~By: Alethea Baracho
Looking back at the start of the pandemic and the subsequent nationwide lockdown in March 2020 not only in India but across the globe, Alethea Baracho the Counsellor at VMSIIHE recalls the days that followed the lockdown, the manner in which the students of the institute faced challenges head-on and lessons the pandemic taught us.
The past year has been tough for many. For students even more so. However when I look back at the start of the year when the lockdown was announced and the manner in which our students dealt with the challenges, I feel a sense of pride in my students.
When the nationwide lockdown was announced students from V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE) went from being together for over eight hours a day to isolate themselves in their homes with a screen as the only medium to connect with the world outside. Adjusting to this new-normal where a high-five after acing the exams or hanging out on the green lawns after class was not possible was tough to come to terms with.
Being restricted to their homes can be tough for students and can have an impact on the mental wellbeing of the individual. Lack of classroom interaction, sports and limited practical sessions which is critical for the skill development of students of hospitality did throw up some challenges. However, the faculty and students quickly adjusted to the new normal that followed which consisted of virtual classes and sessions on mediums like Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and Zoom.
A lot of students reached out to me during the lockdown for guidance. I advised students of VMSIIHE to firstly accept that this is a reality we all have to live with. Acceptance is the first step towards change. Once we accept our reality, we are able to make the necessary changes required to adjust to the circumstances at hand.
When the pandemic hit, most of us lost the structure of a daily schedule. Many binge-watched television series, stayed up late and gave up on the physical activity. I asked students to create a schedule for themselves at home. Having a structured regime that includes a fixed time to wake up, exercise, study, consume meals and sleep adds discipline and structure to our days. Students put down a schedule that went a long way in maintaining physical and mental stability.
I also urged students during the lockdown to reduce time on their phones after they are done with classes and take up an alternate activity – play a sport, go for a walk, read a book, take up gardening and spend time amidst nature. These activities helped to relax their mind and allowed them to realign themselves.
Most importantly I advised students to not be hard on themselves. It’s really important to replace negative thoughts with a more positive attitude. One needs to be conscious about avoiding the negative conversations that we have with ourselves in our head and try to change them to a positive tone.
I’m extremely proud of the students of VMSIIHE who handled the sweeping changes brought on by the pandemic induced lockdown in early 2020. They overcame their challenges extremely well and are adjusting to the new normal in education with the support and assistance of their peers and faculty members.
(Alethea Baracho is a Counsellor at V. M. Salgaocar Institute of International Hospitality Education (VMSIIHE), one of the top hospitality institutes of India. She has also published a paper titled ‘Adolescents, Perception of Father’s Nurturance and its Relation with Self Efficacy and Academic Motivation’ in The International Journal of Indian Psychology)
