Здравствуйте Flagship Community!
Меня зовут Эми, and I am a current freshman, soon-to-be sophomore. It’s been crazy
starting college off virtually, but there has been some pros and cons to it.
I’ll start off with the cons, just because I tend to be an optimistic person and like to finish
things off with positivity.
I think I can relate to the seniors when I say that experiencing a milestone in our life over
the screen sucks. (I know it must be a lot harder for them though). I long to be on campus
and get to know all the buildings, dining halls, and miscellaneous areas that will become
my favorite study spots or de-stressing areas. I feel quite disconnected from the university;
it’s really hard to make friends with someone over a screen. You can’t walk with them to
your next class or try out a new food spot with them. Zoom fatigue is real. Luckily, I
haven’t gotten too bad of a case where I skipped class, but laziness and lack of motivation
to attend beforehand is definitely something to battle through.
Now for some positives! Thanks to the UCLA Pen Pal Program, I have 2 awesome pen pal
buddies! I appreciate snail mail a lot more now; it serves as a distraction from the digital
environment I am constantly in. I get to express my creative side, and the stationary-lover
inside of me thanks me for that. My English Composition class fall quarter was
unforgettable. It was with Professor Lauri Mattenson, and the class consisted of 22
students, all girls (by coincidence)! The class dynamic, support, respect, and bonds we
had for and with each other was something I had never experienced. I kept telling myself,”
If a class can feel like this on Zoom, imagine how it must feel like in person.” That class just
made me become more hopeful for my future experiences at UCLA. Lastly, Zoom has
definitely helped me fear office hours a lot less. By attending office hours, the classes I am
taking become more familiar, personal, and meaningful, which is something I really need
during this time. It is also less intimidating because it is over a screen, and if you make a
mistake on something, you can easily get away with it by blaming it on the wifi!
Attending UCLA in the middle of a pandemic is definitely hard, but I am sure we will survive
and each come out a new person. I hope you all stay safe!
Best,
Amy