What to Expect During The Unexpected – Back to School.
Back to school can always be a stressful time for everyone. Parents may feel the pressure of back to school shopping, elementary students may be hesitant to go back and leave the comfort of their homes, high schoolers may be jumping for joy to see their friends again, and first-year college students are starting their first chapter of the rest of their lives. This was probably normal for the majority of people, but one thing that was not on the back to school list of items to grab at Target was a pandemic.
The sudden changes that this pandemic imposed on everyone have left many young people uncertain about the future of their education. This year the transition into a new school year will be completely different. The impact of the virus has affected transition to colleges, the admission process, exam results, and many pupils worry about their future in education. Schools have been something that has always been concrete. Each year you get older and besides the different class schedules or having new technology in the classroom to play with, you know what to expect and you know what it is expected from you. The one thing that has always been a constant in our lives, education, is now ever-changing because of the pandemic.
Now a senior in college, I’m preparing to return to my university and leave my hometown after the summer break. I’m filled with many thoughts and emotions on how this school year will turn out. The one emotion that holds the most power over me would be disappointment. A lingering sadness caused by my hopes and expectations not being met. My university sent out an email confirming that Fall 2020 classes will be held online. Is this the best possible decision for the safety of us, the students, and professors? Yes, I would agree, but for some reason, it has been challenging to knock the feeling of disappointment. I was hoping that I would be able to go back to face-to-face classes as my peers and I haven’t been able to step foot on our university building since early March.
I am disappointed I can’t snooze my alarm just one more time before my 8 AM classes with my roommates before we hurry out the door with our now lukewarm coffee. Disappointed I can’t attend the beloved football games and cheer in the student section while pridefully wearing my school colors. Disappointed I won’t be able to build that vital connection face-to-face with my professors because classes will now be held over Zoom. Disappointed I won’t be able to attend the many clubs I’ve been an active member of since the beginning of my college experience. The list goes on. I felt like I was robbed of what was supposed to be my best year, my last year, my senior year of college.
I had two options for how to handle the new normal of what is now back to school. I could continue to be grumpy and disappointed at my school’s choices of being online, or I could take a step back and realize the benefits that this could bring to me and others. When I received news about classes being online did my mood change and was I disappointed? Most definitely, and that’s okay because we are in a current situation that it can be hard to plan with the everso changing world. But what I didn’t want was to dwell on the decisions of online schooling and how that choice was out of my control, so why let it have so much control over my feelings. Dwelling on the past can make worries worse. I acknowledge what has happened and how something like schools and education will continue to change.
I challenge parents, students, teachers, and everyone involved in education during this back to school season to have an open mind and most importantly be kind. Everyone is grieving, worried, and fearful, and yet none of us wear signs on our shirts expressing that, so a small gesture of kindness can go a long way, especially in today’s society. People’s experiences of the lockdown period vary. For some, it was a break, a time to relax in a safe environment. For others, it has been challenging or even traumatic.
Lastly, for my college students, I feel for you and I understand what you are going through. You have a friend in me and many others. Don’t be afraid to ever reach out for help, it’s not fun going through a tough situation like this alone. Try not to be so hard on yourself, that 65% on a test can be seen as a learning experience and not a representation of your hard work and dedication. What you are feeling during this soon to be semester is valid – don’t dismiss the way you are feeling. Be patient and flexible. Everyone will have different emotional responses during this transition, and your response is just as important as your professors and your peers. Keep your head up and remind yourself of the strong human you are even during difficult times.
A small tip of advice, find a creative outlet. The creative arts can often help us express feelings that we struggle to put into words or help us feel less alone in these difficult and changing times, not to mention it is a great stress reliever and a break from homework. It can be difficult to embrace a new normal, but who’s to say that new normal won’t be beneficial with new learning experiences and opportunities to grow as individuals. This school year will be different and no doubt challenging, but it will open many doors that otherwise would have stayed closed if it weren’t for this pandemic. Be strong. Be safe. Be healthy.
Oh, and don’t forget… wear your mask!
Best,
Maggie Paulus
NorthShoreCenter LLC