The Coronavirus pandemic has taken a big toll on students at Florida A&M University, especially the incoming freshmen. It has impacted their transition from high school to college, as well as their overall college experience. Due to COVID-19 safety guidelines, students at FAMU have had to continue their education virtually through Zoom classes and limited in-person classes.
While this can be beneficial to students who enjoy working from the comfort of their home, others believe that this has impacted their level of academic success. Imara Peters is a first-year psychology major from Atlanta, Georgia. She believes that the current pandemic has affected her transition to college tremendously.
“I felt like I did not get to see the campus enough,” said Peters. “However, spending the last semester of my senior year on platforms such as Zoom has helped in college, because I am already familiar with the technology.”
After losing their prom and senior class trips, the high school class of 2020 was also forced to adjust to the new era of virtual graduations, contrary to traditional ceremonies. The transition may have been easy for some, but for a lot of incoming freshmen, it has been somewhat difficult.
Peters mentioned that she struggled with retaining information from online classes.
“I don’t hate virtual school, it’s just harder to grasp certain topics when you aren’t in the classroom. I am a visual hands-on learner, so I benefit the most inside a classroom,” said Peters.
Transitioning from high school to college can affect students not only academically, but socially and mentally as well. The pandemic has prevented many FAMU students from enjoying the normal college campus activities that are usually available to them, such as Set Fridays, homecoming, athletic games and the overall ability to move freely without a mask.
Although students must follow the COVID-19 safety guidelines, students on campus are still finding ways to make the most of their experience.
Anthony Haynes is a first-year music industry major.
“My overall college experience has been ok, but it could be better,” said Haynes. “Times like these are not the greatest, but I will always make the best of any situation.”
As students continue to get as involved in their majors as possible, some wonder how different their freshman college experience would have been without the Coronavirus.
Joidyn Clark is a dorm resident, and is from Tampa, Florida. She is also a first-year pre-nursing major.
“I think my college experience would be completely different, but in a good way because I would have more freedom, more opportunities and more things to do.”
To effectively prevent spreading the virus, people should wear face masks, social distance, sanitize their hands and limit social activities. It is advised that students avoid social gatherings of more than 10 people and adhere to the pandemic guidelines set by the university.
With hopes that the Coronavirus pandemic will soon be contained and with the vaccine now being distributed, students on and off-campus remain motivated and accepting of the new opportunities that are soon to come.
