By Mariana Quesada Sancho - Student of Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

It’s no news that people have definitely had to change their lifestyles during the COVID-19 pandemic, but adaptability is a subject that needs to be reflected upon. Has it improved or worsened lives? Since adaptability is such a broad topic, including how work has changed, how people have had to introduce telecommuting to their lives, kids having virtual classes, sport events having to be postponed, among many other circumstances, this article seeks to imply how students have had to deal with this new situation which no one could predict.

According to Leinwand (n.d.), adaptability is “the ability to be creative and flexible in the face of new situations” (Heath, 2020). Leinwand, being a licensed professional counselor in Denville, N.J., establishes that people normally shut down in the face of new things (Heath, 2020). Students have had to adapt to the new situation in several ways. First of all, classes were, and in some cases still are, one hundred percent virtually. Teachers have had to adapt to teaching through a computer, and trying to keep kids concentrated. For elementary, middle and high school students, as well as in university, it has been hard to adapt, but older students at least are a bit more concentrated and responsible than the younger students. Adaptability is definitely one, if not the best, skill needed during these times of pandemic.

Having to attend school from home has also been a challenge for many. It is incredibly tiring to sit down for such a long time staring at a computer. Besides, it can have negative repercussions for health, such as a bad posture, back problems, and vision worsening. This is without mentioning all of the students who don’t have the resources to have a stable internet connection or even the technological equipment to attend online classes. According to Raymond (2020), “in 2019, the Associated Press found that 17% of U.S. students don’t have access to computers at home and 18% don’t have home access to broadband internet. The Economic Policy Institute calls this a ‘widespread digital divide based on family income’”. In some countries, classes have been resumed to normality, but there’s a new standard that students need to adapt to: wearing masks, keeping distance from classmates and teachers, constant hand washing, among others.

There’s definitely a lot of improvement to be made, as the COVID-19 is nowhere near an end. It has been a challenge to avoid reunions between friends, as many people don’t follow the regulations established. On the other hand, the pandemic has brought other ways that students have had to adapt, as some didn’t know, when it all started, that it was going to be the last time they saw some of their classmates, the last time they would go to school, graduated without a proper graduation, as well as starting university without actually going to campus. Some people haven’t been able to visit their loved ones.

The pandemic crisis has definitely brought out a whole lot of emotions, including frustration, sadness, and uncertainty. As a perspective, the pandemic has brought out bad thoughts about the economic future, uncertainty as to what will happen next, but adaptability is certainly a skill that has had to be brought out in such an unpredicted circumstance, and those who possess it will stand out to those who lack it.

 

MOXIE es el Canal de ULACIT (www.ulacit.ac.cr), producido por y para los estudiantes universitarios, en alianza con el medio periodístico independiente Delfino.cr, con el propósito de brindarles un espacio para generar y difundir sus ideas.  Se llama Moxie - que en inglés urbano significa tener la capacidad de enfrentar las dificultades con inteligencia, audacia y valentía - en honor a nuestros alumnos, cuyo “moxie” los caracteriza.

References:
  • Heath, E. (2020). Adaptability may be your most essential skill in the covid-19 world. https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/wellness/adaptability-coronavirus-skills/2020/ 05/26/8bd17522-9c4b-11ea-ad09-8da7ec214672_story.html
  • Raymond, C. (2020). Virtual Learning: The Latest Facts and Statistics.https://mom.com/kids/virtual-learning-the-latest-facts-and-statistics