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Exam Season at STU

Koan Walker-Titus , , , , ,

It’s exam season here at Saint Thomas University and students of every year are ramping up to finish their semester strong in order to usher in the warmer months stress-free. It’s a tough time for everyone, but some feel as though the semester being partially online has derailed their concentration.

“The semester going back and forth between online and in-person made me feel like I missed a whole month of school,” said 2nd-year student Ben Ford.

Students gather together in smaller groups at the study hall inside of Margaret Norrie MCcain. (Picture By Koan Walker)

Although last year there was a growing party of students who said they preferred online school, the mix of the two seems to have diminished their enthusiasm. What’s more, is that people are feeling as though there is less of a “campus life” than in previous years due to the lack of activities and engagement within the physical school location itself. This is because countless meetings, club gatherings, and office hours have been conducted online as a result of Covid-19 fears and restrictions.

 

This has led to students opting to stay at home to study for upcoming exams instead of going to the more traditional places like James Dunn Hall and the campus library. The majority of testing this year has also been conducted through the school’s various online platforms, further giving students who want to stay home the ability to do so.

Second year student Ben Ford writing his final term paper of the year. (Photo By Koan Walker)

“This is a fairly unprecedented time, we’ve never had to move campus life off of campus and it’ll take a while to get back to normal,” said English Professor Andrew Titus. “People have gotten used to sort of seeking refuge in their homes over the past two years so it makes sense that they retreat back to it when their feeling stressed.”

Although studying at home may feel more relaxing, it also makes it harder to ask for help among peers and professors alike. Some educators have several classes going at once so they may take longer to respond to emails, compared to when students were able to seek advice and explanations at their on-campus office hours.

“It’s a little different for me since I live in residence so my home is on campus. But I still wish there were more people to go out and study with,” said Ford “At my old school, before Covid I guess, we all sat together and tried to brainstorm for exams and essays. It was really helpful. Now all I do is sit at my desk in my room and text people if I need help. It’s not the same”.

Posters informing people that they must continue to wear a mask while also being asked to study quietly. These posters are everywhere around campus and on the doors of all the major study sites. (Photo By Koan Walker)

While some students did indeed prefer online school, the mix of the two styles has created an atmosphere that holds none of the benefits they enjoyed, such as fewer commutes and note-taking, while upholding the downsides like the feeling of isolation. 

Additionally, this mix of in-person and online schooling has resulted in students being at a loss as to how they should go about studying. Students feel as though the way they would approach studying for an in-person exam differs from when they have an online format.

Fourth year student Nigel Cornelius receives an unsatisfactory message from a professor regarding his exam. (Photo By Koan Walker)

“Every Professor knows that if they give an online test it has to be open book,” said Ford “So the way I study will be different. This mix of the two is driving me crazy because I need to develop all these different kinds of study habits.” 

While the majority of students are dreading exams more so than ever before, they still recognize that it is a part of the learning experience. 

“I definitely would rather be out having fun with my friends, but [exams] are kind of a necessary evil to graduate,” Said 3rd-year student Ady King.