4 minute read
Students hope for a normal semester
After a year of social distancing and online classes, students hope for a more normal semester this fall.
By MY LY
Podcast Editor
With a semester that will be fully inperson for the first time in over a year, students face many new experiences that had not been tackled in the past.
Lily Kucik, sophomore in pre-med, was raised in Opelika and is entering a fall semester with on-campus classes for the first time.
Kucik discussed how she felt like she missed out on many opportunities her first year.
“During my last semester, I feel as though I missed out on the true freshman experience,” Kucik said. “I didn’t really have many opportunities to meet students who shared academic interests because we were all separated by a computer screen. I missed out on walking through campus and seeing familiar faces from other classes. I feel like I didn’t get the quality of education I was looking forward to because we were limited to video chats without actual interaction.”
Like many other students, Kucik’s first year experience during COVID-19 was challenging for her to manage.
“Personally, I do feel as though online classes have hindered my performance in class,” Kucik said. “I am a very hands-on learner so not being able to sit at a desk and interact with others has made it harder for me to get motivation to complete all of my studies.”
Because she has lived in Opelika her whole life, Kucik said she feels comfortable entering the campus in the fall semester.
“I grew up in Opelika, so navigating the Auburn campus is like second nature for me,” Kucik said. “I personally believe I am prepared to enter campus, but I could understand how my other classmates may not feel as confident.”
Kucik talked about her anticipation for other student experiences as well.
“I’m truly looking forward to having in-person classes this fall,” Kucik said. “I’m excited to meet my peers and share an education together without using social media. Along with in-person academics, I am really anticipating football season. I’m so excited to be able to watch a football game in Jordan-Hare, sitting with so many other students who share the same excitement I have.”
Kucik’s experience is similar to many other sophomores. Alexia Alford, a sophomore in wildlife science pre-vet, has faced many of the same challenges but was raised in Virginia.
When Alford first arrived in Auburn, they said the online courses were not something they were fully prepared for.
“I think I was hoping at some point that we would go back to in-person,” Alford said. “Because a lot of my classes were asynchronous my very first semester, it made it really hard for me to schedule out my assignments. I would like do all of my work for one class on a singular day instead of spreading it out.”
Alford discussed how the online modality made it very difficult for them to learn as well as they could have.
“I feel like I missed out on campus life,” Alford said. “And really seeing how vibrant the campus can be and talking with my peers, mostly. Because we were just in a bunch of GroupMe’s, but we never saw each other face-to-face, really, unless it was for study groups. That’s really the only time we saw each other.”
Alford also discussed their ability to socialize outside of class.
“I stayed in my dorm all the time,” Alford said. “Mostly, the only people I talked to was my roommate, her friends that would come over, my academic advisor and my therapists.”
For students like Alford, moving to a new state and not being able to explore the campus in the traditional way hindered their ability to socialize and adjust. They discussed the pressure they feel to now be back in person because of this.
“I think it’s kind of intimidating,” Alford said. “Because I started out college online. So, that’s how I got adjusted to college. And now I kind of have to readjust myself to be in-person and take notes straight from the professor rather than a video recording.”
Alford works for Auburn as a resident advisor and they stated how the position has helped them acclimate to seeing other students and connecting with their peers.
“Being around people now has definitely helped,” Alford said. “Actually going out and doing things with other students is new to me and something I appreciate more.”
Alex Tyer, junior in interior design, discussed her excitement to go back to fully in-person classes.
“I am ready to go back on campus,” Tyer said. “I definitely missed seeing the campus full. I am looking forward to meeting new people and potentially building new friendships that involve hanging out or even just studying together.”
