College Students and Family Life During Covid

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A Leap into Uncertainty

The Coronavirus has impacted all aspects of society in some form and most aspects of individuals’ lives. Unfortunately, “over 15 million undergraduate students have had their lives turned upside down last spring”. College students throughout the pandemic, continue to live in uncertainty regarding their family and personal life, educational (including visa status), and work/economic (including loans and scholarship) plans (Columbia University Irving Medical Center).

Campus Shutdowns

After the shutdowns began in March of 2020, campuses were not equipped with a plan nor did they have solutions for the problems that we would soon be faced with. Quarantine began and campus shutdowns started, leaving students confused and left with unanswered questions. Most college students, especially those who utilized the on-campus housing, had to figure out living arrangements. The students who were faced with an even bigger problem were the international students who still are facing issues today because of the coronavirus. If the campus is shut down until further notice, students have to find somewhere safe to stay right? Not to mention the concern of finances, but not all students have the finances to be able to just pack up and book the first flight home.

Coronavirus Effects on International Students

International students depending on the country have different rules and regulations to abide by of course. These students have to worry about being in good standing with their visas, living situations, families back home, border closures, finances, and to meet their education requirements. Concordia University Student Alex Lao said that he was feeling “…kinda stressed at the moment, and a bit powerless” and that “my parents are in Italy and I can’t join them…”. Also, Veenita Bhatt, an international student from Tanzania who studies in Ontario, has not seen her family in two years, and now that the pandemic happening nobody knows how long this will last. She does not know when she will be able to see them and that “…it’s a big struggle and I miss them a lot” (CBCTheNational).

The majority of the international students could not travel back home for the duration of the quarantine for a variety of reasons. Many have had a hard time coping with that. Can you imagine being in a different country or maybe even a different continent than your family during a global pandemic? Other concerns were finances, fear of not meeting the requirements of scholarships, graduation, or student visas. However, colleges and universities have been working with students, making exceptions and giving them extra time to figure things out.

College students head home…

Another result of campus closures, at least for the non-international students, has been to just go back home with their families just like old times. For some, this may have been great for others not so much. If a family did not spend much time together before the pandemic, they have had enough time to do so and strengthen their relationships. This time has taught people to appreciate life because it could be gone tomorrow.

Family Bonding Time

Unless the parents or guardians are essential workers, they were or have been out of work for a while. So, with everyone being home together, why not make the best of it? According to “connect the dots” a new study reveals that since the start of the pandemic many parent-child relationships have dramatically improved. The dynamic benefitting the most has been mothers and daughters. Out of the individuals studied, over 60% of families noticed a stronger bond (THV11 Connect the Dots). Fewer distractions and more time at home are the perfect combinations for family dynamics and relationships to thrive.

Tips to stay safe returning home

As college students return home, they have to remember to stay safe around their families. Both college students and their families have to make accommodations for each other for these times. Students should be safe when they are going out and be careful of who they are with. This is out of respect for the safety of their families, themselves, and others. Parents also have to consider what students are going through as well. Seeing friends and going to parties is the least of students’ many concerns. For more college students and family life tips during covid, visit The Health Harvard Medical School (https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/college-student-coming-home-what-to-know-and-do-2020111621442).