For San Jose State students like behavioral science senior Analisa Cortez, the transition to online classes and moving back in with parents because of the coronavirus pandemic has been difficult.
“I feel like I’m not really comprehending the material,” she said in a SAMMY App message.
Cortez, who moved back to Sacramento in the middle of last semester, said it’s been hard learning at home using the current online format.
She said she has low motivation and often has difficulty finishing assignments.
Moreover, she said living almost two hours away from campus makes it difficult for her to complete assignments because she can’t physically connect with people, like for her ethnographic methods class where she had to survey SJSU students using an online format.
“On campus, [the class] could have just walked around,” Cortez said. “But off campus and especially two hours away from San Jose, it’s close to impossible to connect with other students.”
She also said the change to online learning has in some ways helped and hurt her mental health.
“It’s helped my anxiety in that I don’t have to worry about how to dress or, like, being physically in a classroom,” she said. “However, it is very depressing and discouraging that the courses I was so excited to take are now online or not even available.”
Overall, Cortez said she is frustrated because she is unable to study ethnographic methods, which is a research approach that examines subjects in their cultural setting while applying theory that would have been available before the pandemic.
Moreover, she said she won’t be able to physically walk the stage at graduation.
“It sucks, but it’s still better than getting sick,” Cortez said.
Kell Fujimoto, director for SJSU’s Counseling and Psychological Services, said in an email to the Spartan Daily that some students who moved back home can experience an increase in anxiety and depression because of the changes in their routines.
“They may feel isolated and be in an environment that is unsupportive,” Fujimoto said. “For some, being at home may even be unhealthy as relationships with parents, significant others or family members may create situations that can create more challenges.”
Fujimoto said some coping mechanisms for students experiencing anxiety and depression include staying connected with friends, creating supportive networks and incorporating physical activity into your life.
“Students can approach their feelings rather than avoid them and seek out resources that are available on campus and their surrounding community,” Fujimoto said.
In addition, he said it was important to develop new routines that are better adapted for the current circumstances.
“When there is a sudden change of our lifestyle, we lose our sense of self due to losing the routines that we had on a daily basis,” Fujimoto said.
For design studies junior Ben Revell, leaving San Jose and moving in with his girlfriend in Washington is better than living near campus.
“It’s been nice . . . because previously we were doing long distance,” Revell said in an interview via Discord. “I’m not getting the ‘college experience,’ but it’s a nice alternative.”
Revell said he was lucky the change to online learning wasn’t as stressful as it has been for students in other majors because most of his classwork is program based and online.
“I can just do most things on my tablet but I can understand how it would be hard for people without one,” Revell said.
With next semester also being mostly online, students who are feeling anxious and stressed can call CAPS at (408) 924-5910.
