Across the world, people are being told to stay at home and practice social distancing. The traditional student experience as we know it has completely vanished. There is no socialising, in-person lectures, team sports or travelling. College during a pandemic is vastly different to the traditional college experience posing many challenges such as loneliness, lack of motivation but it also poses many remote opportunities for students. It provides an opportunity to look at new ways of doing things and perhaps incorporate these into our post-pandemic lives.
Let’s break down how to make the most of the online college experience:
- Virtual Internships
- Skills Development
- Online Volunteering
- Socialising
- Work
- Extra-curriculars
- Studying and Motivation
- Travel
- Virtual Internships
Similar to the college experience, the work environment has changed and shifted to the virtual world. Internships assist in committing to a career path, building a network, developing skills, and experiencing the work environment.
Many firms are offering virtual internships this summer such as programmes with Accenture, Vodafone, A&L Goodbody or Microsoft. Although you may not be in an office or the workplace, there still is much to learn and gain remotely. Remote and agile working will be incorporated into the work environment after the pandemic.
The increased availability of remote opportunities provides students with the chance to do internships for organisations you may not have considered before due to mobility issues or costs such as the EU or other international organisations.
The Forage provides open access to virtual experience programmes endorsed by leading companies such as KPMG, Matheson, JP Morgan and so many more on its platform. The programmes simulate the real-world experience of different careers. This allows you to understand career pathways available and build the skills needed for the world of work without committing yourself to a certain career with a certain company. You can complete the programmes at your own pace, so there is no added stress.
- Skills development
The spare time at home allows you to explore different areas you may have been interested in or develop new skills. Pick up a new hobby (or restart an abandoned hobby) and learn new skills.
Coursera provides free online courses offered by the world’s leading universities from Roman Architecture, Digital Marketing to Python. You can comfortably learn about a topic and not worry about grades or results.
You could also learn a new language. Although travel is not possible at the moment, this could be useful following the pandemic. Apps like Duolingo are useful for learning the basics of a language. Netflix also offers many foreign language shows and movies such as 3%, Roma or Lupin. This can be a fun way to learn new languages and an additional reason to travel to the country post-pandemic.
Image Source: Giphy
- Online volunteering
Staying indoors is helping people and if you want to take a more active role you could help by volunteering online. This would be a brilliant way to participate in a rewarding and fulfilling experience and to enhance your CV.
The UN offers various ways to volunteer online and leverage your skills and strengths to contribute positively to society in a meaningful ways. If you are skilled in languages, there are translation opportunities. There are also opportunities in research, graphic design and writing and editing. There are other ways to help people online. Simply by answering questions in the UN World Food Programme’s interactive vocabulary game a grain of rice is donated.
There are also remote opportunities for students to online volunteer with Irish organisations and charities. Aware recruits virtual volunteers to support participants on the Life Skills online programme via email.
Image Source: Erasmus Student Network
- Socialising
The pandemic has made socialising with friends and family difficult. What we once took for granted is now a luxury. The friends you make in college are a significant part of the college experience. Pubs and clubs are not compatible with college during a pandemic. Online learning has resulted in a lot less human contact, but social distancing does not mean you cannot socialise. Look for new, creative ways to socialise with friends and family.
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Video calls have been useful for staying in touch with friends. Simply, make time to catch-up. Schedule weekly quizzes or participate in competitions like Fantasy Football which provide a topic to discuss with friends. Maybe send a letter to a relative or a friend.
If you enjoy reading, you could combine reading with socialising and start an online book club with friends. Pick a book, pick a length of time to read it and then discuss it over a video-call. Even set up a Goodreads group where you can discuss your thoughts on the book. Reading will keep your brain active and offer a bit of escapism from your four walls.
- Work
Work for students has reduced during lockdown with the closure of restaurants, tourism sites and retail stores. There are many other ways you could earn money. Now is the time to save money and spend it on travelling, concerts, sports matches and restaurants after the pandemic is over. If virtual internships are not for you, try some of the following ideas.
Do you have a talent you could use to generate money? Or do you have some entrepreneurial spirit? You could sell your old clothes online or upcycle them. If you enjoy photography, you could sell prints. If you enjoy writing, you could create a children’s ebook and place it on Amazon to sell. Take the opportunity to start something, that you previously did not have the time for prior to the pandemic.
Thousands of second-level students are due to sit exams or have missed out on a lot of school time. If your degree is relevant to a State Exams subject or you are skilled in that area, provide virtual grinds to students. If you are musically inclined, provide virtual music lessons.
There are also flexible, remote opportunities for students to make money online such as Rev which pays you for transcribing audio files. Perhaps participate in a paid online survey to quickly earn a small sum of money.
- Extra-curriculars
Just because you are not on campus does not mean you cannot get involved with clubs and societies which are integral to university life. Many clubs and societies are running virtual events. Check in with your university’s clubs and societies page and see how to join such as UCD's Law Society, DCU's Food Society or Trinity's Philosophical Society.
Since gyms and team sports are currently at a halt, it is hard to stay fit in the way you would like. University gyms are providing online fitness classes which may help or even a daily walk for some fresh air.
Participate in online events. Common Purpose hold U21 Global Citizenship Programme which engages large groups of students in learning about the Sustainable Development Goals and helps build a global network. You can also participate in the Virtual Model UN which would be a valuable learning experience and expand your network.
- Studying and Motivation
There are very few things we can control right now but we can control our grades. However, this is accompanied with the difficulty of lack of motivation and productivity. It is hard to stay focused when you are not surrounded by friends and classmates.
Keep organised. Try keep your study space organised. Schedule your day and make a list of what you need to get done. The days are more flexible because of the shift to online classes. Timetable the day around what you want to do.
Know how you learn best. If you find you are getting distracted or procrastinating, try researching different study techniques. The Pomodoro Technique involves working in short bursts of 25 minutes accompanied by a 5-minute break. After 4 Pomodoros take a longer break of 15 to 20 minutes. During these breaks change the scenery and leave your study area. In college you would not be sitting around for hours in front of the same desk. This will keep you more motivated and productive.
Is your phone distracting you? Do you “quickly check” your phone and then put it down 20 minutes later? Try using the Forest: Stay Focused App which aims to tackle this. The app plants a virtual tree and if you commit to your task, your tree will grow into a forest. If you cannot resist the temptation of using your phone, then the tree will die.
Image Source: Tenor
- Travel
It looks like J-1s are off the table for a little while longer. That does not mean you cannot plan for these excursions following the pandemic. Or look a little bit closer to home for the summer.
There are plenty of places in Ireland to staycation. The country is shrouded in history and possesses many beautiful scenes. We have got Curracloe Beach which is one of the longest beaches in Europe, unusual rock formations such as the Burren and the largest enclosed park within any European capital city. There is so much to do and many places to see.
Think ahead to sunnier days and compile a bucket list. List all the places you would like to see. Scratch maps are useful or even mood boards to visualise these places and plans.
Image Source: Catríona Shanley
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Please comment below your thoughts on the online college experience and whether you have any recommendations to improve it.
