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Graduate Reflections 2020 VISION
ALEXA COOK ‘21 College
When asked to look back on 2020, I can’t help but wonder why anyone would want to do that. No one needs me to tell them that 2020 has been an unusual year. We’ve all heard it said enough to last a lifetime; the world took an unexpected turn. It is safe to say that when schools were shut in March of last year not many people could have predicted the battle we had ahead of us.
As a chronic pessimist, it is challenging for me to not list off the many things that were lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, I will do my best to step out of my comfort zone and speak to the positives of this year. Not knowing when we would be online or in-person for classes this year was hard on all of the students and switching back and forth between the two was potentially the most difficult part. Rundle did an excellent job ensuring that the switch was made as easy as possible for students. Taking into account the challenges of working on computer screens all day and the overwhelming stress that comes along with at-home learning, Rundle’s Excellence in Education Distance-Delivery System (REEDS) was put into place when certain circumstances made online learning a necessity. The program cuts down on the length of classes as much as possible, while still ensuring there is adequate time to learn. REEDS also takes into account the fact that students need time away from their computer screens and makes certain there are breaks between classes for students to relax. Speaking from personal experience I can say with confidence, the adjusted program made online learning far easier on students' mental well-being. This being said, it can be very hard to stay motivated during times like these and having teachers who genuinely care about their students is worth more than words can say. Personally, I believe that a good teacher is someone who not only inspires students to do better but is also willing to put time and effort into forming relationships with their students. Empathy is one of the most important characteristics a teacher should possess. Being able to understand when students are struggling, or accept the fact that sometimes students can't get all 163 assigned homework questions done on time, or realize that sometimes students won't feel up to interacting as much in class when they are having a hard day. When teachers are willing to prioritize students’ mental well-being over school work it creates acceptance while pushing the students to work harder, and we are extremely fortunate to have so many teachers that are willing to build these kinds of relationships at Rundle.
