Info
Visit
Apply
Deposit

With social distancing and COVID-19 altering the student experience, the college has introduced Bethany Voices. A group of students of varying backgrounds will share their thoughts over the next few weeks about remote learning, COVID-19, and how they are staying focused and connected in a new world.

By MATTHEW BAKOWSKI

After completing weeks of online classes and social distancing for almost a month, I’m feeling a little stir crazy.

Bethany Voices Matt BakowskiPittsburgh, where I live, is kind of on an unofficial lockdown and everyone, other than essential workers, is staying home. My parents are included in that title as “essential workers.” This has been causing a little stress because they come in contact with many people during the day.

A nice escape from talking about the pandemic is the online classes. Being a social work major, we talk a lot about the current state of the country and how the social welfare policies are being effected and how they relate to COVID-19.

Having support and an escape from all of the craziness is really a good thing. I think that seeing my classmates on Zoom and talking to my professors has been that escape. My classmates, friends, and I have been in contact through different group messages and even speaking on Zoom.

Spring semester of junior year for social work majors is typically the most difficult semester for anyone in the major. We are taking four of our main core classes at once all while preparing for a 500-hour field placement in the fall.

The stress is getting to us, but we have been talking all day and even helping each other with assignments to ensure we all stay on top of our work.

Hopefully within the next few days or weeks we will begin to see some positive outcomes from this pandemic. #ONEBethany

Matthew Bakowski, a junior social work major from Pittsburgh, is a Kalon Scholar, public relations chair and vice president of brotherhood for Psi Chapter of Beta Theta Pi, treasurer of the Social Awareness Club, and junior fellow for the Social Work Department.

READ MORE BETHANY VOICES

FRESHMAN YEAR BRINGS UNEXPECTED ADJUSTMENT

SENIOR REFLECTS ON HOW BETHANY INFLUENCED HIS LIFE

STUDENT-ATHLETE REFLECTS ON ABRUPT END TO TRACK SEASON