How to be a Successful Student During a Pandemic

By Ashley Halter, success coach

I NEVER thought I would write those words but yet here we are. As I thought to myself, "What are some key things I would want my students to know as we move through this time?" I decided to create a list to share:

1. NEW ROOMMATES: Remember how it felt when/if you first moved in with new people — thinking about navigating the shared spaces, perhaps that could be the kitchen, the living room or even your bedroom takes balance. It may feel all new again, which is normal even if it’s your family home.  Across the nation, colleges and universities are closing their residence halls, some for the rest of the semester; people are moving home or sharing living spaces with friends. You will need to adjust to a new way of living in a shared space — figure out and communicate meal plans, discuss if you’re operating independently for food purchases, see how you can all work together to keep the place that you are residing in moving in a healthy way.
    
2. NEW LIVING EXPECTATIONS: Have clear expectations about your participation in the household and the household with you. The people you are living with may not understand you have to log into class at the same time every day, or they may not understand the work expectations for your online classes. The best way to solve this is through clear conversations. Discuss helping with chores in your living environment, getting food, preparing food, your need for space for learning and how best to achieve this. Be understanding of others’ needs as well. They may need to complete work during this time too, so work together so everyone can find the space and time they need to accomplish their goals.
    
3. NEW LEARNING EXPECTATIONS: Your classes may be recorded or live, but either way they are going to look a little differently being fully online versus in the classroom. These classes may require a different amount of work then what you previously needed to do. For classes that may be more of an independent study design — treat it like a class you had to sit for, mark out time in your schedule equal to the amount of class time you used to designate and do the materials during that time. For example if your class is on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 10-11:30 a.m., work on your class Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10-11:30 a.m.! Try to keep as “normal” of a schedule as possible.
    
4. A LOT OF TOGETHERNESS: With some industries closing their doors to their physical locations and having people work remotely, or not working at all, you may have a lot more people sharing living spaces. This will lead to increased togetherness to degrees you may never have seen before. Try your best to find balance in this. Give people as much space as possible but also build in QUALITY, POSTIVE time with each other. Share laughs, have fun, respect one another’s need for alone time.
    
5. ESCAPE: With physical travel being limited you may need to escape. If you have access to the internet use some of the free museum tours — for example, the Louvre just released a ton of new pictures giving you access to explore inside. If you do not have internet but at least access to a window, look outside and take in your surroundings. Find things in nature to focus on so that you are not feeling so cooped up. If you can get out and walk around (depending on travel restrictions and being mindful of social distancing), do so, feel the fresh air, gather some Vitamin D —anything to break up your time, and isolation.
    
6. COMMUNITY: It may seem contrary to focus on community during a pandemic, but the fact is humans are communal beings. We need community. Schedule a Google hangout with some friends, Facetime or Skype someone you haven’t seen in a while. Talk on the phone with a loved one. Embrace physical isolation but do not engage in emotional isolation. Tell people how you are feeling, talk it out, hear them as well. For Rockhurst students, Campus Ministry is hosting virtual Cura Community groups — click here to sign up. The Learning Center tutors and SI’s will be available virtually, and even the success coach is also available — schedule here. Lean into these supports!
    
7. ACTIVITY OF DAILY LIFE: It is important to continue to take care of yourself right now. Get up, shower and get ready every day if you have access to these things. Change your clothes, brush your teeth and comb your hair. Move your body — if you have internet there are a TON of free resources to do a workout, whether you’re into yoga, barre, HIIT, there is a little something for everyone. No internet? Then try your best to do jumping jacks, run in place, engage in some sort of physical movement to the degree that your body allows. Stick to a schedule — just because you can Netflix all day, does not mean you should. Watch how much you are eating. Sometimes we over eat or under eat, especially in times of great stress. Be mindful and try to nourish your body in healthy ways as much as possible.
    
8. MINIMIZE EXPOSURE TO ANXIETY-PROVOKING THINGS: Right now it is extremely hard to avoid the headlines and the dire nature that is splashed across the news. Try to limit your exposure, both virtually and in your conversations. If you feel like you can’t discuss COVID 19, tell your friends you need a break from it. It is OK to put a healthy boundary up in this time. I am not telling you to completely ignore the warnings or the recommendations and brush off the situation. Truth is we could spend all day refreshing the internet for each breaking news story, but that can be extremely stressful and anxiety provoking. Stress can and does break down your immune system, and right now, we need to protect that immune system. Put the phone down, minimize your internet searches and take a break.
    
9. FIND GOD OR GOOD IN ALL THINGS: At Rockhurst, one of our core values is Finding God in All Things. If you don’t believe in God, or have differing beliefs, you can translate that to finding Good. The point is we NEED to look for God, the good, or silver linings, even in the smallest of ways every day. Look for the God or the Good in yourself, in your community, in the world and embrace those. Find one thing to be grateful for each day, and hold onto that.
    
10. GIVE GRACE: Most importantly, give yourself grace and others around you. I am quite certain that most people have not prepared for working, living and coping with a pandemic. We are all in this together, working through this together to find a way to the other side, whatever that may look like. Remember give grace to those around you and TO YOURSELF. Things might not be perfect right now but if you get up every day and try your best THAT is all we can ask.

I hope these tips are helpful for you during this time. As always, if you need anything please do not hesitate to schedule an appointment with me. I am available via phone, Facetime and Zoom. You are not alone in this.