Studying during the pandemic: Looking at the brighter side
The pandemic has been demanding a great deal from everyone and is constantly forcing us to think anew. How did our students manage to adapt to the new situation? What challenges did they experience and what lessons did they learn? What will remain?
A blog article written by Indu Makhija, IMME student at OVGU.
My experience during the online semester
Fortunately, I experienced my first semester as an offline semester at the university (the usual pre-corona period). Then, I went to India during semester break in March 2020. Due to the lockdown, I did my second semester in India. Honestly, I miss the offline classroom settings, meeting my friends every day and the classroom interactions with the professors. I have always been an outgoing person, so it was initially difficult for me to adjust to the online semester. But I was also grateful that I could stay with my family during the pandemic without compromising on the studies. Extra consultation meetings as well as quick constructive response to students’ feedback made the semester more feasible for me. Thanks to the teaching members, non-teaching members and other students who made it possible to have a completely digitalized semester!
Old saying becomes the reality
During my bachelor program, I worked with students from different nations for a project under IBM through virtual platforms. I remember my professor told me, “It will give you a very valuable lesson, because in the future many organizations might switch to virtual platforms.” So I took the online semester as a worthwhile opportunity to apply my knowledge about cross-cultural studies and the use of virtual platforms. I think that this will help me in my career.
Change that was long overdue
The pandemic has brought many changes and challenges to every individual’s life across the globe. But looking at the brighter side, it has forced things that were needed since very long. It made digitalization as the only possible option to continue the functioning of the companies and for the education systems. I look forward to a world that is more habitual to the virtual world, maybe even more productive. In an interview, Indira Nooyi once said: “We (women) cannot have it all”. Here, she was talking about a woman’s desire to look after her family needs as well as her professional aspirations. I am hoping for that balance to come easier to women. ‘Work from home’ would no longer be a nice-to-have option or an additional perk. It will soon be one of the basic things.
Coping with the new scenario
I am now in Magdeburg, Germany. And everything feels different. I cannot go to the library to study but I visit Nordpark or university campus areas to study and that feels great. Even when the library opens, maybe I will choose to spend my study time amidst nature. I wouldn’t have changed my preferences if I hadn’t tried the other alternatives. That’s when I realized what Socrates said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” This has been my source of motivation. I am focusing on staying stronger, healthier and embracing the change that brings opportunities with all the challenges. Therefore, I would like to encourage you to focus on a positive perspective. Believe in yourself! Stay productive, stay healthy.
Thank you, Indu, for sharing your insights with us. What are your thoughts on studying during the pandemic? If you would like to tell your fellow students about it, please contact anika.rosner@ovgu.de.