How to Transition Your School Life to Home

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By Davis Burton

It is a situation all too many young adults can relate to: in what seemed like just a few short weeks, campus life for nearly 15 million college students across the country was upended by the emergence of the novel COVID-19 virus. Due to the virus’s capacity to spread quick and undetected through dense populations, the vast majority of universities, GW included, made the decisions to shutter their facilities, clear out dorm rooms, and send students packing.

But while these precautions were necessary in the interest of public health, they present an entirely different set of problems for students who had grown accustomed to the independence and opportunities presented by campus living. From freshman seeking to engage in their new found coursework and campus organizations, to seniors enjoying their last weeks with friends, it can be difficult to transition back to home living. This transition can be particularly difficult for the many students who still live with parents while at home, as there may be an entirely different set of expectations than those at school. This, combined with the boredom and frustration of social isolation can lead to a potentially volatile situation. But luckily, there are still many steps you can take to engage with campus life, keep up the search for a college internship, and even make peace with your parents and siblings; right from the comfort of your childhood bedroom!

For many students, joining student organizations that reflect their own personal interests is a quintessential part of branching out in college. Yet, while the possibility of face-to-face meetings has been put on hold for a while, there is no need to call it quits for the semester. Depending on your organization, consider the possibility of having virtual meetings to continue your work and catch up.

Orgs with a creative focus can create weekly tasks or ideas to be created independently, and then shared via video chat. Charitable organizations can determine how best to continue their mission virtually: through social media, internet fundraisers, or other means. And while club sports teams and athletic groups may find it difficult to hold practice for the time being, there are plenty of platforms on the internet to socialize and take part in virtual competitions. After all, this may be your only chance to pass off a game of NBA 2K as a training session!

Another primary concern for many students, and especially those in the D.C. area, is keeping up work expectations that fall outside of academics. For those hoping to score a part time job or internship for the summer, hope is not lost! Although the end date of social distancing and travel restrictions is uncertain, there are still plenty of organizations that are looking to advance their mission in spite of the crisis.

If you are aware of any that fit this description and match your field of interest, consider reaching out to them to inquire into the possibility of doing mobile work. Even if they are unable to take on new members for the time being, they will appreciate the initiative and will remember you when it comes time to begin hiring again! Another possibility is seeking volunteer experience for the upcoming Summer, if you are in a position to do so. While the job market is admittedly weaker than it was just a few weeks ago, companies and organizations in the area will almost always be willing to take on willing volunteers. This can end up benefiting you in the long run as well, as it can help you gain invaluable experience in your field of choice that others may not get if they were unwilling to volunteer.

Even for those who relish seeing family during the holidays, there is little doubt that being at home for months on end can be a challenge. If you find yourself butting heads with family members around the house, it may be helpful to take a step back and reflect on how you can keep the peace for weeks to come. First, take a deep breath and then communicate. As an adult, it is your responsibility to let your parents know if you feel their expectations around the house are unrealistic. In the time when you are rapidly transitioning towards independence, there can be a long adjustment period as both parties are attempting to make sense of new boundaries. Whatever the case is, let them know how you are feeling, and remember that it is still their house that you are living in. Once open and honest communication is on the table it is much more likely a compromise can be met.

Finally, if at all possible, use your family as allies in this strange time of uncertainty. Parents, siblings, and other members of your household can be some of your greatest resources during quarantine; from helping you with academics to finding ways to help those in need during the virus. Of course, some relationships are more complicated than others and it won’t always be possible to get along on all fronts. But in a time when you are quite literally only permitted to interact with those under your roof, it is in everybody’s best interest to reach a state of equilibrium.

In short, these are complicated times, and no handbook has been written to tell us what to do next. Perhaps one of these most difficult transitions is not moving from school to home, but from a place of structure to a figurative freefall where nobody can say for certain what happens next. But by trying out some of the tips above you can increase your chances of keeping the peace, staying involved, and living your best life for a few more weeks at Zoom University.