All posts by Chloe Green, Correspondent

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Being a student in the time of COVID-19

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The pandemic has affected everyone, but for college students it’s really been a major shift in their academic career. Especially for those who were enrolled in in-person classes, due to the rather abrupt change to a remote format of learning and even then just because every student is taking online classes it doesn’t make things any easier. Online classes do allow students the opportunity to finish the course but with all that’s going on it can just add stress to students.

People are losing family, friends, neighbors, and so on. Doctors and nurses have no choice but to be at work Medical supplies are scarce and doctor, ventilators are being all used up and rooms are all occupied. The situation is still getting worse. People are under great stress and anxiety.

I spoke with a Northern Essex student who is finishing up her last semester and due to graduate, Sandra Hache said “I’m upset because it’s my first adult
graduation and it’s significant to me. I know that it’s out of everyone’s hands but it’s also unfair. I wanted to be able to walk down and have my diploma handed to me in front of my family. The positive thing is I’m still able to continue my education but at the same time I feel like I paid for something that I wont be getting.”

Hache is one case out of many that feels like their hard work won’t be properly rewarded, as graduating students throughout the country are forced to miss on being to walk for something they’ve worked so hard for.

Opinion, Uncategorized

Student offers insights into dealing with pandemic

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The uncertainty for what’s to come, my academic performance, Income/work and my health are a few of the things that I consider to be some of the major factors to my stress.

This is a very overwhelming time for everyone and coming out of this healthy and stable is something I pray for every night. Trying to handle everything in my life at this point hasn’t been easy but I know that I need to be responsible.

A few things that have helped me cope through these times have been spending valuable time with my family, watching movies, and sharing laughter. Also catching up on some great shows like “How to get Away with Murder”, “You”, and “Money Heist”. These shows have comforted me and have allowed me to escape reality for the time being. I’ve also spent more time in the kitchen baking and cooking because the act itself is very therapeutic and fun.

Quarantining isn’t the most exciting thing that is happening now but I know that it’s what’s best for everyone at the moment. I find that doing a few things that genuinely bring me some peace and happiness have helped me get through this.

I decided to speak with a classmate of mine about the way she’s been coping with the pandemic. She personally has a family member who has been diagnosed with the Covid-19 and I felt like she could really give me insight on how she feels from a unique perspective.

Jocelyn Avila says “Managing school work on top of dealing with my father being sick has been very stressful, I’m the one that is keeping tabs on him for the whole family because he can barely speak, so to help I’ve decided to be the one that talks to him and gets back to the family with feedback so that they are able to be aware of his conditions. As for me I’ve been trying to keep up with my at home work-outs because the gym has always been an escape of mine. I’ve also been spending a lot of time with my mother and she’s been giving me good advice.”

Interviewing Jocelyn and hearing about how she’s been dealing with the pandemic was very eye opening because it really shows how we are all going through this together, and supporting one another is so crucial at a time like this.

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What COVID-19 has taken from the class of 2020

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The Covid-19 Pandemic has affected every individual in quite a personal way. Almost everyone has experienced a loss in some shape or form. It has left many with uncertainty and fear for what’s to come next.

 A common loss that has been relevant for not only myself, but my friends as well, is being out of school and having to shift our way of learning to a virtually remote format.

Northern Essex community college has followed mandatory guidelines such as implementing social distancing, inevitably ending all in-person classes in order to ensure the safety of faculty and students.

 The transition of it all has been a process in which everyone is doing their best to get through the second half of the semester.

The pandemic has pushed everyone to find means of working around the problem and find respectable solutions that can apply to everyone.

The sudden drawback has left us undeniably unprepared and has been challenging for both teachers and students, nevertheless many accommodations are still being put into place.

 Being that this is my last semester at Northern Essex it has left many concerns for me, I had made the decision to fully apply my focus on my academic responsibilities, meaning I didn’t decide to pursue a job for the time being so that I could focus on all 5 of my classes and get the best possible grades.

I also purposely chose to take in-person courses because I’ve realized that’s the best way for me to learn and due to the unfortunate arrival of the pandemic I had to adjust to having all my courses be virtual at such a stressful time. I’m still going to try my best regardless of the circumstance in my last semester before I graduate.

 Graduation is another concern because like many other seniors at Northern Essex, we don’t know what’s to come of that moment. Being privileged to wear that cap and gown to then walk across a stage after hearing your name being called and knowing that you have completed a very significant milestone in your life, unfortunately just might not happen for us.

Will we even be able to walk across a stage to get our well deserved diplomas? Or how long are we going to have to wait until we even get them? Many students have been putting in all their effort to complete their courses and graduation is the reward for all those sleepless nights and determination. Are we ever going to get that reward now?

Editor’s Note: The college recently announced it would hold a virtual graduation ceremony in August.