By Frankie Paterson, BA Business Management with Employment Experience
Reflecting back on 2020, I can confidently say it was a year of surprise, personal development and of course, the unexpected. By Christmas 2019 I had completed half of my placement year – one of the best opportunities I’ve had at university. Little did I know the world was about to undergo a complete change. Fortunately, I was equipped to tackle this environment because I was already working from home twice a week. Coming back to university would be a breeze, I thought.
It’s fair to say, I underestimated how challenging it would be to sit at a laptop for five days a week. However, there was plenty going on to keep me motivated and determined throughout this period, like going for a walk around Crookes Valley or Western Park with my friends. We usually do this twice or even three times a week to make sure we’re getting out of the house and hitting those 10,000 daily steps! It’s also nice to support small businesses here in Sheffield by buying a coffee and cake while we’re out.
I am adapting to online learning and have found many things easier. Online lectures give me the opportunity to pause, stop and reflect on what has been discussed. I feel I absorb a lot more information because my notes are detailed and meaningful. Normally, I’m frantically scribbling down the lecture slides and trying to listen to the lecturer at the same time. Now I can sit in the comfort of my bedroom and go through the material at my own pace.
Organising my day has become more manageable too. On the Business Management course, I have around 8-12 hours of classes per week so I’m able to participate in other activities. For example, I have various part time jobs through the university to provide some extra income. Therefore, I can commit to working half a day for a virtual applicant open day or have video calls with my mentees who need support with their placement search.
My work placement has taught me a very valuable lesson – use your Google calendar. With my university schedule I tend to create the next day’s ‘to do’ list, then set times for when I will work on tasks. I’ve found this keeps my motivation up as studying from home is a new concept for everyone. So, I would usually have a lecture scheduled on my timetable with the building and lecture theatre number. This is a lot different now as lectures are pre-recorded and uploaded to our university account for us to watch in our own time.
In terms of meeting people, I was worried about returning to university after a year on placement, especially as some of my friends had graduated. But It’s been refreshing to see societies hosting events online. Every Tuesday evening, I attend Sheffield’s Zumba classes to let off some steam! The only difference is learning the moves over Zoom, rather than in a studio. The Management Society had a great initiative to get people together virtually: ‘Tea for 2’ is a monthly pairing for two people on my course to chat over a cup of tea to get to know one another. It’s been brilliant to make new friends and feel less isolated during these times.
Here are some ways I’ve adjusted to online learning and kept motivated over the last year:
- I love a routine! This is so important, especially as I come to the end of my degree. Small things like having my lunch and dinner at the same time really helps to take regular breaks and keep my studying on track after watching a two hour lecture. I like to go for a walk during my lunch break in Weston Park with a course mate. This is a great way for us to catch up, as we’re no longer seeing each other in lectures.
- Studying in different places breaks the repetitiveness of sitting at my bedroom desk. Fortunately, the university has opened the libraries so I book a space three times a week. Social distancing is in place with desks being two metres apart. There’s hand gel stations on each floor and it’s mandatory to wear a mask. Overall, I’m content the university is following Government guidelines by making the library a safe place to study.
- Utilise the support available to you. The Management School assigns every student a personal tutor. This is someone in the department who holds 1:1 meetings with us to check in and see how we’re getting on. By not having these catch ups in person, a friendly reminder to take a break from your screen is very welcomed.