In a Blink of an Eye

Midway through the second semester of my freshman year was the beginning of an intense rollercoaster ride of a school year, as COVID-19 has already set foot in the country. I can still vividly remember being ambivalent when our professor in Purposive Communication laid out our terminal requirement that was all about research digest; I was thrilled and apprehensive at the same time.

Despite the plethora of schoolworks, I remained hopeful because I know my block mates and I would share our knowledge about research from our past experiences, and we would pull each other to finish the semester strong. I knew that this requirement would be our training ground for our future research studies; hence, I prepared for it together with other students. However, COVID-19 abruptly modified our meticulously planned requirement because of the implementation of the Enhanced Community Quarantine; our research digest was done online and became our exam replacement.

Admittedly, I was worried if I could finish the requirement amidst the situation and my other chores, but I tried to emulate the qualities of what I believe a good researcher should be: persistent, patient, and passionate. I reached out to my classmates who were also struggling and constantly found ways to somehow assist each other. Even though I was able to accomplish the task, it would have been a lot better if it were done face-to-face to clarify instructions and revise our write-ups quickly.

In a blink of an eye, our living and learning set-up drastically changed; and almost a year has passed, I am still trying to adapt to this new normal. Indeed, this plight has taken its toll on me, especially on my studies, but I realized that it should not impede me from learning new things and growing as a person.