Online Classes= The Struggle

So, after a few weeks of doing online classes, I have learned to hate them, but also how to be successful in them. I am the kind of person who enjoys and benefits from structure. Having a set class schedule and time to do homework has always worked for me because during those periods of time, I can be totally focused and have no distractions. Also, it helped that in class, everyone seemed to have the same mindset- that they were there to learn and were focused. I loved going to the library to get work done and study for the same reasons, the environment really matters when it comes to learning, which I had never really noticed before now. At home, I have so many distractions during the day, and it seems like I would rather be doing anything but schoolwork. Both of my parents were home during the day, and my dad had his office to work, but my mom was doing work around the house most of the time (as quietly as possible). My mind would always wander to other things that I could be doing- designing my new room in my apartment in Pittsburgh, cleaning my bedroom, going outside and getting some sun, etc. It was incredibly hard to focus on schoolwork and finish the work on time, because I didn’t feel the usual pressure I did at school. I guess that pressure forced me to get things done on time, and even early, but I didn’t feel any of that anymore. The easiest class to maintain a schedule for is Baroque art, because we have our weekly zoom meetings that provide the structure I need. But, the rest of the courses left the classes open, so we could do them at our own rate. The professors all did a great job with trying to maintain the course as best as possible online, and I felt like I got a lot more out of them because of the way that they structured the courses, with weekly assignments instead of just a midterm and final. Overall though, I learned that online classes are not for me, even if the professors have it set up well.