The Pivot: Coping During The Quarantine
The months spent in quarantine have been some of the most challenging times for any student. From shifting to online learning to missing face-to-face interaction, many of us have needed to adapt to the new normal of our world.
The Pivot, a feature in INK Enderun’s first issue since its relaunch, aims to share the stories of fellow students from different courses and year levels. There are many unique stories about how students have been dealing with the pandemic.
Instead of condensing many long stories into one, the students were given prompts about certain aspects of their experience during the quarantine. There were a total of four prompts given, but in this first edition of The Pivot, we will share their stories of how they adapted to life amidst the pandemic and what advice they would give themselves if they could go back to the first day of quarantine.
The aim of this question was for students to reflect on the lessons learned in the last few months in quarantine. At first, no one knew how to navigate being essentially cut-off from the rest of the world, but now we can probably list all the things we wished we did differently. This is not to fixate on past mistakes made but to reflect on what we can do better in the present.
Some people opted to tell their past selves the hard truth about how difficult times were about to become and that quarantine may last longer than expected.
“There will be long, tough days ahead. Please know when to rest.”
-Joan Hapa, BSE, Junior
“Plan out what you want to do and what you want to achieve. Realign with your entire being. It’s going to be [a] long time ahead.”
-M.P.B., BSE, Sophomore
“It’s going to be one long and bumpy ride.”
-Gianne Vera Waine Ubalde, BS-IHM CA, Junior
“It’s gonna be a long wait. Start now.”
-Bea Sales, BSBA-FM, Freshman
“Don’t expect that next week will get any better.”
-Anonymous, BS-IHM HA, Sophomore
“Accept [the quarantine] sooner than later. Once you do that, you’ll be able to make use of time more efficiently.”
-K.L.G, BSE, Junior
Others wanted to motivate themselves to take this time to be productive with all of the time available.
“If I had to tell my Day 1 quarantine self anything it would probably be ‘Okay, get all the short term vacation mindset out of your system cause this will maybe triple in size, make yourself useful and start exercising or reading or something.’”
-Cedric Alexandrei Co Sy, BS-IHM HA, Sophomore
“Find a hobby right now. You will have a lot of free time to develop new skills. Probably get that new cooking gadget you have been eyeing.”
-SK, BS-IHM CA, Senior
“I think I would tell myself to start making a to-do list that will help me to learn more about myself and to test my skills like practicing to edit pictures or videos that [right now] is very useful, studying Math equations ’cause I still want to befriend Math, and exploring useful software like virtual meeting software and Adobe applications. Also, I will tell myself not to eat too much (no to cravings) because it will be hard for me to do P.E. exercises when school starts.”
-Anonymous, ABM, SHS
“Do not be impatient. Don’t hope this will end soon. Hang in there and be prepared since it is gonna take a long time to go back to normal. Be productive and try to stay happy.”
-Eunkyu Chun, BS-IHM HA, Sophomore
Some offered reassurance that it’s okay to not know what to do sometimes, that they will get through it, and to take this time to prioritize mental health and well-being.
“This is not just a holiday, and things will not be ‘back to normal’ by the summer break. Tell your friends you appreciate them and that you’ll miss them!! Hang out one last time before all this happens maybe? Use this time to work on yourself but be patient with yourself as well.”
-J.A.D., BS-IHM HA, Freshman
“Everything must be overwhelming right now given the pandemic, the shift in online learning, and starting your internship in the company you’ve once dreamt of. It’s okay to be overwhelmed. It gets better.”
-Sophia, BSBA-TM, Senior
“It’s okay if you feel like you are not doing anything.”
-Anonymous, BSBA-FM, Sophomore</p>
“I would tell myself that every single emotion I am feeling is valid. It’s not easy to go through such an abrupt change, but I have time on my side to help me understand what is happening to me and everything around me.”
-AMLP, BSE, Senior
“You have to really mentally, emotionally, and physically prepare yourself for the days that are yet to come because this is just the beginning of something bigger and it’s gonna be stressful, but you’ll get through it.”
-DP, BSBA-TM, Sophomore
“I’d tell myself that it’s gonna be a long road ahead so from that day on, I have to live each morning with a sense of gratitude, which is one thing that I’ve never really acknowledged before. I’d also tell myself that I’ve got all the time in the world. It might not be time I’ll be spending doing the things I love, but it’s time that I’ve been lucky enough to receive, and time I can use to make things better.”
-AR, BS-ECO, Junior
“Just hold on. You will see your true colors, breaking points, and ability to rise above.”
-Raymund Bernabe, BSE, Sophomore
The aim of this prompt was to provide a space for students to share their experiences, whether it be positive or negative. Learning to cope well during the pandemic has been a challenge for everyone, and it can be comforting to realize that you’re not alone.
Many people opened up about how hard these recent times have been and the feeling of hopelessness at times.
“Not gonna lie, it’s been a mess.”
-Andres C. Fernandez III, BSBA-TM, Junior
“One wrong move and I’m gonna go stir crazy.”
-YC, BSBA-OM, Sophomore
“Coping was hard and painstaking. I had to look for myself again.”
-GAS, BS-IHM CA, Junior
“Coping has been a challenge for me, but I’ve managed to get the hang of it as time passed by.”
-DMM, ABM, SHS
“This is the time where it is difficult to find (a) silver lining.”
-Joan Hapa, BSE, Junior
“It was a struggle emotionally, mentally, and financially.”
-Anonymous, BS-ECO, Sophomore
“Coping during the quarantine had definitely been a struggle as I had to adjust [to] being a first-year college student during a pandemic.”
-Kate Vidad, BS-Arch, Freshman
“It has been a roller coaster, just when you feel that you’re getting the hang of things another issue arises.”
-Raymund Bernabe, BSE, Sophomore
Some have shared that while learning to cope, it has been an opportunity to reflect and learn about themselves.
“[Coping with the pandemic] has involved a lot of time for self-reflection, and tons of opportunities to shape my worth.”
-Chaela Nuñez, BSBA-MM, Junior
“Quarantine has been about spending my time with myself, and has challenged me to get to know ME more.”
-Mimi Dib, BS-IHM HA, Senior
“It involves lots of time for self-recovery to keep up with mental health.”
-Anonymous, BS-IHM CA, Junior
Others have found something positive, and some even shared what they do to maintain a healthy mindset, as well the things they learned.
“At first, it’s honestly hard to adjust, but eventually you just have to get through it because we don’t have a choice but to do so. It’s better to also try than just do nothing at all.”
-Anonymous, BSBA-FM, Sophomore
“During quarantine, I made time to communicate with people whom I trust regarding how I am feeling and my concerns in life. Having a social connection helped me a lot in regulating my sentiments and driving myself to a place of higher self-esteem and compassion.”
-Elizia Marie Butardo, BS-IHM CA, Junior
“Just keep eating; just keep sleeping.”
-Rednas Setneuf, BS-IHM HA, Sophomore
“Quarantine has made me productive.”
-Shitake, BS-IHM CA, Junior
“I’m learning how to be patient with myself, my boyfriend, my family, and my friends.”
-J.A.D., BS-IHM HA, Freshman
“With the help of my flourishing online business, I [have] dealt with personal struggles during this quarantine with a positive mindset.”
-Noella Cuevo, BS-IHM CA, Sophomore
“At first, it wasn’t easy, but you get used to your days as long as you have a standard routine.”
-NL, BS-IHM HA, Senior
“Taking a swim in the ocean gives me the solitude I need to find my peace, my clarity.”
-M.P.B., BSE, Sophomore
“Some people like swimming, but not everyone likes the deep end. Pace yourself and maybe find a hobby, and drink tea.”
-Cedric Alexandrei Co Sy, BS-IHM HA, Sophomore
As described by the students, there are times when the situation may seem hopeless, but over time things will get better. Though you cannot change the circumstances, you can change how you deal with them. Learn a new hobby, have video calls with friends, take a short walk outside (following safety precautions, of course), do anything that can help you break the monotony of the day. Accept that while it will be a while until things are normal again, you can still make the most out of what you can do from home.
Overall, the experience of going through quarantine has been a mix of emotions. Anyone would agree that these last few months have taken their toll and pushed many people to their limit. There can be immense pressure to use all this extra time to be productive, akin to what you see others doing, but be reminded that everyone works and copes at their own pace. What works for them may not work for you. Take it one day at a time. And focus on what you can control. Look for the things you can be grateful for, no matter how small.
In the upcoming second edition of The Pivot, we will tackle how the students feel about the industry they hope to work in after college along with the positive experiences they had during the pandemic.
