Essay
Iphigenia
Greece
The spread of the coronavirus and the almost global shutdown of social life, as well as economic activities, are unprecedented in modern history. Citizens experience severe consequences of the pandemic not only in terms of risks to their own health and that of their loved ones but also with regards to the recession and a restriction of everyday life activities enforced by social distancing measures. Students have classes online and try to do their best under completely new conditions.
Since the pandemic began spreading across the world, nearly a year ago, some of the students who have continued with online learning have developed strategies to compensate. Nevertheless, many students continue to struggle with distance learning and their selves.
According to recent surveys students lacked a sense of belonging and connection to others at their institution. While they felt somewhat connected to their instructors, few reported feeling very connected to other students. Roughly one in three students reported some concern regarding their food or housing security. Those who reported the greatest concerns were, unfortunately, relatively less likely to know where to go to find emergency aid resources.
To conclude, while much of the focus was in ensuring instructional continuity, students faced many significant non-curricular challenges, including a lack of connection to one another, anxieties about mental and physical health, and concerns regarding finances. These challenges were especially pronounced for students in demographic groups that have historically been underserved and marginalized. Coronavirus has altered teammate interactions, social and athletic identities, mental health, and societal life and it we all hope to end soon and start a new era.