When applying for University 4 years ago, I dreamed of my graduation, a day that would be the one of my proudest moments, surrounded by my family and all the amazing friends I had met. Fast forward to 2020 and this dream isn’t my reality.
Covid-19 has effected each aspect of every persons life, from work, relationships, living arrangements and financial issues. For me, the biggest challenge has been adapting to completing my final year of uni in lock down. Adapting to online lectures, video calls for meetings and dealing with WiFi issues (plus many other technical issues) is just a few of the hurdles I have faced over the last month. It’s only now I realise how much students took for granted being able to knock on an office door and have access to additional support and guidance with with coursework instantly. You start to question, how will this effect my grades? How will this effect potential future employment?
On-top of all of this, the most heart breaking part of this situation is missing out on our “lasts”. Our “last” exam, followed by our “last” drink in the SU, our “last” celebration of the whole 4 years (our graduation) gone! We where told over night that our university had shut and that was it.
Online celebrations with course mates and the support of friends and family has made it all easier, however the whole experience is still so surreal compared to the picture I’ve been painting in my head for years.