Learning with Lex: Surviving College Classes During a Pandemic 101
By Lexi McKinney | June 27, 2024
Welcome back to the second edition of Learning with Lex. I am grateful for my avid readers who enjoy hearing about my raw take on all aspects of my college experience. Today’s topic is the most debated area for many students or former students.
I often receive questions about the classes I’ve completed, and honestly, the past two years have been phenomenal. From news editing to in-field reporting, receiving a college degree is just a bonus for completing required classes. However, it was not always this much of a breeze. My first semester of prerequisites was tedious. The courses were formatted like high school classes, and the homework load was unbearable for a student with a job. Most of the time, I was working the night shift to complete a math project or humanities essay, and the lesson I learned then was how the beginning of college was essentially a senior year of high school 2.0.
For the tuition alone, I understand why students are skeptical about choosing college to begin a career. The courses were saturated, and the exams were daunting; I felt like a recluse while trying to maintain all A’s. At this point, taking another required science or math elective was like sitting at the dentist for two hours getting a root canal. Unbearable, and counting down the seconds for it to be over.
If I am being honest, for the price point and time invested, I felt like the beginning of college was expensive, boring, and time-consuming. Most days began to feel like a hassle, and coordinating a proper schedule without classes filling up was nearly impossible. My greatest wish is for requirements to shift from core classes to adult-based life courses.
College students panic while debt is fearless. Understanding how important it is to be frugal with expenses could alter the next decade for young adults. It would also be beneficial to consider a course that teaches students about home improvement, survival skills, how to negotiate salaries at work, etc.
If I understood the concept of loans at 18 years old, could you imagine how differently I would have dispersed my Christmas money, graduation gifts, and additional income? Even saving a thousand dollars would have been a valuable resource with buying textbooks, or having more money to spend while attending school.
Overall, college has prepared me for the workspace, and I have received some of the most valuable knowledge. However, I fully support alternative routes after graduating high school. Whether it be trade school, or taking time to experience entry-level jobs and saving money before deciding, I think any route is productive and resourceful.
I would never say I regret attending college, but just like life, some moments made me doubtful, and while I am happy to earn multiple degrees, take time to map out a plan before throwing yourself in a classroom. Do the extra research, save money, and find the career path that makes you eager to wake up every morning!