NSU has recently announced they are continuing the Blend Flex model, a combination of online and in-person learning, into the new semester, and I could not be more excited.
I have generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), which is constant anxiety over practically anything and everything. Being anywhere but home is always a struggle. With online learning, I have the option to take classes from the comfort of home without my attendance faltering, needing to worry about anxiety attacks or dealing with the constant fear of panicking in front of my peers. I can participate in in-class lectures, live discussions and club meetings in a space where I feel comfortable and at ease.
While it has helped me keep calm, I understand not everyone feels the same. Students are begging for things to go back to normal so they can continue their social lives. I miss seeing my friends and it is hard to find the effort to wake up every morning just to continue working from bed. However, if we focus on the positives, we gain the effort we need to succeed.
This will not last forever and things are settling into a new normal for everybody. Who knows, maybe I will attend a class or two in-person next semester and see how I feel. This pandemic has me starting to feel more open to change and branching out of my comfort zone more each and every day.
