There are first year students at Long Beach City College who’ve never stepped foot on either the PCC or LAC campus. Two students speak on how they feel about the topic and whether they’d rather stay in an online environment or in-person classes during the pandemic.
Online classes can have the beneficial freedom of going at your own pace for some courses. However, it is a challenge.
Arianna Montes, a first year student, said, “A few issues of being online full time are the lack of structure, dealing with mental issues, trouble focusing and parents.”
A common issue with first year students is missing out on college activities. Such as, “making new friends from a different city,” said Brooke Barrows, another first year LBCC student.
Barrows said, “I would like to go back but it would be weird to go back.”
For instance, the college experience wouldn’t be the same. There would be extra safety precautions that would be taken to protect the students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In particular, first year students won’t be able to attend any major events, such as career fairs, or join a club day.
“I think we shouldn’t go for all classes, maybe make classes shorter…limit the amount of people on campus and in class, mask regulation, and social distance,” said Montes
It seems students are willing to put themselves at risk, rather than stay in a full-time online environment. It’s difficult to stay motivated, and puts a lot of pressure on students that are just starting their college experience.
All though everyone’s different, some ways to stay motivated are planning your day, journaling, yoga, working out, decluttering, and eating well. Keeping the mind and body healthy helps to keep focus.
Barrows mentions that it’s not ideal being in her room for long periods of time because it can be upsetting. To reduce any tension she goes hiking and then gets her homework done stress free.
Montes on the other hand stays motivated by seeing her friends do good in school, being well organized, planning ahead and spending time on the internet.