Students across the globe are living during one of the most historical moments of the modern day. The infamous coronavirus, also known as COVID-19, has developed into a pandemic and is shutting the world down as we speak. For most college students, this is something that we have never dealt with before.

To say that the current events around the world are nerve-wracking would be an understatement. Countries are going on lockdown, schools are being moved to online teaching and sporting events and concerts are being canceled. Even big names like actor Tom Hanks and French NBA player Rudy Gobert have contracted the virus. 

If I am being completely honest, I did not react at all during the beginning of last week, nor did I expect such drastic life changes in such a short time. At the beginning of the week, I was enjoying in-person instruction, hanging out with friends on campus and focusing on upcoming school events. Now, everything has flipped upside down.

While online classes may be challenging, and maybe even impossible for some majors, this will be a change that we all will have to adapt to. Our professors are in the same boat as we are, struggling to change their classes for an online platform over the course of a week or less. It is unfair for us all, but it also is the safest option.

While I have taken many online courses at UCA, I do not speak for the entirety of students attending college here. It is a scary transition, but it is important during this time to stay focused on classes and attempt to proceed as normal.

Being aware of due dates and checking our emails is more important now than ever. In order to work with our professors and make online courses a success, staying on top of assignments and being proactive is the key. Teachers have been emailing me left and right, trying to make sure that we know how classes will work once online.

It is also important to stay patient with ourselves. I know just as well as anyone that I am my own worst critic, but this is a time for more leniency. We will not all be perfect or always make the best grades, but instead we should be proud of ourselves for performing well despite the circumstances. 

While it may not seem as important to us, staying healthy and eating clean is a necessity now. People in their teens or early twenties may not suffer as bad from illness, but there are elders, children and people with compromised immune systems that deserve to be taken care of. We should take precautions in order to make their lives easier, and make sure we are all healthy for class.

What is going on in the world around us is stressful and chaotic, and it can be easy to get caught up in the panic. School, even if it is online, is one aspect of life we still have control over. Doing our best is not only right for us but helps lift our professor’s spirits as well.

As scary as this situation seems to be, I am ready to take on online courses and stay safe.