By Jensen Burnheimer ’21, staff writer
As LVC once again makes the tough decision to end in-person classes and send its students home, it is hard for students to adjust to this transition while staying positive.
On Oct. 30, LVC made the difficult decision to deliver all classes online and end on-campus housing. While many students have made this transition last year, the adjustment doesn’t get easier. Students are forced away from their friends and given no option but to resort to completing their courses online, likely in front of a computer screen the majority of their days. Although this takes a toll on students in many different ways, some students found a silver lining to push through their struggles and stay positive throughout this transition.
“I think being able to see my family more often will help me stay positive,” Brandon Brubaker, a junior business administration major, said. “Plus, a lot of my friends are going to be coming home soon too.”
Although many students on campus have already experienced the transition last year, first-year students are new to this kind of adjustment. Not only do they have to adjust to online classes like they had done in high school, but now they have to move everything back home, leaving their friends who could live far distances away.
“The news was not something we really wanted to hear because I’ve had a really good experience on campus so far,” Olivia Nace, a first-year exercise science/physical therapy major, said. “Staying in touch with my friends is keeping me positive and happier. Going from seeing them every day to not is really different, so we have been texting and will FaceTime a lot. It will be so nice to see them again in January.”
Nace is not the only one thinking about the friends she was forced to leave behind. Keeping in touch and looking forward to the time friends are back together is motivation enough to stay positive for some.
“We’re already planning when we can come see each other and where we can meet up halfway,” Kasey Thomas, another first-year exercise science/physical therapy major, said. “I keep thinking about how good it will be to see them every day again in January.”
While there are many silver lining students can think like being surrounded by friends and family, some are finding academic benefits to the transition.
“A silver lining to returning to remote learning is that being home is better and helps diversify their time with being able to learn asynchronously,” Garrett Campbell, a senior business administration major, said. “To stay positive during the transition, I will not look at myself as an object but as a subject. Everyone’s situation is different, and by looking through a lens of a different perspective, it will allow me to understand others and stay positive as we are all in it together.”
Students like Kasey Thomas and Olivia Nace find that creating a schedule and finding new locations to do their schoolwork, like a local coffee shop, will keep them motivated and help guide their transition to remote learning with ease.
Although this transition is difficult, there are many reasons to stay positive. Take a few moments and think about what will help you keep positive and motivated for the remainder of the fall semester.