At first, the transition to online learning may seem overwhelming. Perhaps the most significant concern for university students during the coronavirus pandemic is actually contracting COVID-19. At Unemployed Professors we want to arm students with the necessary information and advice to avoid such an unfortunate outcome.
Like those in the regular community, it is very important for students to wear a mask, maintain social distance, and practice rigorous and regular handwashing. Of course, students should also be vigilant for the onset of symptoms. These include:
- Most common: Fever, Dry Cough, Fatigue
- Less common: Aches, Pains, Sore Throat, Diarrhea, Conjunctivitis, Headache, Loss of Taste or Smell, Skin Rash, or Discoloration of Fingers or Toes
- Serious symptoms: Difficulty Breathing or Shortness of Breath, Chest Pain or Pressure, Loss of Speech or Movement
If serious symptoms present, seek immediate medical attention. Remain at home or in your dorm room, and contact your student health center to make an appointment. This will allow health professionals to anticipate your arrival. Many institutions are creating quarantined areas to ensure that those with COVID-19 do not expose their peers. Students with non-serious symptoms should manage them at home.
Given the incapacitating nature of COVID-19, students should expect to be unable to attend class. Thus, it is imperative that students observe the ‘three W’s’: Wear, Wait, Wash. However, there are also other ways to reduce exposure while on campus. The most obvious is to maintain social distancing measures. If possible, seek a single dorm. When dining, try to eat outside the cafeteria and other places of congregation: eat outdoors, if possible. When confronted with the option of attending a regular class or online, select the latter.
Many returning students will be confronted with the oddity of the new learning paradigm. Used to an intimate and close-knit learning environment, they will perceive the ‘new university’ as more impersonal and less conducive to the collegiality and unity which have tended to characterize the post-secondary experience. The sense of normalcy and familiarity will be shattered on the new campus, whose imperative is driven by social distancing. These students must seek new ways to socialize with peers, and achieve the collaborative and mutually supportive atmosphere in which they thrive.
A final concern for university students in this new era of pandemic is how to manage the increased stress of studying under threat of viral contamination. Students already have enough worry due to academic pressures. Thus, trying to manage fears of contracting a potentially deadly virus can be onerous. It’s important for students not to view this threat through rose-colored glasses; at the same time, over-indulging in news updates on the coronavirus could be potentially very taxing on students’ mental faculties and emotional resources. Students should limit exposure to coronavirus news, and make sure to only consult reputable websites and news outlets. Additionally, students should not just read stories that ramp up fear, but should look for stories that convey hope and promote unity and connection.
With that in mind, ask the team of academic professionals at UnemployedProfessors.com any questions you may have regarding their college writing services and they will be more than happy to guide you along the arduous path!
