Editor’s note: We would like to thank Ayanda Manyonta, Language and Writing Consultant at the Teaching and Learning Centre at the University of Fort Hare, South Africa for providing this collection of responses. To contact the author, please email TLC. If you would like to share your writing center’s experience during COVID-19, please submit via WLN.

The outbreak of Covid-19 was so sudden and unexpected. The nature of the pandemic quickly infiltrated the whole world and fear began to take over the lives of many people. What seemed normal to many people’s lives all of the sudden changed we became slaves to the hostility of mental and house arrest.

According to the World Health Organization, (2020) the acute respiratory syndrome Coronavirus (Covid 19) has claimed over 280 000 lives worldwide. In South Africa, more than 3300 deaths recorded and expected to rise as schools and various economic hubs reopen. Effect of Covid 19 to the students include mental issues, such as depression, fear, worry, and stigmatization (Zhang & Ma, 2020). Additionally, Elmer, Mepham and Stadtfeld (2020), elaborates that with regard to e-learning adaptation students faced challenges such as lack of resources, internet connection and technological devices. The pandemic has affected aspects of student life in different ways.

Academically, due to the limited access to WIFI studies also suffered. Administration offices were closed which also meant a delay with ethical clearances. The progress of our studies also on hold literally jeopardizing the continuation of sponsors for the few funded ones. All of the new realities are taxing emotionally and psychologically but overall, the time lost has to be recovered one way or other. All of this imposes more diligence and more effort, which has to be implemented in order to avoid any mishaps. The pandemic has affected tutorship at higher institutions of learning. Mostly the nature of our work includes face-to-face interactions, which was impossible for the duration of the lockdown. Hence new modalities had to be implemented like Facebook and WhatsApp consultations. The online streaming, I believe should be part of the working strategies since this generation is mostly found on social media.

Psychosocially, the outbreak forced a new life upon many South Africans staying with the relatives for extended period had its advantages and disadvantages. Advantages we were accorded with beautiful time to create memories through bonding and learning more about each other. The time spent together taught us to be more emotionally available to the lives of the people that need us most. The period taught us to review the fundamentals of life because often many people’s lives are always surrounded on the time line with deadlines and chasing after our own desires and ambitions. The pause in some good way literally bought about ample of time to think and review life from new perspective without any form of pressure. Disadvantages, the time of house arrest forced many people particularly the ones who quarantined solitary to be left within the terrain of their minds. The reality doesn’t happen often so it bought about a lot of discomfort pertaining our way of living and our beliefs. For others it literally forced life to be lived on sleeping pills because of the horrible realities of their lives the bills and sad reality many South Africans lost the business and their jobs.

However, solitary quarantine for some helped them to learn more about themselves and self-care strategies what feeds the soul as the individual. Therefore, the time for some it was for a good purpose because new discoveries and self-assessment personally and about life in general was uncovered. Yet for social oriented people it was more devastating. The restrictions of alcohol and nicotine were too harsh on them and health hazardous concoctions were used alternatives for entertainment purposes as result others are in hospitals fighting for their lives.

Overall, the Covid-19 has bought about both good and bad realities but in everything because of life circumstances I had always focused on the positives to counterfeit the negatives so I am psychologically prepared to take life with the horns and look at the lessons bought about the outbreak from new lenses and have appreciative spirit in everything.

References 

Elmer, T., Mepham, K., & Stadtfeld, C. (2020). Students under lockdown: Assessing change in students’ social networks and mental health during the COVID-19 crisis.

World Health Organization. (2020). Mental health and psychosocial considerations during the COVID-19 outbreak, 18 March 2020 (No. WHO/2019-nCoV/Mental Health/2020.1). World Health Organization.

Zhang, Y., & Ma, Z. F. (2020). Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and quality of life among local residents in Liaoning Province, China: A cross-sectional study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 17(7), 2381.