Welcome to the era of social distancing: creating new ways to interact with each other while working hard to protect yourself and those around you from COVID-19. The reality is that social distancing is temporarily the new normal, and the only thing we can do is to adapt to the abrupt changes. The pandemic has significantly changed the way universities operate. Last year, schools were hosting several packed in-person events to bring the community together but now the emphasis is on creating protocols to keep students socially distant and limit the spread of COVID-19.
As the semester begins, whether we are on campus or taking classes remotely, we can agree that there are new challenges to staying involved on campus and getting the full college experience no matter how long you’ve been in school. With this in mind, here are some tips to stay connected to the campus community while social distancing.
Stay Connected with Social Media
Even though you will not meet as many people in person this academic year as you would have in previous years, you can still stay connected to the campus community with the power of social media. This is the time to think of new creative ways of maintaining relationships. Additionally, you can stay up to date with the university updates, possible upcoming events, form new relationships, and boost school spirit.
Make sure to follow student organizations’ social media outlets to tune in to what is happening on campus. If you are unable to see your friends due to social distancing or having remote classes, try to set up a video call to stay in touch.
If you need any ideas on how to stay connected to your friends online, check out some tips:
- Use social media or apps like Zoom, to connect virtually with your friends: Set a time to have lunch virtually, celebrate your birthday, or just catch up with your friends! Almost all social media apps include a video chat feature where you can stay connected with friends and loved ones.
- Netflix Party!: We all miss having movie nights, being able to eat popcorn and enjoy each other’s company. You can still do this virtually by creating a Netflix Party, this allows you to watch the same movies at the same time even when you are physically apart. Netflix even has a feature that let’s you chat with your friends during the movie!
- Host Virtual Events: Planning virtual events has become the new normal, there are a lot of ways that you can still have fun with your friends. Some event ideas are: Virtual Snack Break, Game Night, Happy Hour, or even have a reading session with your favorite book!
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Join a Student Organization
Extracurricular activities are more important than ever now. If you’ve been hesitant to take advantage of the in-person events your school has offered in the past, now is the perfect time to put yourself out there and find new opportunities.
One thing you can do is join a student organization, as it will keep you involved in the campus community and encourage you to talk to your peers regularly. Many student organizations have adapted to providing remote opportunities for students to join. These clubs have created new ways to stay in touch with students by hosting virtual events, discussions, and being a resource to meet student demands. If you want to know what student organizations to join on your campus, check your school’s campus activities department or attend your school’s virtual involvement fair! Most universities have an international student organization on campus, this gives you a chance to connect with other students just like you!
Additionally, the international student affairs office at your school provides many resources to help you during your college experience. We highly recommend you get involved on campus. Not only will it help you stay organized and practice time management, but it can also be an outlet for you to take your mind off the stresses that come with being a student during the pandemic. Lastly, getting involved at your school looks great on your resume to better prepare you for future job opportunities. (Source: Grad Guard)
Make a Difference
Take a second to think about what you want your impact to be at your institution. In other words, what do you want your legacy to be? You are at school to get an education, but there are many life lessons to learn through outlets other than class during your college years. It’s a perfect time to give back to your community and become a more well-rounded person!
You can start small by volunteering in your local community or even participating in a petition at your school. If you are already involved on campus, challenge yourself to do more like running for a position for Student Government Association at your school. Getting involved on campus gives you the chance to explore different cultures and hobbies for the first time. Your institution offers many opportunities for you to participate in so make sure to take advantage as these offerings may not be available to you once you graduate. Here are some examples of how to make a lasting impact on your college campus.
Group Chats for Class
Though the pandemic has created major hurdles in keeping your social life active, there are plenty of ways to still stay active in your friend/study groups. There are many popular messaging apps that you can use like GroupMe or Slack that will allow you to stay in touch with your groups with ease. You can also set up group video/voice calls on places like Zoom or Discord. This is a great way to coordinate study groups and develop a support system to pass your courses.
If you are taking classes remotely, creating a group chat will make it easier to work on group projects and is significantly easier and more fun than emailing each other. If you are going to take the initiative to start a group chat in your class, here is an article about group chat etiquette.
