We understand that we missed out on an entire year and a half of our education because of the pandemic, but that doesn’t mean the workload this year needs to overcompensate for everything we missed. Every student I’ve talked to, no matter what year, is having a very overwhelming semester.
After the pandemic began, teachers became more lenient with homework and exams while we were online. This semester, it seems that being in person all of sudden meant we went from 0 to 100, real quick. It has really taken a toll on our mental health.
After not taking a real exam in over a year, the first time I sat down at a desk to take a test I panicked. The amount of test anxiety that students have faced this semester seemed to go right under the noses of our professors. I think people have forgotten the fact that we are still in a pandemic and we are still stressed from dealing with the repercussions of everything we lost and missed out on in the last two years.
I only assume that this overcompensation of work may be to try and shift our attention back to in person learning. Truthfully, I believe it’s done the opposite. Students are less motivated than at the start of the term and burnt out, dreading their final exams and presentations.
I think something that instructors fail to understand is that students have lives outside of the classroom. I know that is something students have felt before, but this term has felt way out of proportion. Just because we came in person this term does not mean we have to rush into getting the routine back to normal. It will never get back to “normal”. We are all still learning to adjust, teacher and students alike, but for the sake of our mental health, please tone it down a notch. — Ashley Meza
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