Following the pandemic that shocked the world this past year, college students have felt the brunt of COVID-19 more than most. The sophomore experience has been especially important this year, since this is the only class to work virtually as first-year students.

As post-pandemic sophomores attempt to adjust to their new surroundings and transition from mostly online courses to in-person learning, a lot of issues have risen.

University of Delaware sophomore Jenna W. said her transition back to campus was rocky at first as she got used to finding her way around. But her biggest problem was the increased difficulty of in-person courses. “The only problem I have developed since online school is my study habits," Jenna said. "Online classes seemed easier to me, so I did not study as much as I needed to now.”

All students have experienced a shift in their educational habits, becoming “lazier” or even dropping out. A study from the Global Fund for Children organization found that more than 1.6 billion students in more than 190 countries have already experienced disruptions to their education, and 24 million children and youth may drop out permanently due to the pandemic. Analyzing this study shows that the pandemic not only caused issues with the education system but caused a halt in student’s learning ability or drive to succeed. Those that stayed in school have been facing a difficult time but University educators, peers and other helpful resources have paved the way for students to adjust.

Each UD student I interviewed gave a different perspective on how the pandemic impacted them. Some favored asynchronous online schooling for their own time management, while others longed for social interaction that only in-person classes can provide.

When I asked freshman Dale V. about how he's adapting to the new school year as a college student, he responded "I'm doing just fine. Toward the end of the last school year, I was able to go in person for a couple months, which was amazing. So coming here and having in-person classes doesn't really affect me."

On the other hand, sophomore, Ilana Y. spoke on the anxieties she faced stepping into a classroom for the first time in almost two years. “After being online for around a year and a half, when we finally transitioned to in-person classes, my anxiety went up," Ilana said. "The idea of in-person assignments and in-person exams stressed me out greatly. Having all my work and exams online for so long, I felt used to that, even comfortable. Once we began in-person, I felt uncomfortable, scared and worried."

Anxiety, depression, social interactions and lack of motivation are just some of the mental roadblocks impacting sophomore students.

Ilana said that physically being on campus and enjoying what Newark has to offer has been a plus, but her courses have continued to stress her out. "Of course I have enjoyed walking to my classes, but my anxiety about school and classes has not gone down," she said. "The further we get into school, the more work and exams are being given to me. I have been doubting my abilities and skill. All I can tell myself is to push through and hopefully I will get back to feeling comfortable in the classroom." 

The Division of Student Life provides resources, services and programs to support students, including counseling services, non-academic units and Registered Student Organizations (RSOs). Click the links below to learn how you can get more involved on campus, talk to someone or get “hen-gaged."

This blog post is written by our Division of Student Life student intern Elliana Olivo.