The pandemic has shaken up the lives of students across the country. Danielle shares her experience of being at university during this turbulent period.
So here we are again... another year and already another lockdown. I can’t say that I’m surprised after the year we just had, but nevertheless, I had higher hopes for 2021.
All of us students are struggling. People in accommodation have gone long periods without seeing family, whilst those living at home have only had online contact with friends at uni for months. And all of us have been deprived of the knowledge and other benefits we would have gained from physical lectures. I’m going to say it: Zoom has totally lost its novelty appeal.
"I’m going to say it: Zoom has totally lost its novelty appeal"
I spent my Christmas away from my parents who contracted Covid in early December, but fortunately, we had a ‘second Christmas’ (as we called it) once they had fully recovered. One of the biggest things that I miss from pre-lockdown life is being able to visit my family on a whim. I study in London and my parents live in Essex, so it is usually a very quick and easy journey under normal circumstances. Unfortunately, it’s not quite as simple when you factor in new travel restrictions, rules about ‘bubbles’, and social distancing every time the wind changes!
I am, however, living in a flat I love, with my amazing partner, and we are lucky enough to be facing lockdown in a happy, healthy environment. My partner works full-time as part of his uni placement, so he has to get up at a normal time every day for his nine-to-five grind. It’s a big difference compared with the 24/7 lie-ins we used to enjoy as first and second-year students. But I must say, I feel happier and more motivated for starting early, although I have been struggling these past few weeks.
I’ve started trying to plan my week early, to give myself some control over my life in spite of all the restrictions. I like planning my days so I have a healthy balance between work and relaxing. Planning, even if it only involves a few small tasks for the day, has definitely benefited me. I spend a lot less time procrastinating and the panic which accompanies a hectic schedule is gone as a result.
Uni work is demanding at the best of times, but during lockdown, it feels never-ending. I’m sure this is partially due to the current environment, and partially due to me being at the end of my degree, and I think every third-year student out there knows my pain. The dissertation, constant essays and the added stress of those nagging questions: “what happens after this?”, “what do I do with my life?”, “how do I get a job?”... I’m going to stop there because I’m starting to spiral a little bit, just writing this! The stress is real, but I’ve discovered ways to manage it. I’ve found that taking things one step at a time works wonders. When I have an essay due, I now plan how many words to write a day, which is great if you start early but gets more daunting the longer you leave it. A lot of people around me are stressing about applying to graduate schemes and jobs after uni, but I am choosing to keep the job search as an ‘extra weekly task’ which I will not invest time into unless I have completed my uni work. Everyone prioritises things differently and it is important that you think about your own journey rather than someone else’s. As long as you feel like you have a healthy balance, that’s all that matters!
I’ve found that while I’ve lost contact with some friends, I’m speaking to others more than I was pre-lockdown. It’s strange how such separation can bring people together in a unique way. I’m so excited to see all of my friends when we can meet up properly after lockdown.
The absence of physical classes has encouraged me to be more communicative with my lecturers, and I have made more of a conscious effort to ask for feedback, help and advice, which in turn has helped me to progress. I even spent three hours on Zoom with one of my lecturers to have a ‘catch up’ recently, which is something we would have never done before lockdown. In a lot of ways, lockdown has shown me how I want to live my life after the pandemic and now I know where to dedicate time and energy. I feel like before Covid, a lot of us were rushing through life without appreciating the world around us, but now that’s changed for the better.
"I feel like before Covid, a lot of us were rushing through life without appreciating the world around us, but now that’s changed for the better"
As much as I admit that adjusting to life in lockdown has been a struggle, there have been some positives along the way. During each lockdown, I’ve managed to save a lot of money, so a shopping trip is definitely on the cards when it’s safe to go out again!
It feels like 2021 started off in the worst possible way. We are essentially characters in the film Groundhog Day, although we seem to be unable to reach the final part of the movie where the cycle is broken. However, our happy ending is coming soon, and we shouldn’t deem this a ‘failed year’ yet. I’m actually feeling very positive about the months to come. I have learnt to find purpose in small things and plan for bigger things ahead. Here’s to the rest of lockdown!
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