Spring 2020 Student Feature: Mariana Adams

[vid origin=”youtube” vid_id=”UQG59eap7PU” size=”medium” align=”right”]

As students in the College of Behavioral, Social and Health Sciences adapt to online instruction in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we have reached out to them to see how they’re adjusting to this new mode of learning. They’re telling us what works and what doesn’t as far as learning strategies online, and what they’re taking away from the experience.

Mariana Adams is a junior psychology major with a minor in women’s leadership. We caught up with her to talk online learning and the methods she’s used to excel during the tail end of this unusual spring semester.

What has been your favorite online learning approach?

I think my favorite e-learning approach would be just working at my own pace when it comes to classes and getting things done in my own timely manner instead of having to rush everything and get everything done. Working at my own pace has been really helpful.

What helps you focus?

Probably the one thing that helps me focus would be going to a quiet spot in my house and just trying to imagine I am in a classroom setting, just pretending I am listening to a professor talking and just doing my own thing as if I were in class.

How do you avoid distractions?

I think distractions are always going to come, unfortunately, but I like to go in a quiet spot in my house. I also write little notes to myself that say “hey, try to focus and get this done.” I like highlighting my notes so I think that would be one thing that I like to do to help me not get distracted.

How has online learning allowed you to stay connected with your Clemson community?

One thing that I’ve been doing a lot more of is emailing professors and communicating with my fellow classmates on Canvas. I think that’s one way to definitely be helpful when it comes to learning online because it’s obviously much different, and you’re not getting that same feeling of being in an in-class setting. It’s definitely helpful to communicate with your professors and your classmates and that’s one thing that’s been a relief while doing online learning now.

What is your advice to eliminate stress? 

Just taking one day at a time. Obviously, this whole situation is so unpredictable and there’s so much uncertainty and obviously with that comes a lot of stress. I think you remind yourself that there are so many people at Clemson that care about you. They want you to be successful, so knowing that you have that support system along with your friends and family. You can get it done. It’s not going to be easy and there’s going to be bumps in the road, but just taking it easy and knowing there are people there is really helpful.

How are you focusing on the positive in light of these unusual circumstances?

Knowing that this semester is almost over. I think that’s one thing that is keeping me going and not giving up with the help of faculty. They’re going to help you get to the end no matter how hard it’s going to be. They want you to succeed. I think knowing that they’re there and that I can lean on them for support is really great and that’s how it’s just been so much easier going to e-learning.

Obviously, it’s very difficult not being able to see your friends or getting that same learning approach, but you just have to remember that this is all temporary. We’re going to all be back at Clemson and seeing everyone and we’re going to look back at this one day and be grateful that we get to be back at Clemson.

END