ST. LOUIS, MO (KMOX) - College seniors are looking ahead to graduation this spring, but not necessarily looking forward to it.
That's what one of their peers discovered, as she compiled their campus COVID stories into a magazine. Unprecedented: Navigating college life during the COVID-19 pandemic
Editor and author Anna Weber says there's a feeling of isolation and loss of community for many of her fellow students, due to social distancing and virtual learning. "There's a lot less interaction between students and with the students and the teachers," says Weber.
Weber is an Advertising and Marketing, and Media Communications Major at Webster University in St. Louis. "For some majors like biology, for example, they're not allowed to have lab partners anymore. So with such an intensive subject... ...a lot of those students have been struggling with keeping up with assignments and making sure they're on the right page, when they were used to other students working with them before and now they don't have that opportunity."
Weber was still able to complete an internship her first semester -- but only met the people she worked with once in person. The rest of her internship was completed from her desk at home.
She found another student who had to change course and instead of going to law school has opted for a masters degree due to loss of job opportunities and worries about the economy.
While students have grave concerns about whether they'll be prepared to compete for the now fewer jobs available, Weber says new college grads may bring benefits to the workplace others won't. "I think a lot of employers will be impressed to see how the students managed during these times and will see that they are able to adapt to what the world is throwing out to them."
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