Starting College with COVID-19: 2021 Edition

Image courtesy of catholic.edu

By Emily Thomas 

Starting my freshman year of college following this past summer of rising COVID-19 cases and the delta variant led to questions about what the fall would look like, not only within the social atmosphere but academically as well. From online asynchronous learning to fully in-person classes, the past two school years provided students with a wide variety of learning experiences. 

Over the course of the pandemic, our education system and learning environments changed dramatically. Zoom brought both its benefits and challenges, but I am immensely grateful that I was able to end my senior year of high school and begin my first year at college in a fairly normal setting. 

While online learning was extremely challenging for some people, I benefited from the task of scheduling my day and assignments properly. This skill definitely helps me now as I plan when to do my homework, study, and spend time with my friends. Virtual learning provided me with the ability to complete large assignments on my own schedule without the teacher standing over my shoulder, an essential aspect of college success. 

Zoom was also not much of an issue for me because I already knew everyone in my classes. Coming from a small, all-girls Catholic high school, I did not have to worry about meeting strangers via a small rectangle on the screen. 

In the beginning of the pandemic, the majority of my classes were asynchronous, with a Zoom meeting once per week. While everyone was adjusting to Powerpoint videos and teaching themselves the material, I discovered that I was able to learn better when I had time to process the information, rather than just scribbling down notes.

Last fall, my school implemented a gradual reopening plan, which included an initial month of Zoom classes. From 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. every day, I followed a normal block schedule from my wooden chair in the corner of my room. 75 minute virtual classes with only one short break were not fun, but it reestablished the typical school day routine and ensured that I would not spend too much time scrolling through social media. 

Now that I am in a new environment, however, I understand the struggles of mask-wearing when meeting people for the first time. Whereas before, I knew what everyone looked like beneath the layer, it now makes introductions more awkward and less memorable. Slowly but surely, I am remembering the names of my peers and bonding with them in ways that would not have been possible online, such as catching up while waiting for class to start or discussing our favorite Met Gala dresses. 

In-person classes also give me the opportunity to participate in class discussions without feeling awkward. Everyone remembers the days of staring at the screen, waiting for someone to unmute and answer the question. Now that classes are fully in-person, I feel much more comfortable responding to the professor’s questions or discussing a reading with the person sitting next to me. 

Not only are in-person classes beneficial for the education, but also for the exercise of walking between buildings. Walking up to O’Boyle Hall twice a week has been a challenging yet automatic form of exercise built into my busy schedule. 

Overall, there are pros and cons to both online and in-person learning, but in the end, I am happy to be starting my journey at CUA in a normal environment, albeit with masks and random testing. I am grateful for everyone in the community that made the class of 2025 feel welcome and comfortable in this new experience of college.