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Corona-virus vs students
Pandemic, a word that strikes fear and uncertainty in many ways, the world is being affected by this, including students. The ongoing issue and the most frequent question asked regarding the coronavirus pandemic is, “When will this end?”. The answer to that is unknown and will take some time for the world to get back on its feet. From shops, restaurants, bars, and many other things closing, schools are switching to a strict online platform. Seniors graduating or if its your first year in college, you’re probably switching to Zoom classes and are working remotely. Asking a few students from different majors how they have been doing and feel during this time, they gave several mixed answers. Switching to online school has been a challenge not only for students but university’s and professors as well.
For most schools, they had to make the transition from a regular on schedule campus to an empty school with everyone at home doing lessons, classwork, and homework via Zoom. Many classes that required students to be physically present must switch the entire coursework in order to adjust to the world’s climate. Graduations have been postponed or happening online, which is taking away from the traditions of graduating, leaving students unmotivated. The unfortunate circumstances have left students all over the globe struggling to adjust. Many students have issues with living conditions, graduation, and finding a job. The workforce has had the most people sign up for unemployment due to the virus, leaving students uncertain of their hope for finding a job.
-Neil Mohindra 29, Med Student at Rush
To understand more in depth, I talked to two students from different schools to see how this pandemic has affected them. From Rush University, in his last year of medical school, Neil Mohindra was preparing for his second to last exam of medical school for 2 months everyday nonstop. The reason he was studying so much is because he calculated exactly what he needed to study in the set time frame. The coronavirus changed that plan completely, “I prepared well for the exam to be on March 28th, then the coronavirus ruined the world so I study now everyday and I don’t even know what I’m studying for”, Neil expressed this with frustration, he told me how the exam date is now uncertain but even though he looses motivation, he understands its not forever and he will be able to take the exam soon. Neil, becoming a doctor in life knows the severity of the situation we are in, “The world is in a really bad situation right now, I wish I could help, and, in a year, I will be able to”.
Students from all majors and years are suffering from this, take for example Zain Azmi a computer science major at DeVry University, he is set for graduation in mid May 2020 although graduation he expressed the excitement is gone as he won’t be walking on stage to receive his degree but rather online via zoom they will have a ceremony. “I’m not even feeling if I am graduating, my parents really wanted to see me walk but it’s understandable with what’s going on in the world right now, it just sucks it happened right when I’m done with school”. His biggest concern wasn’t walking across the stage to receive a degree, that was more of a disappointment since he is still graduating. His biggest concern was how it’s impacted the job market. “Many people have lost their jobs, especially in the I.T profession so my biggest worry right now is not finding a job at all, my main priority in life right now is to find a job”. As Zain discussed his future plans, he really said everything is so unsure now, and each day he loses hope. “This virus has impacted millions upon millions, so we’re all affected by this situation, the best thing to do right now is hope for the best and follow guidelines…the faster people do that the faster we are back to normal again”.
Zain and Neil both are spending their quarantine time with family right now, the constant uncertainty is getting to them, “ I hope this ends soon, it’s slowed down my money and now I am relying on savings… my part-time job helped much with bills but now I scared the longer this goes on”. Neil said this with a very worrying tone in his voice, its clear that this has taken a toll on him mentally and financially. Before Zain left, he had one last thing to say, “I know even once quarantine is over, it’s going to take some time for the world to get back to how it was but I do know as long as we play our part, I have hope the future is brighter than the darkness we live in right now”.
