The pandemic has taken us on a roller coaster ride, throwing us quickly and relentlessly through the five stages of grief. At first, we denied that this would be as large of a problem as it has now become. We were angry with the cancellation of on-campus classes. We bargained with the situation, and found solidarity within each other, throwing ourselves into internet meme pages full of college students nationwide. Depression crept in and in a lot of ways it remains, but eventually we had to come to terms with our situation and come to the final stage of grief: acceptance. Now, over a month has passed since we were allowed on campus, and in the middle of week four of online classes, it’s time to accept another fact: Online classes are not a sufficient replacement for in-person classes.

We tried to sugarcoat it. We doctored it up with Zoom University memes and merchandise. We’ve laughed it off with friends while the insurmountable pile of homework just kept growing and growing and growing. We ignored it. And now a month later, the pile has only grown taller, casting a bleak shadow upon the remaining days of the semester.

But who can blame us? Life in quarantine has become our new normal. For now— and into the foreseeable future— this is the way life is going to be, and we’ve come to terms with that. But, with that being said, our lives have kind of become stagnant. We haven’t necessarily grown complacent. However, life in quarantine has become the status quo; sometimes we forget— or maybe even block out— the reason why we’re all at home. But regardless of this, it does not stop the fact that as we try to maintain a level of normalcy, we are in the midst of a pandemic.

Online classes are an attempt to make a very abnormal, very hard situation, something that it just isn’t. The structure of a lot of classes have remained the same, with unwavering expectations, and it’s hard. It’s hard to focus when trying to share a space with my entire family who is also working from home. It’s hard for me to stay focused on school when picking up fruit that someone else has touched could hospitalize me or someone in my family. It’s hard to pay attention when the only numbers I see on a regular basis are the rising number of confirmed cases and the world’s increasing death toll. The only structure I had was found in meetings and in-person deadlines. The lack of these has only proven just how valuable they were to my overall academic success.

This is no fault of professors or anyone in particular. They have been just as shaken by the situation as we as students have been; we know they are trying their best to accommodate us during a trying time. But regardless of efforts, the impact still stands.

I am grateful to be home, and I recognize the fact that this was the only feasible option. I don’t disagree with the decisions that have been made, but regardless, school is hard enough as it is. Being home for many has the potential to bring on a whole new set of challenges. Throw in a pandemic, and academic success can really become shaky.

This is not an easy time, and holding yourselves to the same academic standard as you did while you were on campus is no simple task. Continue to try your best. We can— and we will— get through this.