Surviving the First Year of College During Covid

By: RaSheeda V. Brown, Instructor of English

After working from home for five months I was excited to return to campus. I purchased everything I needed from hand sanitizer to face masks. I was excited to sit at the registration table. This is when I am able to see students I taught the previous year and greet new students. Once classes began and I met my freshman students, I could see the fear in their eyes. I guess fear is easy to perceive when the eyes are all you can see. Perhaps the masks we wore during the fall covered the excitement. At any rate, I had to find a way to get to know my students and calm their fears. With that in mind I started with a discussion post. I asked students where they were from and one thing they would like to let go of as adults and college students. Many students stated that they wanted to change academically and start fresh. Some stated they just wanted to survive during the pandemic. I posted a picture of myself on our learning management system and I asked them to post a picture of themselves without a mask. This was a step in the right direction. I wanted my students to understand that we were in it together and as my president would say, “It’s just us.” During the fall of 2020 my students and I had a very productive semester at Allen University.

Start strong, finish stronger.

              My students are now completing their final exams and preparing to return home. A few weeks ago I asked my students what their fears were related to college. Some stated that they feared failing their finals. A few students stated they were first-generation college students and they feared disappointing their families. I did not want my students to continuing carrying the weight of fear. For the past few weeks we have been preparing to tackle the Freshman English final exam. With much practice, I am proud to say I believe my students are prepared. On the last day of class I purchased balloons and I asked students to tie a little note onto the string. The attached note described their college-related fears. We marched to the campus fountain and I told them that we were going to release our fears. After one of my talented students, Mr. DeAndre Julian, played the Jim Hendrix version of the national anthem, I counted down and my students painted the sky blue and gold, our school colors. Excitement filled the air. This activity proved to be symbolic and cathartic. I am now listening to the click clack of students typing essays for their finals, music to my ears. A pandemic undoubtedly can put fear into the hearts of millions especially when caught off guard and timed essays may cause the ill-prepared anxiety. This year has had its ups and downs, but at Allen University I can honestly say my students and I have done our jobs with excellence, we have let go of our fears or as some would put it, we slayed the dragon.

My name is RaSheeda V. Brown. I am a proud graduate of Benedict College and I am a first-generation college student. I teach Freshman Composition and African-American Literature.