Opinion by al
Photo by Christian Mungcal
It has been quite a long journey for the Engineering students as they face yet again another hectic school year that’s completely being done online. With this new kind of learning, it can be said that the students of the Faculty of Engineering really deserved this break from meeting the demands of requirements and academics because everyone is overwhelmed, tired, and just plain unmotivated.
Before a pause was heeded by the Faculty Office, there has always been a continuous struggle on the students and professors’ physical, emotional, and mental health. These are some of the unavoidable challenges that the institution has faced in conducting online classes. There will always be uncontrollable factors that can cause anyone to spiral down to burnout and anxiety in this kind of set-up. This is why the academic break was greatly needed. There have been numerous studies about the importance of breaks, and it is in these moments of rebooting and unwinding that productivity and excellence can be met without compromising anyone’s well-being.
First of all, online classes can really cause detrimental health effects. This was affirmed by the Department of Health as they warned the public that students’ increased time spent on their digital devices can cause alarming health issues such as headaches, back pains, eye strains, and fatigue. Additionally, the National Sleep Foundation also confirms that the light being emitted by these devices suppresses the body’s sleep-inducing hormone, melatonin. Hence, working on additional requirements in the evening can result in a reduced time of sleep, also leading sometimes to sleep deprivation.
Online classes have also been the major cause of emotional exhaustion among students. There may be recurring feelings of isolation as they completely lack the usual interactions with their support system and other classmates. A study conducted from the Behavioral Research Therapy from the National Library of Medicine also found that students having social anxiety tend to have underlying fears and embarrassment towards their voice and appearance in their virtual meetings. There will be days where it may feel unmotivating for students to work and push through because their sense of normalcy is completely gone.
Lastly, online classes have also taken their toll on every student’s mental health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), an individual’s emotions are deeply influenced by their immediate social surroundings. So as they lose some part of these interactions, they become more at risk to mental health issues such as increased levels of stress and anxiety. Additionally, everyone has individual burdens at home that they’re expected to face aside from that of academics. It can be due to these personal burdens that one causes to spiral into unproductivity and irresponsibility. The long periods of self-isolation and the uncertainty that the pandemic has caused have led students to believe that things won’t be back to their normal any time soon.
These physical, mental, and emotional struggles are not limited to that of the experiences of the students, but to everyone who is part of the educational institution including professors and educators. One thing is for sure, distance learning will always be a challenge to execute especially as educators and students will always be used to face-to-face classes. Hence, the academic break was one way of actually addressing both the challenges of the educators and the students. It was through the announcement of the academic break that the Faculty of Engineering have shown their support and concern with the institution’s physical, mental, and emotional health.
The possibility of an invigorated learning community in the Faculty of Engineering is hard to attain especially in the context of a pandemic. But it is possible, as long as the teaching staff and the students meet halfway in the learning process. Then again, having academic pauses is a good step in achieving a much more purposeful learning experience. It will still always boil down to the collaborative effort between students, professors, and the admin. Everyone must do their best to be at the top of their game as they venture into the new normal of education. It is vital in these times to acknowledge each others’ struggles so that everyone in the educational institution can achieve excellence.
Breakdowns can be the beginning of breakthroughs. Let the academic pause be a reminder for everyone to take breaks and to take care of themselves. May this be the start of a renewed and more promising learning experience for the UST Faculty of Engineering.
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