2020 was a year of change. We went from in-person to online, the loss of people, the economy went downhill and all because of the COVID-19 virus. COVID affected a lot of our education time. We went from just being in-person, seeing our classmates every day to going online, now having to see our classmates through screens. Some enjoyed online, some hated the idea of it, I was one of those people who hated the idea of it.
Eventually we were able to go back in-person, being able to see our classmates, but not how we once could. During the pandemic, we had to wear masks, have dividers in between desks, be assigned group days to determine what days to go in-person, and had to stay six feet apart from each other. Online platforms such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet became a necessary usage as it made it easier and smoother for the processes of remote learning, virtual meetings, and social gatherings. But as the online platforms allowed for a smoother process, it also had its moments where it was not such a smooth process. The internet would work slowly, go out randomly and disconnect randomly from the platforms. Due to all the internet complications, it made it harder to get classwork done.
While online interactions offered conveniences at times and safety measurements, they also presented challenges such as digital fatigue, lacking personal connections, and constant issues with access to the internet. The year, 2020, highlighted the importance of digital infrastructure and the need to be adapted to anything when it comes out of nowhere in unprecedented times. We, especially I, had to learn to be more independent because of the challenges that got thrown at us randomly and rapidly.
But being independent had its challenges. Such as, attending online classes, doing the work, and participating in activities. Although, to do the work or even participate in activities was a handful to do honestly. I went from having A’s and B’s to having C’s and lower. The pandemic affected me, and I’m sure others as well. Others may beg to differ, but I personally think in-person was the way to go because it was and is a more appropriate way of learning, more hands-on and helps students be more attention-focused in classes.
