Educators Look to Parents and Communities To Help Reduce Student Stress- neatoday.org

The transition to virtual college began as a simple thing. The first week, most classes either did nothing in order to review life in the coming months or had minimal assignments. I, personally, thought this was an encouraging sign. I assumed things wouldn’t be too much different than in-person classes and the assignments that come with them. Apparently I was wrong.

College is definitely a balancing act and it isn’t supposed to be easy. You’re supposed to put the work in and earn your degree. I chose to take honors courses and agreed to the work that comes with them. However, I’ve come to realize that online college is actually pretty ridiculous.

To start off, the instruction is nowhere near the level it is during normal classes, despite the work being the same. I’ve found my grades slipping in a few classes, specifically stat 200, where the lectures are pre-recorded and there is less elaboration on content. My lab is even worse. Labs are supposed to be collaborative, and there is supposed to be a TA overseeing the time we’re together to clear up any confusion and answer questions. I never got the contact information of my partner from my stat lab, and zoom meetings for labs don’t compare. Asking questions is less comfortable, and sometimes things require showing the TA your screen, which can’t be done over zoom meeting.

The most annoying part is the workload. I’m not sure I’ve been as pressed to get so many assignments done since I started my college career. Tomorrow (4/10) alone, I need to submit an essay, this blog, comments on three different english assignments, a stats exam, a stats lab, and a 100 point issue brief. All of these things have been started but not finished, and I’m feeling the immense pressure.

(note: phil108h papers are worth 25% of my grade) – Image by Author

Time management is not the issue, because I don’t have the time to start things weeks in advance since each week I seem to have an insurmountable amount of assignments. I’m not going to start an essay a week early when I have two exams to study for that week. I also work around 35 hours a week now, and things only get harder.

My point of anger is that it seems like professors feel they’re the only classes we have. It’s a little messed up to have five things due just for one class when I have four others that need me to get things done in a limited amount of time. It seems as though the online aspect has made professors feel they need to compensate for something. It really isn’t fair because the quality of instruction has gone down while the number and importance of assignments has gone up.

I promise I’m not whining because I’ve been an irresponsible student who blames everyone else for their mistakes. I’m not an A+ perfectionist. I can accept turning things in late because I’ve slacked off or mismanaged my time. I genuinely believe that, as students, we’re being screwed here, and it’s irritating.

Everyday I wish this semester would end and I would be out of my misery.