It is undoubtedly a rough time we're in. A global pandemic has in fact enveloped us and has changed society, not just in the short term but the long term as well (at least I think so). People are in self quarantine (and if they aren't they should be) and keeping a social distance from the rest of the population. This can obviously be boring. Worse for college students that were living their lives, their routines, and thinking they still had time with their friends and classes before going home for summer break. For many, if not all, college students, school is now all online and the last goodbye that was said may truly well have been the last goodbye, at least for a while. It's easy enough to say that we need to grow up and get over it, it's only for a while after all. I've actually seen quite a bit of that online. There was a post circulating along the lines of "our ancestors had to fight war and lay down their lives, you can stay inside for a few days". That annoys me. It angers me.
First off, it's easy to say that because others have or had it worse, we can "get over it". I will say it once and hopefully you won't need me to say it again. Just because somebody else may have it worse does not diminish my own problems in anyway. It is not too say that our problems are equal or theirs are somehow less. It just means that my problems are still a problem for me. Now then, let's move on.
What I'm angry about isn't the social distancing and quarantine. In fact, I'm all for it. It's the right choice and will help stop the rapid spread of the virus, saving lives and resources in the long run. If all I had to do was social distance for a relatively short while, I would not be writing this post whatsoever. The thing that has annoyed me is in fact the sudden closures of colleges, the short notice change of classes, and the abrupt end to our semester. Of course, this was unavoidable and we cannot blame colleges for the overall decision to close down and send kids home to isolate themselves. What was avoidable was the way it was done, the abruptness and the haphazard way in which kids were made to go home with little information on possible returns, refunds, housing costs, classes, and even things like graduation. Imagine how frustrating that is for college students, especially seniors who won't have a proper chance to say goodbye or have a commencement on campus. But even for younger students for myself, it's aggravating. I, like many other students, pay a good amount of money to go to college. That money is for housing and food sure, but also to go to class, to be in class, to use amenities like the gym and library. That money is no longer all being put to use. And none of this blame is on the teachers, who now have to change their entire syllabus onto an online format.
I am just angry that I have to leave my life behind for the foreseeable future. I am most likely going to abroad for the entirety of next year and won't see my friends till senior year. At least the ones who don't plan on graduating early. Last Thursday I said what was possibly my last goodbye, at the very least for a while. I had to look at these people, my new family really, and prepare to not see them again for some time. All the plans and dreams we had for the rest of the semester (which you can argue wasn't a lot of time but it was longer than what we had) were now gone. Anxiety and sadness replaced that giddiness. I'm angry that what was shaping up to be a wonderful second semester, both academically and personally was rudely cut short. My classes are now partially online and partially just read and respond with no lecture. My friends are hundreds and even thousands of miles away. I am straight up livid that this is happening. And I have no answers, no solutions, and no one to truly blame. And I suppose it just be like that, huh.
First off, it's easy to say that because others have or had it worse, we can "get over it". I will say it once and hopefully you won't need me to say it again. Just because somebody else may have it worse does not diminish my own problems in anyway. It is not too say that our problems are equal or theirs are somehow less. It just means that my problems are still a problem for me. Now then, let's move on.
What I'm angry about isn't the social distancing and quarantine. In fact, I'm all for it. It's the right choice and will help stop the rapid spread of the virus, saving lives and resources in the long run. If all I had to do was social distance for a relatively short while, I would not be writing this post whatsoever. The thing that has annoyed me is in fact the sudden closures of colleges, the short notice change of classes, and the abrupt end to our semester. Of course, this was unavoidable and we cannot blame colleges for the overall decision to close down and send kids home to isolate themselves. What was avoidable was the way it was done, the abruptness and the haphazard way in which kids were made to go home with little information on possible returns, refunds, housing costs, classes, and even things like graduation. Imagine how frustrating that is for college students, especially seniors who won't have a proper chance to say goodbye or have a commencement on campus. But even for younger students for myself, it's aggravating. I, like many other students, pay a good amount of money to go to college. That money is for housing and food sure, but also to go to class, to be in class, to use amenities like the gym and library. That money is no longer all being put to use. And none of this blame is on the teachers, who now have to change their entire syllabus onto an online format.
I am just angry that I have to leave my life behind for the foreseeable future. I am most likely going to abroad for the entirety of next year and won't see my friends till senior year. At least the ones who don't plan on graduating early. Last Thursday I said what was possibly my last goodbye, at the very least for a while. I had to look at these people, my new family really, and prepare to not see them again for some time. All the plans and dreams we had for the rest of the semester (which you can argue wasn't a lot of time but it was longer than what we had) were now gone. Anxiety and sadness replaced that giddiness. I'm angry that what was shaping up to be a wonderful second semester, both academically and personally was rudely cut short. My classes are now partially online and partially just read and respond with no lecture. My friends are hundreds and even thousands of miles away. I am straight up livid that this is happening. And I have no answers, no solutions, and no one to truly blame. And I suppose it just be like that, huh.
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