As we mark the one year anniversary of the lock down, and the switch from in-person attendance to online, college students are getting used to the process of everyday self management of an (overly) full online work load.

Some students I’ve talked to feel that, after a full year of online and hybridized learning, they’ve mastered keeping up with their classes after the rocky adjustment period.

For most though, the initial stress hasn’t gone anywhere.

Michael Wilkinson, a Junior at UMass Amherst studying biochemistry, said that “I think I’ve just gotten used to it at this point. Checking 50 emails a day, keeping track of what needs to be done in every class every week, trying to balance in-class time with out of class time … It’s still stressful, but I have a hold on it now. Planning breaks from the computer definitely helps.”

Wilkinson currently takes six classes, from hybrid to fully online. When the switch from in-person to online learning happened, during his sophomore year, he said that “I felt a bit lost at first, taking so many intense classes. It took me a while to fully adapt, especially to the new stress. It was relatively easy to keep up with everything before, but then it was like, wow, I have to work three times as hard to understand what I’m doing, with half the help. Now it’s second nature.”

Josh Doyle, a communications major at UMass Lowell, commented more on how he manages stress.

“Taking breaks and spending time not doing school work or looking at screens definitely helps. Going outside and designating certain ‘work times’ helps from getting burnt out too,” Doyle said. “I’ve been managing online classes for over a year and I think I’ve gotten better at managing a balance.”

Doyle and Wilkinson have different class loads, but both manage their stress in the same ways. Taking scheduled breaks from screens, trying to be outside as much as possible, and keeping in touch with friends regularly helps.

Both students are also avid hikers, and Wilkinson that “it’s really the perfect destresser. It’s ‘pandemic friendly’, and a good change of scenery from endless screen time. I think I’ve hiked just about every mountain around Amherst at this point.”

Kaitlin Morris, a UMass student who is fully online and taking classes from home, said that “it’s all about self care. Doing the things you like to do when you can, and planning out when you’ll do work in each class. It keeps me from getting stressed out about anything specific.

“Taking classes [fully] remote can be a bit tough at times, not being on campus, but having a planner for everything helps with remembering things. I try to get out of the house as much as I can, too. It can get pretty stuffy, but as long as I take time for myself it isn’t a big deal.”

Organization seems to be the key to success in online classes. Planning out when to focus on classwork and when to take breaks, constantly checking up with individual classes, and staying on top of deadlines are all important to maintaining a stress free student life.

It’s that time of the year, mid semester, so some NECC students are looking at four-year colleges, meanwhile other NECC students are getting ready to graduate and moving on to work.

Stacy Romasco, 38, of Salem, N.H.,  a Respiratory Therapist and a Northern Essex alumnus, recently shared some of her experiences during and after graduating from NECC.

Romasco is employed at Northeast Rehab in Salem, New Hampshire. I work in the dish room as a dishwasher of Northeast, so I was already familiar with Romasco. Romasco attended NECC courses between spring of 2002 through fall of 2004 with a mix of summer courses.

Romasco described the courses necessary to complete her associates’ degree in science and respiratory technology: “I got the basics out of the way: math, science and English. Then I moved on to science labs to gain an understanding of the entire human body.”

After graduating from NECC in the spring of 2004 with an associate degree, Romasco went right into the workforce. “I began my career in September 2004 at Holy Family Hospital, then I moved to Merrimack per diem in 2005. I was hired in 2010 at Northeast Rehab where I have spent the rest of my career,” she said.

In 2011 and 2012 Romasco returned to NECC to take non credited photography courses. “

We started with basic camera settings, then moved to lighting, camera angles then more advanced camera settings. Our professor set up weekly class exhibits to critique each other’s pictures,” she said.

Using what she learned from her NECC course and prior knowledge, she applied that towards taking wedding pictures creating a “part time small business.”

Also, Romasco gave advice for NECC students.  “Take advantage of the resources available for academics and don’t be afraid to talk to your professors if you’re struggling, they are there to help you succeed.”

Romasco also recommended a few four-year colleges like UMass Lowell and Salem State.