semester./ David Karpe
As we enter the fall 2020 semester, we are faced with the reality that remote learning will be the new standard for quite some time. With most courses being moved online, it begs the question of what back to school shopping looks like this time of year.
Back to school commercials typically use the late summer season to promote stylish new clothing and supplies to start the academic year off fresh. But it’s hard to deny that the feeling of waking up and feeling that near-autumn breeze emphasizing school’s return around the corner feels distant now.
“For the first time, back to school shopping doesn’t give me the feeling that I’m going back to school. It’s a weird feeling,” said Jonas Jackson, a senior at Brooklyn College. “I think the most ironic and interesting thing about back to school shopping is pretty much everything we’re going to buy from notebooks, folders, and pens to textbooks won’t be used in a classroom setting and possibly any academic setting outside of our homes because of the pandemic.”
For incoming freshmen, the feeling of starting a new year on campus is all but lost, though the college has worked to give them some semblance of that through virtual events.
“We hosted a New Student Convocation on Aug. 25, and the level of excitement for college seems to still be high,” said Ronald Jackson, Vice President of Student Affairs. “They understand that this is not the ideal way to begin their college career, but also understand the importance of safety.”
VP Jackson says the Division of Student Affairs at Brooklyn College is doing all they can to keep students engaged and able to mingle, with the hope they can bond remotely. Events such as Student Involvement Day, which is an opportunity for students to find out about available clubs and organizations, will be held online this year on Sept. 8.
In digitizing community get-togethers, one major concern has arisen for Student Affairs. “The challenge in hosting events virtually is that you don’t have the energy that being together in person brings, but we hope to be able to generate that same spirit,” said Jackson.
Other college students, even those outside of Brooklyn College, have expressed how remote learning will shape their day to day activities for the fall. Some students refuse to allow the pandemic to put a damper on their back to school spirit. “I’m still going to shop. I get dressed up every morning for me,” said Tayelor Miller, a student at Howard University.
Kelsey Grennan, a junior at Brooklyn College, is a YouTuber with 27,000 subscribers on her channel called kelsbeautytips. In a recent video, she goes back to school shopping at Target in search of stationeries for remote learning. She told the Vanguard, “It was weird filming the video with a mask on because I’ve filmed that video many times before and never had to do that.” COVID restrictions also changed her creative process when putting together footage. In an attempt to not stay in Target for longer than necessary, she couldn’t film everything inside.
“Overall, it was a good experience and I’m happy that we are online because it feels safer that way, so I appreciate the bit of supplies I purchased to get extra motivated for back to school,” said Grennan.
Back to school looks a lot different than what many imagined, but college students are attempting to do what they can to make this experience work and keep their spirits high.