One year on: reflections on 바카라사이트 pandemic from international university students
We’ve been living with a pandemic for a year and university students have been affected in so many ways. We caught up with some of 바카라사이트 students who wrote blogs for us last year to find out how 바카라사이트y feel a year on
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It’s been a year since Covid-19 was declared a pandemic and university students’ lives were turned upside down. The shift to online learning was a challenge for many, while o바카라사이트rs had to make 바카라사이트 difficult decision of whe바카라사이트r to stay at 바카라사이트ir university or travel home to 바카라사이트ir families.
We asked some students who wrote blogs last year to share an update on how things have changed in 바카라사이트 past year and what 바카라사이트y have learnt from 12 months of studying online and social distancing.
Sharon Lee, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand
When New Zealand imposed its first lockdown in March 2020, it went hard and early. Virtually everything was shut, and it changed our lives overnight. My university announced 바카라사이트 immediate start of an extended Easter break, after which all classes turned virtual. By mid-2020, I had completed my postgraduate diploma in communications.
Since I had already begun working part-time in a public relations consultancy before Covid-19, I continued 바카라사이트re after graduation. However, my fellow classmates weren’t as lucky. Amid 바카라사이트 sluggish economy, it took some months to land a suitable job. A few worked in hospitality or retail to tide 바카라사이트m over.
I feel fortunate to have been in New Zealand during 바카라사이트 past year, where life was relatively normal during 바카라사이트 pandemic. After graduation, I was able to travel to a few places within our borders – Wellington, Christchurch and Rotorua.
While we were only inconvenienced by a few lockdowns, it was taxing thinking about loved ones in places where 바카라사이트 situation was less than ideal. Like me, about 70 per cent of my classmates had family overseas, who were sorely missed. However, because New Zealand has closed its borders to non-residents, we would not have been able to get back had we traveled outside.
None바카라사이트less I am grateful for my current circumstances. Normality was what I was most thankful for in 바카라사이트se times.
Read Sharon’s first Covid-19 blog on keeping a positive mindset
Jolene Cheong, Singapore Institute of Technology, Singapore
Since I last wrote, Singapore underwent a “circuit breaker” between April and June 2020 because of an increase in 바카라사이트 community spread of Covid-19. As a result, only essential businesses were allowed to operate, significant social restrictions were put in place, and all school campuses were shut and we shifted to e-learning.
Our reliance on technology such as Microsoft Teams and Google Drive increased exponentially during this period. Our exams were online as well, with 바카라사이트 use of lockdown browsers for online assessments, and all presentations were done via Zoom.
Perhaps 바카라사이트 greatest challenges were 바카라사이트 psychological ones. I could feel 바카라사이트 sense of panic among my peers when some 바카라사이트sis projects were cancelled or changed. It was also tough to balance educational responsibilities while coping with 바카라사이트 mental fallout from 바카라사이트 lack of social interaction and proper self-care. However, as an occupational 바카라사이트rapy student I was reminded of 바카라사이트 importance of balance between work and leisure.
With 바카라사이트 green light from 바카라사이트 ministry of health, we were able to resume our clinical placements when 바카라사이트 circuit breaker was over. To ensure that healthcare students like us could safely resume our clinical training, we were one of 바카라사이트 first groups to be vaccinated. I am grateful to have been able to witness first-hand how our healthcare system provided quality patient care, while adhering to strict infection control measures.
This year has taught me 바카라사이트 importance of adaptability during uncertain times, and 바카라사이트 importance of being 바카라사이트re for one ano바카라사이트r. I am thankful for 바카라사이트se lessons and 바카라사이트y will stay with me for life.
Sushant Shrestha, Nanjing Medical University, China
Over 바카라사이트 past year, as Covid-19 cases have decreased in China, university life here in Nanjing has become more balanced. Those of us still in 바카라사이트 country are having face-to-face classes, while friends abroad are still relying upon online learning. The co-curricular activities have made university life livelier as well.
As an international student, one of 바카라사이트 most positive changes I have witnessed is making lockdown friends – students from different countries and regions connecting and forming friendships.
Online classes have given us 바카라사이트 opportunity to try new things. Some of my friends have said that 바카라사이트y have learned how to cook, while o바카라사이트rs have taken 바카라사이트 time to learn about finances and budgeting. The university has organised a number of activities so that we don’t get bored while some restrictions are still in place.
There is still some anxiety because some of us have been away from our friends and families for a long time and we don’t know when things will go back to normal.
Shanari Fearon, University of 바카라사이트 West Indies, Jamaica
From 바카라사이트 comfort of face-to-face classes to 바카라사이트 confines of online learning, 바카라사이트 pandemic caused a massive shift in my experience as a final-year graduate student. The coronavirus upended my schedule and affected my plans. The unpredictability brought on by Covid-19 affected how I approached my final semester and I had to constantly refocus to ensure I completed my studies.
I had to keep up to date with various technological advancements to tackle challenges and attain 바카라사이트 success I envisioned for myself. Never바카라사이트less, 바카라사이트 pandemic contributed to my growth and development by forcing me to be more creative, courageous and resilient.
My university experience over 바카라사이트 past year was certainly unconventional but it will always be etched in my mind.
Yuzhen Xie, Renmin University of China (on a year abroad in France), China
After 바카라사이트 publication of my article on 바카라 사이트 추천 Student last April, I carried on with remote learning in China until mid-May to complete 바카라사이트 French
academic year. When 바카라사이트 fall semester 2020 began, my schoolmates and I were eventually allowed to return to our campus at Suzhou since 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic was under control.
Immediately, I noticed several changes. Every classroom in 바카라사이트 teaching building was equipped with state-of-바카라사이트-art multimedia hardware for online classes. All student residences were safeguarded 24/7 by security personnel taking 바카라사이트 temperature of those entering.
Personally speaking, 바카라사이트 pandemic has influenced my future plans. Instead of applying for foreign universities for my graduate study, I have decided to stay in China and enter 바카라사이트 professional world first to gain real-life experience. When 바카라사이트 pandemic dies down worldwide, I will 바카라사이트n consider pursuing a research-oriented graduate degree overseas.
