Nineteen Fifty-Six Vol. 1 No. 2 Voice

JASMINE HOLLIE
MIDTERMS IN THE MIDST OF MADNESS
College may look different to
many students due to the recent
pandemic and social distancing. At
the University of Alabama, students
were given the options of remote
learning and in-person classes.
Some students returned to campus,
while many others opted for remote
learning instead. Incoming freshmen
were introduced to a slightly
different first year experience at the
University this Fall. In addition to the
pandemic, midterm exams could also
add to the stress many students are
experiencing this semester. However,
a few upperclassmen and staff were
willing to share some encouragement
as well as a few study tips.
“Something that has helped me
tremendously with big exams this
semester is being a part of a class
GroupMe,” said UA senior Taylan
Prewitt. “Planning ahead and making
certain days, study days also helps.”
Prewitt, a psychology major, is
currently taking online classes
to finish up her journey at the
University. She is expected to
graduate in December and said she’s
just now getting adjusted to changes
on campus due to the pandemic.
According to Prewitt, the most
challenging aspect of taking classes
online is that it appears to be more
reading assignments and work than
usual.
Dr. Vesey, assistant professor of
journalism and creative media,
has also been trying to adjust to
the sudden changes on campus.
As a fourth year educator at the
University, Dr. Vesey said she hasn’t
been specifically trained to teach
remotely. This aspect has presented
challenges for many professors and
students as they try to adapt to the
“new normal”.
“I’ve been teaching for almost a
decade in higher education and I don’t
know how to do this,” said Dr. Vesey.
“As much as we try to be adaptive and
flexible, it’s hard.”
Though challenging, Dr. Vesey tries
to make the curriculum as easy
and painless for her students as
possible. She said she uploads all of
her assignments and material on
Blackboard ahead of time. That way,
students can review the material early
and ask questions if needed. She also
said she prefers to teach in person
because it can be more beneficial for
students.
The biggest advice Dr. Vesey has
for students preparing for exams
consists of taking detailed notes,
using study guides and forming
study groups. Though GroupMe
is popular amongst many college
students and organizations, Dr. Vesey
said she doesn’t recommend the app
for forming study groups with other
classmates. According to Dr. Vesey,
there has been an issue of students
sharing test answers through the
app, which will result in disciplinary
action.
Marcellus Taylor, a junior at the
University, said he likes to use
flashcards and advises students to
review their course material each
night in preparation for big exams.
Taylor, an engineering major, also
said he likes to work ahead and avoid
cramming as much as possible.
Angel Wynn is a senior majoring in
operations management and finance.
To prepare for exams, Wynn said
she likes to make her own study
guides and use the popular study
tool Quizlet. According to Wynn,
adjusting to remote learning and
life on campus during a pandemic
requires a lot of discipline.
“It’s extremely difficult with
everything that’s going on,” said
Wynn. “I really haven’t gotten back
into the swing of things honestly.”
Dr. Vesey is very mindful of how social
distancing and remote learning also
affect some of her freshmen students.
According to Dr. Vesey, teaching
freshmen requires order and
organization to help them transition
from high school to college.
“This is probably not what they
expected their first year of college
to be like,” said Dr. Vesey. “So much
of that first year of college is about
finding your friends and community.”
Prewitt is also considerate of how
the recent changes at the University
could affect freshmen just as much
as upperclassmen. She then provided
some encouraging words for students
trying to navigate college life during
these troubling times.
“I’m sorry your freshman year looks
different and isn’t what you planned,
we’ll get through this and hopefully
things will go back to normal soon,”
said Prewitt. “For now, stay mentally
healthy and take advantage of some
of the things that have been made
easier due to the pandemic.”
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