The coronavirus pandemic has affected millions of people across the globe, including college students. Schools and colleges have shifted classes online for the rest of the semester, graduation and other school activities have been cancelled and students’ academic plans have been affected. Many Tallahassee Community College students returned home, some students stayed in town, but all of them are doing their best to fulfill their academic requirements to finish out the semester despite the societal upheaval.
By Sydney Ambroise | Student Submission
When I first heard about the Coronavirus, I didn’t think that it was serious at all. In fact, I hadn’t even given it a second thought when I first heard about the virus affecting people in China.
“There’s no way that this can affect me if it’s halfway across the globe.”
I guess I was wrong. Many social media posts later, I began to see how fast a virus like this one can spread in such a short amount of time.
My name is Sydney Ambroise, and this is my first year at TCC and being away from my hometown, Ft. Lauderdale. Right before the start of Spring Break, I heard students and professors begin to discuss the outbreak of the virus, which concerned me greatly.
After getting an email from the school explaining that we will be completing the rest of the semester online, I began to panic.
Several questions ran through my mind.
“How will I finish the semester online?”
“I’m not going to go back home for possibly two months?”
“Will my parents be upset if I decide to stay in Tallahassee?”
I was not planning on staying home for that long, especially because I know that I cannot function doing schoolwork when I’m home because of all the distractions around me.
After careful thought and discussion with my parents, they thought it would be best if I only come home to visit for a few days and returned to Tallahassee before the state began its impending lockdowns.
Since then, I have returned to Tallahassee and I am keeping a close eye on the virus, practicing safe social distancing and most importantly making sure that I am on top of classes so I can finish off the semester strong.
Sydney Ambroise is a first year student at Tallahassee Community College.
How has this global pandemic affected your life as a TCC student / faculty member / staff member? We want to hear from you. Please send us your story: https://forms.gle/ea4z2LjBQho8FadW7
