'We're Facing So Many Different Battles' - The New York Times

CATHERINE I’ve never really had to learn like this before. It’s just a really difficult thing to adapt to. I’ve always been the type of student who loves discussions. I’m definitely a people person.

If school had remained in-person and the pandemic had never started, I wouldn’t have started all these things that I’m doing online: daily video vlogs, and I have a podcast. Everything that I’ve done is tailored to: “Hey, we’ve clearly had a huge change happen in our lives. And we are all struggling.” My main audience is students, and basically everything that I come out with is: “Here’s how we can go about this in the best way possible. Here’s how we can incorporate a routine, even if we’re not used to doing it this way.” That’s been my entire message.

I live with my family right now. My sister is a senior in high school, so she is on Zoom for the day, similar to me, and my mom is downstairs on Zoom, too. So basically we’re all in the same house, but we’re all on Zoom.

The transition took a huge hit on my mental health in the initial stages, back in March. That is why I started the videos and why I started the podcast. It really took me by surprise. Now, I would say I’m relatively stable due to the things that I’ve incorporated.

I know I’m one of the lucky ones based on the fact that I do have resources. But if I’m struggling, I can’t imagine how other students are. I know a lot of my classmates that I talked to are really finding it difficult.

And it’s not just the fact that they’re online. It’s the fact that we have different social issues arising. And then the fact that a lot of professors are not really acknowledging that. They’re offering support, but to an extent, it just seems like their focus is getting to the material.

I just think there needs to be more compassion and a change in expectations.

I’m co-president of this organization on campus for students of color. There’s this place on our campus called Freedom Square. So there would have been an area for students to come and talk about it that wasn’t in a Zoom call — around people, in person, and really discuss what’s going on. Possibly help protest for different things on the campus.

We can do it now, but you still might be putting yourself at risk virus-wise. If we were in person and these things were happening, we would have at least felt like there was some support, like our voices were being heard, and we would have had a space to come and talk about it. Whereas now — say something absolutely insane will happen and there are news articles about it. You’ll get on a Zoom call and a professor won’t mention it, won’t really comment on it, and will just go on about the lecture.

I really don’t think that if we were in person they would do it that way. And I just think it’s very hard for students — especially students of color or marginalized students — because we’re facing so many different battles. And if your professor doesn’t really acknowledge it or have any space to talk about, it can just be very difficult and hard to focus on the content when you’re thinking about so many other things that are going on right now.

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"Many" - Google News
December 15, 2020 at 10:30AM
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'We're Facing So Many Different Battles' - The New York Times
"Many" - Google News
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