Navigating A Virtual ‘Back to School’
Blog post written by Lama El-Hanan, Straight Up Health
The beginning of September is marked by a changing of the seasons and the familiar air of excitement and apprehension that marks a new academic year. For those of us who are entering our first year of college or university, these feelings are even more heightened. But this September is not the same as those before it. Although the 2020-2021 academic year is almost here, it will undoubtedly be very different. Many of us will be learning virtually and with that comes a loss of many aspects of traditional campus life. Extracurricular experiences such as student clubs and varsity sports have either been put on hold or dramatically altered. The sense that we are missing out on these invaluable experiences can leave us with a host of difficult emotions such as anger, resentment, disappointment and sadness. It is important that we give ourselves permission and space to grieve this loss. However, we can also reframe it as an opportunity to redefine our post-secondary experience on our own terms. In this blog post, we outline strategies for navigating the unfamiliar territory of a virtual back to school in ways that are supportive of our mental health and overall success.
Allow Yourself to Grieve
Learning is only one aspect of post-secondary life. Some of the most enriching and impactful experiences we have happen outside of the classroom. Student government, campus groups and varsity sports are just a few examples. Virtual learning provides us with safer options for pursuing our degrees in a pandemic context. However, it also means that we are missing out on some of the most exciting aspects of our post-secondary education. This emotional loss is often unacknowledged, overshadowed by the much larger losses of lives and livelihoods that we are collectively grieving as a global community. But while the loss of the traditional post-secondary experience may be small in relative terms, this does not mean that we cannot grieve it on an individual level. You are entitled to feel angry, resentful, disappointed, upset or any other emotion that comes up for you. Far from being frivolous or self-indulgent, giving ourselves permission to understand and accept these difficult emotions as valid is an indication of strength and emotional maturity. It is an essential self-care tool that allows us to better cope with the stresses of life and become more attuned with ourselves. When these emotions come up for you, resist the instinctive urge to suppress, judge or label them. Simply observe and notice your emotions and where you feel them in your body.
Redefine Your Post-Secondary Experience on Your Own Terms
Although there is a lot to grieve, learning virtually brings with it an opportunity to have a greater degree of agency and control over what your post-secondary experience looks like. You may not have the same kind of access to traditional academic and extracurricular opportunities but this gap is also an invitation to seek out the experiences that are most meaningful to you. On the academic front, virtual learning provides you with the flexibility to pursue educational opportunities beyond the classroom. In the wake of COVID-19, academics and practitioners around the world have begun offering online modules and seminars on a variety of topics. These modules are open to the public and many of them are free. Virtual learning also provides you with an opportunity to expand your academic and professional networks beyond your post-secondary institution and the surrounding areas. Because many people are working from home, they are more likely to respond to requests for mentorship and knowledge sharing from students. Take initiative and seek out educators and practitioners that align most with your interests and values.
The flexibility of virtual learning also provides opportunities to engage in social and extracurricular activities that you may not have otherwise sought out. Take the time to (re)discover your interests and passions and join online communities that are dedicated to them. Social media platforms such as Instagram and Facebook are an invaluable tool for forging connections based on common interests. If you are passionate about student activism, reach out to the executives of the social and environmental justice organizations at your institution to see how you can get involved in this age of social distancing. Alternatively, seek out organizations beyond your institution and volunteer. The need for political engagement and activism has never been more dire and these organizations are always seeking out passionate students who are eager to support their efforts.
Finally, virtual learning provides many of us with a greater capacity for rest--something that is often deprioritized in post-secondary institutions. Make sure that you incorporate breaks and rest into your learning. While it is important to make the most out of your post-secondary experience, it is doubly critical that you prioritize self-care and learn how to care for your mental health in a post-secondary context.