How varsity students can stay positive during pandemic

TO flatten the Covid-19 curve, many universities have closed their campuses and dormitories.

Students are no longer meeting friends, having study groups and doing assignments together.

How do we stay motivated during online classes in this pandemic and, if we stay on campus, what should we do to stay safe?

Students stay in front of their laptops or cellphones from morning to evening, making their eyes and brain tired.

Moreover, online classes make it difficult for some students to understand subjects compared with physical classes.

Students also are handed extra assignments, which are assigned to replace quizzes.

These are tips that we can try, as university students, to stay positive during this pandemic.

Firstly, we should know that it’s natural for students to feel sad, angry, frustrated or anxious during this stressful period.

But if the emotions get the better of us, please get help from family members or friends;

Unlike attending physical classes, there may be slight differences in routine.

We no longer walk to classes and have a conversation with friends in class. However, we still need to stay connected.

It is easy to feel lonely and secluded from others now. We should stay connected by making video or phone calls with friends and family;

Some tips to stay safe on campus include avoiding dining at cafeterias, practising physical distancing, wearing face masks, washing hands frequently and staying away from sick people; and,

We have seen increasing cases of young people dealing with mental health issues, such as suicidal tendencies, anxiety and depression, since the pandemic began.

Therefore, it is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle, get enough rest, eat nutritious food, drink lots of water, exercise and try our best to be healthy in mind and body. HANAN SOFIYYAH KHAIRUL ANUWAR

International Islamic University Malaysia