By The Gatepost Editorial Board
January 22 marked the four-year anniversary of COVID-19’s classification as a global pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
Nine months ago, COVID-19 was declassified as a global health emergency by the WHO on May 8, 2023.
Despite only being considered a global emergency for three years and three months, COVID-19 continues to affect every part of our daily routines.
Many students find themselves living in limbo between the end of the pandemic and the start of their post-pandemic lives.
Most students are struggling with burnout, navigating interpersonal situations after a lack of socialization during the pandemic, and transitioning back to the classroom.
Many are left with questions such as, “Will we ever get back to normal?”
Unfortunately, students need to realize that this is not possible.
We are left with the life we had before the COVID-19 pandemic and the life we have now - after.
Many students still struggle with dedicating their attention - both online and in the physical classroom - to taking important notes or resisting the urge to multitask during lectures. Many students have not attained the academic level expected of them in college.
Going back to in-person learning also requires a return to a certain classroom etiquette.
Participation continues to be a difficult balance, with too many students remaining silent or dominating the class conversation. Attendance, too, has been a struggle for many.
Current students are lacking in social decorum because of the lax environment they experienced in high school online classes.
Many college students now don’t have the skills necessary to meaningfully engage in classes and build strong relationships with their professors and other students in this new social network.
This prevents them from being able to get the most out of their courses, which results in increased anxiety. This disconnect starts in the classroom and radiates outside into students’ engagement with the entire campus community.
Clubs and activities across campus are struggling because students have a lot on their plates right now.
Although it may seem overwhelming in the short term, making an effort to attend classes, build relationships with peers and professors, and participate in campus events will be socially and mentally rewarding in the long term.
After all, it’s the whole reason why we are here!
The Gatepost Editorial Board understands and endorses the high academic standards expected of university students, including here at FSU. However, the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on students, and the disruption caused to our model of education, will not disappear quickly.
Everyone has felt like skipping a class or has spaced out on a Zoom call. We are all still adjusting to our new normals and learning how to be students in a post-COVID-19 world.
If you feel like you are struggling to keep up in your classes or find yourself unable to focus, please reach out to the Center for Academic Success and Achievement (CASA) at academicsupport@framingham.edu, or visit your professor during their office hours if you feel you’re falling behind.
Professors, you have to be more empathetic than ever to students. Make an effort to know them on a personal level - not just as another name on a class roster.
Incorporate social engagement into your classroom. It is needed now more than ever.
Students, create personal connections in the classroom that can branch out into the entire campus community.
It all starts with you showing up. Show up for yourself, your community, and your classes.