The year of 2020 has been a rollercoaster to say the least. Taking it day by day, and focusing on the positive is all we’re able to do in a world of such uncertainty. Since the majority of classes will be remote for the fall semester, it’s important to set yourself up for success in whatever ways you can.
Looking back to Spring Break (right before we went virtual), my mind was really on the exam coming up during the week we went back. I remember walking past the law building to my next class, talking with my friends about the email we’d just received from the Chancellor. The email was short and to the point: it stated that the campus was planning to move remote from March 12th to April 3rd, and that in the coming weeks we’d receive more emails with further updates. Ultimately, the week of Spring
Break would be a week of question marks. As those three weeks both blinked by and crawled by, the world made it clear that we’d be learning remotely for longer than anticipated. The second half of the spring semester was the epitome of “let’s just wing it.”
While the fall semester will look quite different this year, it is up to us to make the best of it. One aspect of being remote I really enjoyed was still meeting virtually with different groups on campus. As someone who works on campus, working remotely allowed me to talk to people outside of my household, and remain part of the Rutgers—Camden community. There were also many virtual events held by different clubs and departments on campus. It’s easy enough to find different events held “on campus” by checking your student email, and keeping an eye on the Rutgers App as well as the Engage platform.
Another way to make the best of the remote semester this fall is setting a space so that you can still “go to school” every day. Whether that be setting up camp on a table, calling dibs on a couch, or getting a desk, having a space to get work done and making that space your own can make a huge difference with productivity. Another addition I highly recommend is hanging up pictures or mantras to remind you of fun times, or to remind yourself of why you’re doing what you’re doing. I took a trip to IKEA and am doing the best I can to set myself up for success by having somewhere that is a designated work space.
While it seems this rollercoaster is still twisting and turning, it’s so important now more than ever to keep a positive mindset and make the best of this situation. There are so many resources “on-campus” that are still open and operating remotely, ensuring that students have everything they need in order to be successful in this different environment. So set yourself up for success, let’s get through it together, and hopefully we can be back on campus soon!
Written by Katherine C., a Rutgers—Camden Undergraduate Student and Raptor Ambassador.