Dynamic, innovative, and intriguing, studying in a virtual pandemic world for over 16 months was an experience. It was a dream for me to get into Graduate school at Columbia University. While the charm of a physical classroom eluded me as my program strode through the pandemic, most of my academic experience was served virtually and came with its share of adventures.

A Convenience of Setting

Steering away from the typical classroom with chairs, blackboards, and an instructor in front, I realised we became accustomed to a newfound scholar-practitioner model in the setting of identical equal grid quadrants. Whether a TA, Professor or Guest speaker, everyone inhabited the tiny boxes in their personal spaces of a living room or bedroom. You could watch slides simultaneously while listening without distracting the speaker or see all your classmates in a grid view, depending on the kind of learner you were and the experience you wished to have. There were no backbenchers on the screen and access to the teacher with a one-to-one even in a class of many.

Globally Experiencing Shared Values

With people tuned in from China, the US, India, the Middle East, or Europe, watching time zones overlap in real-time was remarkable. Almost everyone joined with a to-go coffee cup brewed at home to kick off their day; For some, it was early hours in the morning, others midday and then some had to stay awake at night. Friendships and mentorships were formed with a shared feeling of prolonged anxiety and hope over a warm, snug drink. As the wave did not spare anyone, every culture and society accepted the new normal, with the comfort that they were not journeying alone.

A Variety of Tech Tools

We were accustomed to technology’s various benefits. With features such as polling, chat box, raising your hand and professors entering and setting up break-out rooms, in-person experiences were replicated online to the maximum. There was almost a direct replication of in-class participation. We had enhanced value of conversations with access to renowned industry experts, Presidents of countries, and Pulitzer winners available to us from the comfort of our home. We could move across the frame to notice a caring smile, a nod of acknowledgement, share a laugh, a sigh of relief or a quizzical look from a peer to a professor.

Multitasking with Digital Endurance

A significant challenge was sitting still and eye strain. Whether it was a parent with COVID , a birthday celebration, dogs barking, a snoring grandparent, a baby held in arms, hospital sirens or something as basic as the temptation of grabbing a kitchen snack, it was a balancing act. There were several reasons to be everywhere all at once merging our personal and professional lives. Being fixed to a chair staring at a screen had its perks, and strained eyes forced us to have deep pockets of focus and gave us a newfound coping toolkit for digital endurance.

Creative Projects That Focus on World Wellness

With increased dependence on digital screens, creativity took on a new meaning. Projects were inspired to focus on mindfulness and meditation apps, the plights of travel, air travel, the absence of bookstores and cinemas, growing indoor plants, cooking lessons, bringing out hobbies and combating loneliness. These projects didn’t just aim to address our world’s social and psychological needs but found ways to make the physical world’s remains as beautiful as possible. A common malady magically dropped the barriers brought about historically by the physical world, making us realise we were learners first above all else and connected as humans.