The Impact Of Covid-19 On Student Life, by Aashruti Pokharel (Alumni)

We all are familiar with the effects of the pandemic on the world economy, as well as how it has affected how people function in society. Without a doubt, the pandemic has caused difficulties for everyone, affecting their lifestyles, work, school and how they interact with others.

This microscopic size organism (known as coronavirus or COVID-19) entered the lives of people in such a way that it became the reason for thousands of deaths around the globe. Its impact is so bad that even now that it’s been a year, the situation is the same - if not worse. Covid has also impacted people's social lives, most especially social gatherings, as medical experts have advised social distancing.

~The Covid-19 pandemic forced everyone to change their way of living. Some of those most affected have been students, as school and university was cancelled and teaching was moved online.~

The education sector has also completely been affected due to the impact of COVID-19. And just like last year, the school life of students has been shattered. Many states have announced that they are either cancelling or postponing exams. Schools, colleges, and universities have been shut, online classes have been running, and it has all had a negative impact on the personal life of students, as well as their education.

Today, the environment of schools and colleges has transformed into such a scenario that we never thought of before. At first, studying at home was very appealing; the more flexible timings allowed us more freedom and self-regulation. However, without the normal interaction of a classroom, school began to feel very surreal. Staying at home definitely had its positives, but the novelty very quickly wore off and the overall development of students has been hampered without a doubt.

Also, these online classes may be fine for families who can afford laptops and smartphones with working internet, however, it is a matter of great concern for the large section of students who attend government schools and colleges. The parents of these children are not able to afford technology and hence their entire year has been wasted.

Furthermore, there has been a great impact on the mental health of students. They have been missing out on a balance between study, work, and play and as a result that have been experiencing common health issues, such as:

1. Becoming irritable, anxious, and having mood swings.

2. Having an increased dependence on video games and mobile phones.

4. Inclining towards emotional or excess eating to cope up with emotions such as frustration, depression, stress, and boredom etc.

5. Experiencing the negative impacts of over using social media - including low confidence, envy, comparison, low self-esteem, and body image issues etc.

6. Becoming isolated, demotivated and prone to angry outbursts