1 Year of COVID with the MHP Team

   Around a year ago, UCSB students received news that they must return back home for the remainder of the 2020 winter quarter and anticipate a transition into remote learning for the spring quarter. Since then, the COVID-19 pandemic has devastated the entire world and placed many personal, financial, and academic stressors on students. The pandemic has created many challenges on students, but has also allowed many to grow and learn ways to cope with these hardships. In this newsletter, the MHP team will discuss how they’ve overcome their hardest challenges and reflect on their biggest learning experiences during the pandemic.

Hardest Challenge & How You Overcame it/Improved

• Chris
  My biggest challenge has been feeling underwhelmed and unexcited with life due to being at home all of the time. I try to overcome this feeling by keeping my days busy not only with school and work but also with hobbies and exercise.

• Christine
  My greatest challenge was figuring out how to keep myself motivated when at the time, it was seeming like there was not much to look forward to. I struggled with rumination and continuously thinking about what life would have looked like without the pandemic. Though it took time, I came to terms with this reality and worked on creating an environment conducive to my learning and self care.

• Jose
  The hardest challenge I’ve had to overcome was the adjustment to creating my own structure that incorporates time for my classes, work, and self-care. I struggled in the first few months of the pandemic to find a routine that works best for meand although I still have trouble managing my time effectively, I become more confident in my ability to get things done without stressing myself out too much. I overcame this challenge by incorporating more time to myself by practicing meditation and exercising when I can in order to relieve stress.

• Kaitlyn
  The hardest challenge I had to overcome was finding housing so that I could continue my spring quarter in an appropriate space while doing virtual learning. My family is considered immunocompromised so it was not safe for me to move back home and be with them during the pandemic. Having a safe comfortable place to do work is often overlooked when we are talking about virtual learning obstacles. 

• Olivia
  My hardest challenge has been not being able to go back home to Connecticut to see my dad. It’s the longest I’ve been without being home because of travel restrictions and it contributes to my feelings of isolation and not having as much support. 

• Ruiqi
  My biggest challenge is to deal with the uncertainty of everyday life-- I find myself becoming anxious when I click on the news, especially the political ones, every morning. The way I cope with it is to turn away from the news for a while when I start to feel overwhelmed. 

• Saul
  My biggest challenge is staying motivated especially as we approach a year of being in the pandemic. I’m starting to feel burned out in terms of academics and other areas of my life. When this happens I like to take time for myself and remind myself of the reasons I am doing what I do and how far I've come.

• Tony
  The hardest challenge for me has probably been how fast everything moves. We’ve been in a pandemic for a year, I am finishing up my last year of college, transitioning to remote instruction, the craziness of the world. Everything happens so quickly. I’m still learning how to navigate this, but I can say that now I am recognizing that I make mistakes and that’s ok. I’m trying my best and I am happy with that. 

• Veronica
  The hardest challenge has been accepting that my academic plan may change/look different not because I am not committed or dedicated but rather because these have been difficult times that have impacted all of us. Talking about it with friends and mentors has helped me reframe how I understand these changes and stay away from judging my ability. 

• Victoria
  My hardest challenge has been self-care during the pandemic. Due to not having a set schedule, it’s been hard keeping track of my health and making sure that I take breaks in between my work to allow myself to rest. I have improved on my health by making sure that I eat nutritious foods and going to bed at a reasonable time. 

Biggest Learning Experience

• Chris
  My biggest learning experience has been learning how to accept the things happening around me, good or bad. Although the pandemic has come with several serious consequences, I have been able to find healthy coping mechanisms to carry me through and help others.

• Christine
  My biggest learning experience during the pandemic was coming to terms with accepting all the changes and adjustments that I had to make in my life and my plans for the future. I learned to grieve the idea of what my life could have/should have/would have and to focus on what we have here now.

• Jose
  My biggest learning experience has been the adjustment to virtual learning. I can speak for many when I say that watching lecture videos isn’t ideal when learning new material, but I’ve become more accepting of the situation. I’ve been able to limit distractions and I spend more time focusing on my work. I’ve found ways to study smarter and make my classes engaging. 

• Kaitlyn
  My biggest learning experience came from navigating my mental health while living alone. I was used to having support when I was feeling overwhelmed with school and even getting validation from my peers when I felt mentally unbalanced. But COVID separated me from my support system and forced me to learn new ways to navigate my mental obstacles.

 

• Olivia
  My biggest learning experience has been having to recognize that I can’t take on the same amount of responsibility and commitments as before the pandemic. Realizing that my capacity for work is at a different level was hard to accept, but different circumstances require making adjustments and listening to myself. 

• Ruiqi
  My biggest learning experience has been coping with loneliness and anxiety throughout the stay at home order during COVID-19 pandemic. Since the start of the pandemic, I’ve learned to deal with the chaos of my thoughts by practicing self-compassion meditations. I’ve found that practicing self-compassion helps a lot with negative self-talk. 

• Saul
  My biggest learning experience has been being able to be true to myself and focus on what is important to me. Since the pandemic started I have been able to prioritize my personal and professional life and with focus I have been able to improve a lot in those aspects of my life.

• Tony
  My biggest learning experience after navigating pandemic life for a year is that I have to be flexible and patient with myself. This whole year has been tumultuous and unpredictable on so many fronts. Understanding that its okay to be patient with myself and knowing that I am a capable person and that I can adapt have been what I have learned. 

• Veronica
  Biggest learning experience after almost a year of living through this pandemic is realizing “life does not proceed as usual.” I cannot show up and expect myself to be on top of my work when there is loss and grief happening all across. Rest, connection, and stillness are equally important during a time when things continue to feel uncertain. 

• Victoria
  My biggest learning experience, after almost a whole year of COVID-19, is trying to be patient with myself and realizing that not everything is in my control. I have come to realize that transitioning to a completely online atmosphere has been difficult and that I should give myself grace because I’m trying my best to my ability. 

    Despite the difficult circumstances brought on by the pandemic, there may be some learning experiences that students have found to help them cope with their hardships. Hopefully, after reading the MHP team's thoughts on their biggest learning experiences and hardest challenges, you are also able to reflect on your own growth during the pandemic. We wish you all the best during this difficult time. 

- Jose, Mental Health Peer