The Effects COVID-19 Has Had On Students

Written by Rosie

The COVID-19 pandemic has changed pretty much every part of our lives, and while we’re getting used to working from home and managing the supermarket run, students have had to cope with a lot of change. This blog is a very brief overview of some of the ways students have been affected by COVID-19 and hopefully it will show people that they’re not alone in their confusion and stress.

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1) We have many students who have childcare or caring responsibilities alongside a job and Uni work who are now having to cope working from home, during assignment time as well as acting as teachers for their kids! If you’re one of those people reading this now, you’re amazing and you’re doing a great job. Most courses are not taking attendance anymore so there is no pressure to sit and work at certain times of day, just do what you can, when you can.

2) Assignment deadlines are always a rough time for any student, living on a diet of coffee, red bull and crisps and pretty much moving into the library! However, this time round might look a little different. The University and Union have been working hard to try to put some support in place for assignments such as a two-week extension and more options for support available to those who need it. It has been confusing for students to keep track of the new changes and it is important to remember that different departments and courses might be dealing with it in different ways. This is because sometimes a blanket policy for the whole Uni is not always best for all the students. If you have any concerns or need some extra support, it is best to ask your course leaders and carefully check emails to be sure how your course is managing assignments as opposed to doing the same things as your friends who might be on other courses. The Union website is also a great place to keep an eye on what’s happening: https://www.staffsunion.com/news/article/staffsunion/Exceptional-Regulations-for-Exceptional-Times/

3) For final year students who were hoping to showcase their work at GradEx or exhibitions we know it’s a little disappointing that these events might not look like how they usually do. Careers are currently working on how GradEx will operate so watch this space for more details coming soon! Social media is already being massively relied upon right now so maybe you could consider showing your work on Instagram, blogs or making a website to showcase your work. The Career Studio can help you with LinkedIn profiles which is a really great place to show your work to potential employers and other people in the same field as you.

4) Working at home with all the COVID-19 stuff going on around us is not the most motivating position to be in and I know some people might be struggling getting focused and motivated to do Uni work. There is lots of talk at the moment on how you can make the most of lockdown by working hard, learning a new skill or applying

for work and although yes, this is all true, it doesn’t mean it’s easy. It is important to stay busy but it’s more important to be kind to yourself. It’s okay to watch Netflix or sleep in if that helps you be in a better headspace because this in turn will help you to gain back some of your motivation to do work. No one needs to feel guilty if they come out of lockdown without having learnt a new language and taken up knitting. If these things help your mental health that’s great but if they don’t, be kind to yourself and you’ll get there.

Stay safe everyone, reach out for help and support in you need it because it is there for you and keep in mind that we’ll all be back to lectures and stressing in the library in the future!

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