What It's Like Being a Uni Student During Covid

Moving during a Pandemic

I would never have expected to start university during a pandemic. My school actually canceled fall move-ins for the freshmen class, which many people were bummed about, but it got pushed to the Winter term (January). As for me, I was stuck on the other side of the world (Cambodia) until December. You can't even imagine the crazy times I woke up for zoom events or fell asleep in class.

The flight to the U.S was very interesting and a bit scary. There were definitely a lot less people on the flights and in the airports. I also had a whole row to myself, which was amazing. There isn't much to say about my trip, but I don't think I was able to say a proper goodbye to Cambodia. Not only did the pandemic leave me with an odd end to my senior year, it also made it difficult to see my friends and family before I left for the U.S.

TIPS TIPS TIPS!!!

Get Organized

Make a schedule for yourself where you set time to study, do your work for classes, hang out, etc. Put it on a planner, journal, google calendar, what works best for you! Be consistent, though... like, don't pack it. I personally prefer putting things on my google calendar and organizing my assignments onto a spreadsheet :) ... okay, mine does look a bit messy but it worked for me at the time!!!

Build Your Connections

Whether it's for networking, making friends, or making a good impression on your professor, it's really good to put yourself out there!

• Make friends with upperclassmen! They know their way around, you get tips, and possibly a mentor who could give you advice on your major and other things
• Reach out to people through social media! It wouldn't hurt to hit people up on Instagram or Facebook (that's how I did it LOL). Join Facebook groups or follow Instagram pages.
• Clubs/Organizations are also a good way to connect with people. What's better than coming together and meeting people with similar interests. For me, I joined several cultural organizations (Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, ASA, a sorority) and was even on the eboard for one of them.
• Stand out to your professor in class and look for opportunities that can help you grow in your career!

Use Your Resources 

Your professors won't always be the most helpful, to be honest... If you are struggling in a class, try to make it to their office hours. Besides that, check if your classes have study groups or tutors, or ask an upperclassmen to send notes!

Life at Zoom University

Firstly, I would like to say that the last time I've been in a classroom was back in March of 2020. Since then, even in college, I have been attending online classes (still to this day with my sad summer classes). You would think everything is easier online but it's more of a workload. Once you enter college, there isn't really anyone to help keep you accountable anymore. You have to read the syllabuses and remind yourself of deadlines. You have to be the one to reach out to advisors, professors, etc. You have to find and register for your own classes (before they get filled up - yes, there are limited spots for classes and I am sadly a victim of it). You have to step out of your comfort zone to take on opportunities to grow in your career.

Classroom settings were pretty interesting. Everyone had their cameras off and probably was sleeping through the lecture until you're the last person on the call (not that I'm speaking from experience hahah uhh). This definitely made it more difficult to build connections and make friends, but that's where you have to step out of your comfort zone and talk to them through social media or something.

One of the biggest things I struggled with was managing my time and keeping myself on top of my work. A slow working person (aka me) + classes that last 10 weeks long = stREsS. Transitioning from high school to college has made me realize many things. If I'm being honest, high school can be easy to pass by and make up with grades - it's more forgiving. After falling behind quite a bit in class (*cough* Calculus *cough*), it hit me how what worked for me in high school didn't work anymore.

Majors, Grades, and Stuff

You know how everyone aims for straight As in high school and all? Well, it's even more difficult in college. I'm not saying it's not impossible and that you shouldn't try your best to get good grades, it's just that it really isn't the end of the world if you get below an A in a class. I remember throughout my freshman year, I went all "try-hard" mode, trying not to make the same mistakes as I did in high school. I learned this after talking to many upperclassmen... I'm still going "try-hard" mode, though, but less harsh on myself.

Let's talk about majors... I'm pretty sure in other countries, you need to be set on what you want to major in. I know that in the U.S, you are able to change your majors. It's also completely normal and fine to change your majors many times BUT do it wisely. I went from Biochemistry to Chemical Engineering to Computer Engineering, and now I am in Computer Science (which I would hopefully settle down for).

Realizing that You're an Adult Now

One biggest thing to remember through all this, you don't need to have your entire life together or know exactly what you are doing. Don't doubt your abilities when you want to pursue something either. It's a big world and don't forget to take care of yourself <3.