CAMPUS
TOUGH TRANSITIONS:
TUFTS STUDENTS COPE WITH THE CHALLENGES OF AN IN-PERSON SEMESTER By Yumei Lin
A
fter workplaces and academic institutions shifted online early last year, people faced new challenges and anxieties in all aspects of life. Although a return to in-person events is a welcome shift from quarantine, anxieties have not lifted, but rather changed in nature. “I’m feeling very tired this semester, and I think it’s because I’m still trying to readjust to having in person classes again,” said junior Raynor Ahlstrin-Muniec in a written message. His fatigue is not unique; instead, it seems to represent a larger trend of student burnout. Junior Raga Bhagavathi said also via a written message, “Every single person I’ve talked to describes their emotions the same way… feeling overwhelmed and scatterbrained, constantly feeling at the edge of missing something, [and] feeling overscheduled to the point where I know it’s a bigger theme than just on an individual level.” In an email to the Tufts Observer, Julie Ross, the director of Tufts Counseling and Mental Health Services , said, “I know Health Services is very busy and
22 TUFTS OBSERVER OCTOBER 25, 2021
at CMHS we have a very high volume of students seeking counseling support.” That sentiment is echoed by student leadership from Ears for Peers, a student-run anonymous and confidential helpline on Tufts campus, who shared that the volume of calls has increased this semester in comparison to last.
“Every single person I’ve talked to describes their emotions the same way...feeling overwhelmed and scatterbrained, constantly feeling at the edge of missing something, [and] feeling overscheduled to the point where I know it’s a bigger theme than just on an individual level.” Part of what may be driving these fears is a lack of academic flexibility in a time of heightened stress. One student, who wished to remain anonymous, said, “I worry that If I ever get sick, or if I get COVID and I have to be in my house for ten
days… I’m going to miss out on my classes.” While some professors have stated that they intend to find ways to work around health recommendations, students often feel like that’s not a guarantee. The anonymous student continued, “Some teachers have been great about it. They say if you miss class, they’ll meet with you one-on-one, but at the same time, it’s still a little bit stressful knowing that there’s no backup.” In a university-wide email on October 1, the undergraduate advising deans said that “it is up to the individual instructor on how they will manage their course and provide flexibility.” While the deans left the degree of flexibility up to professors, students were told not to attend classes or take exams when diagnosed with COVID-19 or exhibiting symptoms that could be attributed to COVID-19. Ross stated that “at universities across the country, including Tufts, academic stress has increased significantly since the pandemic began. Several studies have gathered data indicating that students are struggling more with concentration, motivation, attention, and focus on academic work.” A survey done by a Boston University researcher indicated that the pandemic is worsening anxiety and depression rates among college students, which in turn, negatively impacts their coursework. Those issues haven’t gone away with the resumption of in-person classes; rather,
