In over twenty years of teaching, I have faced countless situations that challenged me to find new ways to cope, and to help my students do so as well, but I can honestly say, as I am sure you can, too, that nothing you have dealt with in the past would have ever made you imagine that a once-in-a-century pandemic would come along and upend just about every aspect of our lives. I know that nothing about this situation has been easy, and I also know that perhaps the hardest thing about it is not knowing when it will end. I can only hope that what was so sudden, shocking, and overwhelming back in the spring has now become more bearable, though still far from acceptable and not at all ideal.
We have all experienced pain and sadness through this time to some degree or other, none more so than any of you who have lost someone dear to you. Of all the things that could be impacting your ability to focus on your studies right now, grieving someone you’ve lost is by far the most devastating. If you have not already realized this, I want to remind you that teachers do understand. Even if they are not grieving someone in this moment, they have all suffered losses in their lives that have impacted their ability to concentrate. They realize that it is a normal part of the grieving process. If they haven’t expressly offered to help you through it and you find that you just can’t do what they are asking of you, speak up. I know from personal experience that this takes a lot of courage, but it can also provide a sense of relief, and give you the push you need to try again to do your very best with your work.
In addition to struggling to focus due to grief or other losses or changes in your life, you may also find yourself struggling to manage your time wisely. Whether this due to your learning situation, family responsibilities you have not previously faced, or a combination of the two, it is important to have a routine. Be sure to follow whatever schedule you are given for your classes, and to schedule homework and other responsibilities the best you can. Though it may be tempting to keep the type of hours you might keep during the summer if not enough of your day is structured for you right now, try to resist the temptation- you will thank yourself for that once your schedule returns to something resembling what you had before!
My best piece of advice, no matter what you are facing, is to try to focus on the present. I know it’s hard not to miss the past or dream of the future, and I also know that sometimes, you will do one or both of those things. That’s okay, as long as you don’t lose sight of what you have right now, not just your schoolwork, but your family, friends, and teachers – whether you see them in person or virtually- and whatever fun things you are still able to do! Make time for what you need to accomplish, as well as for whatever you need to do to cope in this moment, and someday, you will be able look back on it and realize that you did the best you could to make it through an incredibly challenging time.