First-year post-secondary students are struggling now more than ever, and during a global pandemic at that. Our mental health is dropping and our overall achievement is following close behind. Online learning is not easy for anyone, both students and professors.
However, things need to change when it comes to our education. A six-year honour roll student should not be thinking about dropping out of university because of the mental strain it is putting on them. Students have been sitting at home, alone, for hours on end studying for their dozen tests every week. Tests that are limiting them as well, since most of the tests are strictly multiple-choice tests. They test how fast we can answer a question while a timer blinks on the screen. This is testing how fast we can answer a question, not the knowledge on the subject.
Not only this, but it seems as though I rarely see the majority of my professors. As first-year students, we are left to fend for ourselves, with a textbook and a list of assignments. From my personal experience, I signed up for five in-person classes. I have yet to see some of my professors. After spending $700 per class, I expect to see my professors at least once. It has come to a point where I had a breakdown from the overwhelming school load. If this does not show the struggles students are going through, during a global pandemic at that, I do not know what will.
Madison Snell,
UPEI student,
Stratford
