like in my high school semesters, I now have double that amount. However, being in the Dental Hygiene program is awesome because I can really focus my studies onto the career I wish to pursue in the future, and that brings me a lot of joy and a feeling that I am on the right path. Although the program can be challenging, it is a challenge I’m up for! I am a person who learns better from being in a physical setting rather than an online one. Unfortunately, due to COVID-19, most of my classes this year are online. I will admit that it is harder to focus when sitting at home, and not being able to see the other students focusing along with me. I feel alone rather than a part of a community of students. Fortunately, since I am in the Dental Hygiene program, I do get to go in once a week where I have 2 clinical classes and one theory class. This gives me 9 hours at the school to be with other students and some of my professors, which helps me feel more a part of the student community and helps me feel more engaged. Due to COVID-19, the dental clinic is being worked on to adapt to new health standards, so some of our time at the clinic has been taken away. Fortunately, my program has been able to work around this so that we, as students, are still able to practice and achieve our clinical competencies despite the disruption of the pandemic.
Anonymous: “With the COVID-19 outbreak, it really impacted my transition from high school to post-secondary education. Academically, COVID-19’s impact on my schooling has been bittersweet. I do like waking up and having my own routine, not having to worry about my appearance all the time, etc. The material itself, and the overall aspect of learning online has been satisfactory. The major issue that has affected me academically and honestly, mentally, in school, is the grading system. I know this is different with any professor, but it seems as though that because we are online and have all these sources to choose from, evaluations are difficult. In terms of my mental health, it’s been a bit rocky during university. I knew that I wouldn’t be making the same grades that I did in high school, but with university already being difficult, I’ve felt like a lot of the time, my best isn’t good enough. The most devastating part is that I can’t always be around my friends or reach out to many people from my classes to decompress. I do have social media to make up for this, but it’s a lot more comforting to speak with people face to face and to know that you’re not the only one struggling. It’s having the physical interaction that makes all the difference, which has made me cherish when every so often I get to be with my friends, or if I can FaceTime someone from one of my classes.”
Abigail Littkemann (Psychology Co-op): I would say the transition from high school to post secondary education was very difficult at first. Since I went away for school, I found the balance of socializing and school work very hard. I didn’t want to miss out on any social events, but I also wanted to have a strong start to the semester. Covid has made that challenging. At the university, we cannot be gathered in groups larger than 10 people, and thus, have more than 2 people (with masks on) in our dorm rooms. Additionally, not all of the dining halls are open, which is one of the BIGGEST reasons why I chose my campus, because of the quality of the food. Also, we didn’t have HOCO (a freshman community event) or anything that a typical first-year student would have, making it more difficult to meet and socialize with my peers.
They told us what to do if life gave us lemons, but what is expected from us when life gives us corona? It has been a learning process that is still ongoing. Everyone has been forced to adapt to this new reality, sacrificing aspects of our lives that were considered commonplace in the past and creating alternative versions of activities. But the whole point of life is to learn, and COVID-19 could not put a stop to our education. Despite these new constraints and requirements, the second word in “post-secondary education” is still occurring: we are being educated. Maybe in a different way than we anticipated, but we are being educated nonetheless. And I for one, am eternally grateful for this unique experience. I mean, how many people can say they were a part of the 2020 graduating class, who lived through a pandemic, juggling online school, a job, and physical and mental health? Big flex.
* Answers from participants were minimally edited for clarity.