With the world's current situation, a lot of things have had to change. From the way we work to how we spend free time, a lot of us have had to tweak our everyday schedules to see what works better, thanks to this pandemic being a literal pain in the butt at times.
This change also relates to school and university work.
Now, as I've explained a while back, I'm a first year Journalism student. While going to university was new enough, it doesn't really compare to having everything online. It creates an odd disassociating feeling that ends up teetering between "relaxed because at home" and "need to work cause at uni". Not gonna lie, I don't think this is how the experience is supposed to go.
You think of university, you think of wild parties, more freedom to explore yourself, lessons with like minded people doing a subject you feel you can enjoy.
New norms, new rules!
Parties? Who need them! (Let's be real, I was never gonna be invited to one)
Freedom? We... kind of got it the first term before we moved back home. Now we're stuck at home. It was fun while it lasted (missing that ensuite bathroom)
Lessons? Yeah, those are still going. Just digitally. Like... very digitally. No one in the same room at all.
While I honestly dislike the term "the new norm", I do find it fascinating how much we've had to adapt to the new situation we're all left in. How we cope with work, how different our influences are due to the environment we're in, how we're stuck in a place that can either be our haven or our hell.
This reminds me of a quote from my old RE teacher (Decent guy. Quite odd, but when it came to RE his lessons were more stories). A quote I'll always remember from him:
"You have no purpose in life"
While that might sound very harsh from him (tbf, there was a lot of debate about it), he did follow it up with a purpose: "To live to the next day"
Even though I never understood when I was younger, I do have a vague understanding now of what he meant, thanks to the lockdowns.
No matter what time period you're in, you always think of one thing to begin with - How they survived.
There's been plagues, freezing, famine, wars, poverty, starvation, hangings, witch trials, all this other nonsense throughout the years that ends up hindering chances of survival. Each time they come, we struggle. We fall, some not even making it. The majority end up finding new ways to cope. Hygiene, medicine, clothing, tools, food, houses, technology, all of this is to do with our one goal - to survive to the next day.
With this survival, it brought us the education we're currently experiencing. This our way in this world to survive.
With that, it makes going through such a confusing time in university that much funnier. Making use of the social platforms we have, seeing the developments that we're making to stay connected. Doesn't matter where you are, we're all facing the same battle.
While the government isn't exactly dealing with out situation well, we're the ones who define how our student life is supposed to go.
We make our own events, our own friendships, connections, etc. Keep up with them hobbies you want to, talk to those friends you wish. Just don't let these opportunities pass, whether they be physical or digital.
Although it's gonna be an awkward next step for this semester, I'm sure there's gonna be some funny things to learn about university life. And I promise to share with you, dear reader, what they are.
-R (13/01/2021)