Freshers’ Virtual Induction into College

Teenagers always fantasize about college life. From films to constant reminders from seniors and relatives, freshers always imagine college campus to be a place bustling with opportunities. College life instils in them the need to be responsible adults and enables them to step into a slightly larger section of society; this is the time when they learn to juggle academics and other responsibilities like leadership, team coordination and time management. However, with the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, things have changed and continue to change rapidly.

The Hindu carried an interesting article, “Freshers gear up for never-before first day of college” (Aug 18, 2020). This was true of WCC too. The orientation program for freshers lasted more than a week, followed by an interactive session, with various activities that slowly introduced the courses to the students. College officials had decided to follow the various regulations put forth by the UGC.

According to another news article, “College freshers get a taste of the ‘new normal’ amidst pandemic” (The Hindu, Oct 7, 2020), many institutions had come up with initial online sessions or virtual tours that were shot in various locations of the campus, to familiarize new students with the layout of the campus. The institutions also organized family meetings and other interactive sessions among students to make them comfortable with the ‘new normal’.

*Sara, a student from one of the autonomous colleges in Chennai, states that the present reality does not meet her expectations. She had imagined college life to revolve around the physical presence of friends and professors. However, the current reality of online education makes it frustrating for her to cope with the uncertainty. Freshers felt like their first day was just like a movie, thanks to the virtual orientation - imagined and not experienced.

While most online methods seem useful, informative and reassuring, freshers still long for a physical classroom. *Arena, a fresher from an autonomous college in Chennai, mentions that during the document verification process, she was thrilled to visit the campus and could not wait to attend a regular class there. When asked about the various reasons why they desired on-campus classes, freshers commented that they wanted to be independent, to actively participate in cultural and sports activities and to explore the new environment with their new friends.

Most of the freshers stated that though it was a new venture with many difficulties, it was intriguing and different to take up online classes. They were mostly interested in registering for club and extension activities that were available. Despite the pandemic, these online ventures have enabled the expansion of the educational journey of students as they transition from school to college.

*Names have been changed to safeguard privacy.

Copy Editors: Padmashree, Dainty W