It would be fair to say that the novel coronavirus has become a part of everyday life for most people now. Whether the virus has directly impacted you and your family or has limited your everyday activities, this pandemic has become part of life.

For me, an international student-athlete, it meant I had to leave the US and go home. In a mad rush after two cancelled flights at the end of spring break, I had an hour to try and pack up my dorm room and get to the airport. 

Since all my friends were still on their spring break vacation, I did not get a chance to say goodbye to any of them before I had to hop on a flight back to the UK. It means I won’t get to see some of them walk during graduation or complete their capstone presentations.

It also means missing out on a spring season with my soccer team. This is obviously the same for everyone who competes in a sport but that does not make it feel any better. For soccer, spring is not a competitive season but for sports such as tennis, softball, baseball and a number of others, spring is most important. It’s what they train all year for.

For many student-athletes, competing in their sport is one of the most important aspects of having a routine and maintaining success in college. For me personally, although I technically have more time to complete my coursework now, I have found it much harder to keep on top of my workload because of the break in routine and disruption to my everyday life (the jet-lag certainly doesn’t help.)

This shift in routine impacts all students. Transitioning to virtual learning is a challenge at any level especially for courses that are designed to be practical learning experiences. Professors also have to learn to adapt classes that they would never normally teach online. This shift is difficult for everyone involved but the key to making it work is open communication between students and faculty members. 

Online teaching is new for a significant number of professors, if you have a way in which you think they can improve their online set-up, do not be afraid to reach out. They want the best possible solution for everyone. 

If you are struggling to manage your time effectively during this pandemic. The WLU Learning and Student Development Center a has put together a study plan outline. This can be found on their Instagram page @wlu_lsdc. According to the LSDC “If you do a quick search for succeeding in an online learning environment, most rank staying organized/time management as the #1 tool for success.”

The West Liberty Writing Center has adapted its structure to provide online appointments as has the tutoring service and academic coaching system. Make use of these resources if you need them during this transition.