After the confetti settles and graduation celebrations draw to a close, recent graduates without a clear direction are bound to experience an overwhelming sense of existential dread. What’s the next step? How should I market myself to prospective employers? How can I prepare for my college years? Students often report feeling stressed about their future success, financial well-being, and earth-shattering entrance into adulthood.
Although potentially unpleasant and emotionally-wearing, graduation anxiety is normal and virtually unavoidable. However, there are plenty of tips and tricks to manage graduation anxiety. Start by making a detailed plan regarding your school choice, housing options, class schedule arrangements, and even your textbook purchases. Having a solid plan-of-action is crucial for success.
Once you’ve completed the planning phase of your college career, it’s vital to acknowledge that not even your class valedictorian has it completely figured out. College life involves a learning curve, so give yourself time to acclimatise.
Graduating from high school is a significant life event most students have been longing for since they stepped foot in a classroom. However, there are many pathways students can take that stray from higher education. Some people take gap years while others plunge headfirst into the workforce. The beauty of graduation is the freedom to choose what’s next.
However, if you spent your high school career daydreaming about earning your bachelor’s degree at Northeastern University, you’ll need to determine the Northeastern acceptance rate. Even after calculating that your odds of acceptance are high, students will have to clear yet another hurdle: online schooling in the COVID-19 era.
Challenges of eLearning
Starting college is a challenge in itself. Sadly, navigating university in 2020 lends to an entirely different set of struggles, one of which is virtual learning. Between technical difficulties and adapting to a new learning environment, eLearning is hardly an ideal solution for most folks participating in higher education right now.
Students struggle to balance school and personal life as they implement new time management strategies and pull knowledge from 7th grade computer literacy to fulfil online school requirements. Although school during the COVID-19 era can seem unconquerable, there are plenty of tips, tricks, and support systems here to help.
Be Proactive
One of the most challenging aspects of eLearning is its unpredictability. While disaster is bound to strike at points, there are ways to combat the chaos and keep things running as smoothly as possible. Being proactive about meeting professors, advisors, and other students—virtually, of course—is a pivotal component of a successful college semester.
Additionally, be diligent about checking that your laptop is running at full speed ahead before joining the Zoom meeting. You should also give yourself ample time to troubleshoot errors if need be.
Embrace school at home
Being quarantined can become a drag in a hurry. In years prior, high school was an opportunity to catch up with friends and avoid nagging parents awaiting you at home. With a single ring of a dismissal bell, students could separate work and play.
With student learning virtually, morning commutes are as simple as rolling over in bed (hair brushing optional). With classes taking place from the comfort of a queen-sized bed, distractions have increased tenfold. That said, dedicating a space at home to schooling is one way to resist temptation and embrace the homeschooling lifestyle.
Time management is key
A particularly gruelling aspect of virtual learning is time management. Without physically attending school, creating time and space for education at home is difficult for most to achieve. Students often find themselves waiting until the last minute to complete assignments due to a lack of structure.
Creating a daily routine is key to time management and habit building. If you struggle to follow through or remember daily tasks, try using a planner or utilising frequent check-ins to hold yourself accountable.
Final thoughts
College during the COVID-19 era is more complicated and isolating than ever. You may find yourself struggling to stay afloat and find your footing as you desperately try to adapt to the ever-changing times. However, there are plenty of different support groups and resources available for struggling students during this time – don’t let graduation anxiety get the better of you. Practice makes perfect, and there’s no better time to practice self-discipline and reflection than during quarantine in a global pandemic. If you suffer from graduation anxiety, don’t worry it’s normal just make sure you speak to someone about it and don’t bottle it up.
