How Face Masks Impact Your College Freshman
“Sharp rocks at the bottom? . . . Bring it on.” This line from Disney’s 2000 animation The Emperor’s New Groove likely doesn’t mirror the view your freshman has toward college. Their attitude likely isn’t that cavalier.
Your freshman is overwhelmed, anxiously excited, uncertain, and a mix of other feelings. This start of college is unlike any other start of college in years (maybe in all of history).
While social distancing and wearing face masks are necessary precautions for college campuses, these procedures add to the fears your freshman feels. So what is your child’s experience really like? How do these changes in day-to-day life impact their college experience?
Face masks remind your freshman of harsh realities.
This “new normal” (probably more accurately labeled “new abnormal”) heightens all the normal fears and worries a freshman experiences at the start of college. Below are three uncomfortable reminders wearing face masks provide:
Face masks are a reminder that your freshman’s college experience isn’t normal. You and your freshman likely looked forward to these college years for a while, but due to a worldwide pandemic this first year of college looks abnormal. Their coursework shifted partly or mostly online, making the learning experience even more challenging.
Face masks are an additional reminder that your freshman is anonymous. Your child likely knows few people at college. Even if they met a few people during freshman orientation or move-in day, your child likely hasn’t made any lifelong friends yet. Making friends will take time at college, and the pandemic can make this process longer.
Face masks are a reminder of the uncertainties of living through a pandemic. You and our child don’t know what next week will look like. You can’t predict if your child’s college will transition to being entirely online for the rest of the semester. A face mask is just another reminder of all these uncertainties.
Face masks create barriers for your freshman.
No only do face masks offer unpleasant reminders about college and life in general, but they can work to create barriers that make succeeding difficult. How so?
Face masks are a barrier to taking initiative. One of the distinct differences between high school and college is that college requires more initiative. In the past, your child’s teachers would reach out if they noticed your child struggling. They might even provide repeated reminders about assignments and projects, even sending you reminders. In college, college professors expect your child to reach out and speak up for themselves.
Face masks are a barrier to asking questions. Not speaking up or raising a hand to ask a question is maybe your child’s default even when they aren’t wearing a face mask. With a face mask on, your freshman may be extremely unlikely to ask a question in class, before class, or after class. Your child must exert extra effort to get answers, and right now they’re just trying to get through the first few weeks.
Face masks are a barrier to participating in class. Aside from asking questions, some classes may require discussion from your child during class. Without a face mask, your child might be hesitant to share thoughts with classmates they just met. With a face mask, your freshman has almost no desire to participate in class discussions or answer the instructor’s questions.
Face masks are a barrier to connecting with classmates. Under normal circumstances, your freshman might introduce themself to classmates sitting nearby, but with social distancing and face masks on they feel less inclined to make that effort. Everyone looks relatively the same and remembering people by their eyes is incredibly challenging.
Face masks provide opportunities for developing soft skills.
Soft skills are the new hard skills. In other words, in the past soft skills may have been looked on as a perk to an employer, but now soft skills are a basic requirement for a position.
Due to smartphones, social media, and more, many college freshmen lack basic soft skills. While blaming technology or your child’s generation is an easy out, the reality is that your child grew up in different times than you did. Even if you tried your best to encourage soft skills in your child, they likely still have room to improve.
How can you encourage growth in soft skills?
Use good soft skills with your freshman. Purposely demonstrate good soft skills by listening well when your child calls, rather than multitasking. Be tuned in to your child’s needs when they call, which sometimes means refraining from offering advice.
Encourage your freshman to reach outside of their comfort zone. As a communication instructor, I see student after student who has a crippling fear of public speaking. While I realize public speaking is a nerve-wracking experience that most people do not enjoy, being paralyzed by fear of public speaking will prevent a student from succeeding in the future. Please parent, encourage your child to learn new skills and try new activities that might be scary or uncomfortable.
Face masks provide uncomfortable reminders and barriers, but they also provide opportunities for needed growth. Going to the first year of college during a pandemic is challenging, but the path ahead will also be filled with obstacles. Your freshman is learning to have grit, enduring through the difficult parts and making the most of their first college year.
