How Students Are Navigating Pain, Productivity, and Privilege during a Pandemic.

By Ella Monnerat

ZARE asked three young women in different parts of the world to reflect on the effects of COVID-19 on their studies by highlighting their pain, productivity, and privilege. 

Over the past few weeks, the entire world saw the life they built for themselves suffer sudden and intense changes. As COVID-19 cases increase worldwide, people have been forced to stay home and prioritise health in order to keep themselves and others safe. For many students, this has meant transferring to online study and returning home to their families. 

In addition to the physical health crisis COVID-19 brings, many have felt that the pandemic has had a strain on their mental health. With overwhelming financial, health, and social anxiety, students have reported feeling unwell and struggling to grapple with their emotions in the past few weeks. However, not enough has been done on part of universities to account for students’ mental health, with many institutions leaving students in precarious positions by kicking them off university accommodation and staying silent as students petition for a no detriment policy. This lack of an empathetic response can cause severe harm in students’ academic future, especially for those who are less privileged and may not have a stable internet connection or a safe space to stay in. 

ZARE reached out to three students in different parts of the world to ask how this change has impacted their studies and personal lives in order to gain insight on how productivity, pain, and privilege intersect during this global crisis.

Rafaella Porto, 18, First Year Psychology Student at PUC-Rio. 

Current Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Pain: I never thought that ambience and context affected our relationships, but since this started I have noticed how having all my study and social interactions concentrated in only one space — my laptop — is very overwhelming and draining. Since we are all under stressful circumstances, I’ve had fights with those who are close to me and that really affects my wellbeing. In my normal routine, we could meet face to face to figure things out. I have actually reduced my screen time on social media channels such as Instagram because now that I’m being forced to use technology for studying a lot more often I don’t really want to use social media anymore. This is new for everyone, and I need to make sure I am taking care of my wellbeing. I just hope things will be fine as soon as possible. 

Productivity: I have been dedicating a lot of time to readings and assignments for university and that has been very good for me and my mental health as I use it to escape from everything that has been going on. I had just begun university before this isolation period, and was very excited to learn more about psychology. Some teachers are giving us excessive amounts of homework,  but since I have been allocating most of my time to this I have managed to stay on track. However, on certain days I feel very stressed and anxious so I don’t always have the motivation to do work. I'm trying to steer away from the mindset that I had at the start of the isolation period. I used to think that I had to be productive constantly because I had all this free time at home. I used to beat myself up for relaxing and think I was being negligent and unaware of my privilege, but now I realise I should not put that much pressure on myself. 

Privilege: I come from a very privileged background, especially compared to other people in Rio. The most important factors — access to shelter, food, technology, and supportive people around me — are things I’ve had no issues with. I am very fortunate to talk about how online studying has been helpful for me, but I am sure many people are having completely different experiences. I don’t have many obligations now besides doing house chores, and that helps with keeping my stress levels low enough to do work. 

 

Evelyn Bi, 20, Second Year Design Student at Boston University. 

Current Location: South Carolina, United States

Pain: When my second semester got cut short because of COVID-19, I was forced to come back to my parents home. I have severe anxiety, and  had to deal with panic attacks alone once I was back home because Asian households don't really discuss mental health. My mom even went so far as to say that in China actually people don't struggle with mental health as much as they do in the US, which is completely false. I have been really struggling; the thought of everything is paralysing. I have an exam tomorrow and I haven’t started studying.

Productivity: Transitioning back to an environment where I am usually unproductive was very bad. Having a mental illness means it is very difficult to even think about beginning to do work in this time when I am constantly anxious. My studies have pretty much stopped. I'm still struggling with the guilt of not being productive during quarantine because I see artist friends who have supportive homes and, for them, this is kind of an early summer break and they are making paintings and documenting them. A graphic design account I follow made a post encouraging people to make art during quarantine, and I commented: “I don’t want to be rude but this is kind of insensitive to people who are literally homeless.” Some people are struggling so much, and for that reason this kind of post is just so insensitive. I’ve been skipping online classes for the past week because the lack of a physical class environment makes me feel like I have no reason to go. When the time for a Zoom class approaches, I realise I am not prepared for that class because my mindset is just “what’s the harm in skipping three weeks of class?” It’s not a good mindset, it’s kind of reckless, but I think things will work out in the end. 

Privilege: I do a lot of digital work because I am a graphic designer so I am lucky because I am able to access my materials. It’s a huge privilege to have access to technology right now and the opportunity to connect. One way that this quarantine has positively affected my studies is that almost immediately I knew that this would be a huge opportunity for digital artists to display their work and to interact with others. I have found artists online and through professors who have gotten me feeling very inspired. 

 

Saskia Capetti, 20, Second Year Media Student at Goldsmiths, University of London. 

Current Location: Cambridge, England 

Pain: My granddad passed just over a month ago which was the shittiest timing because the virus became a pandemic not long after his funeral. I’m happy we were able to have a funeral, but in terms of grieving, it has been super difficult because I haven't been able to see my grandmother. She is in a care home, and now we cannot access it. This has definitely been a mental strain because as a granddaughter I really wish I could grieve with my grandmother. Also, my little sister is a shelf stacker so she is considered an essential worker. While I have been staying isolated at home, she has been leaving the house to work, so whenever I spend time with her I have to be aware that we have to maintain physical distance. Yesterday was her birthday, and we watched a movie together but I had to ensure she was sitting two metres away from me. 

Productivity: There are days where I have felt so low and I just haven't been able to do anything. It has been really difficult to stay motivated during this situation, especially as I am dealing with grief. At the same time, I am trying to maintain a really optimistic outlook on the situation because if I don't it will literally kill me. University deadlines and assignments have kept me productive and steered me away from getting really deep into dark thoughts. 

Privilege: Access to technology is a privilege; the care home managed to arrange a FaceTime meeting with my aunt and my mother so she is not so out of the loop. Also, I am not having to pay rent because I am staying with my family in Cambridge.