For those of us fortunate enough to attend college, the 2020-2021 school year is probably looking nothing like it used to. Upperclassmen might be taking their last semester entirely online and preparing for a virtual graduation, lowerclassmen are pushing through virtual classes to complete their course requirements, and new students must accept that their first year of college will be unlike anything they were expecting. This new reality is trying and stressful, but if we stay calm and focus on the reward, we will get through this.
Before you succumb to fear or anger or sadness or whatever you may be feeling, take things one step at a time. Allow yourself to feel what you are feeling and then move past it. Do not think about everything all at once or you will overwhelm yourself. If your school is still solidifying their plan for the academic year or if they keep giving you conflicting information, be mindful and understanding. This is difficult for everyone, and there is no manual for how to proceed with this. Just focus on what you can control. Look at the small things: are you registered for classes? Do you have the necessary notebooks, devices, textbooks? For any online classes, do you have a plan for where you will work and how you will stay focused? Like the saying goes, slow and steady wins the race.
College is worth the work. The world may seem out to get you right now, but it will pass eventually. It will become easier and you will be glad of the time you spent and the memories you made. I am about to start my third year of college and I could not be more grateful for the past two years. I have made wonderful friends, taken fascinating classes, and learned so much—about life as well as my area of study. Maintaining some sense of normal or incorporating a steady routine is important right now, and college will help with that while providing you with invaluable opportunities. Take a deep breath and embrace it.