Stay tuned for a Q&A with academic coaches addressing student issues later this week
Last month, Texas A&M University-San Antonio announced its switch to online classes for the rest of the spring semester because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For some students, adjusting to working from home has brought a new challenge including struggles with wifi connections and forgetting online assignments.
“Switching to online classes was kind of rough because all of my classes had syllabus changes … including due dates for assignments, which threw me off,” said business management junior Rolando Jacques.
For others, remote learning is actually a little simpler. Psychology senior Sabrina Bazan says she feels less stress in her student life because professors are more lenient.
Students change routine to manage online classes
By Andrea Rangel
Although some students take pleasure in attending school from the comfort of their home, others find it difficult.
English senior Anthony Hodges is experiencing a negative impact from changing to online classes.
“Having the classes be online gives freedom in terms of setting time aside to do work and not having to go to class, but also makes it very easy to forget about assignments,” Hodges said.
Hodges is now checking his classes routinely to make sure he doesn’t miss assignments or an online lecture.
“Now, when I wake up, I make sure to check my classes first thing in the morning.” Hodges said.
Business management senior Emilee Jones says her everyday routine has changed dramatically since the transition to online classes. Jones is an event coordinator for the Campus Activities Board and is now working from home.
“Every day I wake up very early to clock into my work study job, which I thankfully still have, and sit at a computer for hours,” Jones said. “During my shifts, if I’m not making flyers, hosting a virtual event, or posting on social media for my job, I’m usually trying my best to catch up on homework and classes.”
However, Jones is still looking on the bright side of the pandemic; she is taking this opportunity to bond with her family.
“I now look forward to grocery runs with my mom and gardening with my granny,” Jones said. “My siblings and I usually take an hour to play Uno, make a Tik Tok or do some type of activity.”
Students struggle with switch to online
By Matthew Serna
Biology senior Katerra Jones said that her world has turned upside down.
“Closing the school was a good call but online classes suck and I feel like I’m not learning anything anymore,” Jones said. “They are not even online classes anymore. Professors just post online lectures that no one watches and powerpoints that no one reads and then give us exams and quizzes like every other week.”
Students are taking classes through online lectures from websites like Zoom. While these lectures are to continue the student’s work on a degree, not all students have access to the internet, laptops or the time to attend.
Aside from online classes, students are losing their jobs to pay for classes or bills. Jones has felt these same effects.
“I lost both my jobs and only make money by babysitting three days a week. I was a host at Red Lobster and Pluckers. I have filed for unemployment, (but) they only let me put one of my jobs down. I just stay home all day and wake up when half the day is done,” Jones said.
Students keep themselves busy during downtime
By Giovanni Marrufo
The coronavirus interrupted the spring 2020 semester and has taken a toll on students; however, some are easily adjusting to the changes.
Biology senior Salvador Solis is enjoying the lockdown and transition to online classes.
“I don’t mind that classes are online now; I get to wake up, open my laptop and hop right into class from the comfort of my bed, without having to get up at all,” Solis said.
He said the biggest downfall of the change is that he doesn’t “get any real hands-on practice with anything.”
“Once class is over, and I’ve finished all my homework, finding something to keep me busy is a challenge for me,” said Solis. “I feel like I’ve done everything I could possibly do around the house.”
Solis said he fills the time by helping his dad with yard work, playing on his PlayStation 4 and watching Netflix.
Students balance home life and school
By Victoria Rae Cortez
Ariana Agundiz, president of the Catholic Student Association at A&M-San Antonio, is in the same boat as other students when it comes to dealing with the coronavirus.
“Switching to online classes has been a huge transition because I am one who prefers to sit in class and take notes on the lectures,” Agundiz said.
Agundiz is a bilingual education generalist EC-6 sophomore currently taking 5 courses. Switching to online classes, she feels she isn’t able to fully grasp everything her professors would like her to do because they are not actually there to tell her.
“I have online classes and don’t go to work; my parents assume I’m on vacation, so they make me do so much more things that I am not usually able to do,” Agundiz said.
One thing that she does find very important is continuing to have meetings and online gatherings for the CSA.
“It can be difficult sometimes because not everyone can meet virtually now because of new conflicting schedules,” Agundiz said.
Although times are rough for them, CSA leaders and team members of the Catholic Student Association want to continue to help spread the word of God during the pandemic, so instead of them having social meetings they continue to have their weekly zoom faith chats.
Vicente Tovar and Amber Villarreal contributed to this package.
