Spring fever, vaccine excitement, and Zoom fatigue … Oh my!
How USD students are coping with a wave of spring distractions
Olivia Hunt / A&C Asst. Editor / The USD Vista
As the chilly gloom of winter has finally given way to balmy spring days, many students find themselves in the throes of spring fever — feeling particularly restless, energetic, and even romantic. These “symptoms” of spring fever, it seems, are only exacerbated in the midst of Zoom fatigue, senioritis, and post-vaccine excitement. The middle-to-end of the spring semester tends to be a frustrating time for students, and this is even true in light of the pandemic. Just when one feels used to their classes and on-track to a strong finish for the school year, San Diego’s weather becomes especially gorgeous. Even students who don’t usually have a hard time focusing may find themselves constantly staring out the window or wanting to take their Zoom classes outside.
With students’ daily screen time at an all-time high, beautiful weather is a welcome escape from an overwhelming presence of technology. In an ideal Zoom world, a person’s Wi-Fi would never cut out, lawnmowers and garbage trucks wouldn’t cause ear-piercing background noise, and food delivery would never arrive in the middle of class. Finding the right setting for online learning has never been easy, and having a Zoom meeting outside is often less predictable than having it indoors.
McKenna Colachis, a USD senior, shared the cons of Zooming outside.
“Being outside definitely improves my mood when I’m studying or reading a textbook, but I find it difficult to Zoom anywhere other than my room,” Colachis said. “The glare from the sun makes it hard to see my laptop screen and the background noise can be too distracting.”
While basking in the sun with a laptop may not be the best ‘cure’ for spring fever, there’s certainly other options. Colachis noted some of the ways in which she balances the new sunny weather with constant schoolwork.
“I like to take a lot of breaks,” Colachis said. “Sometimes I’ll skate on the Mission Beach boardwalk, spend an hour sitting in the sun, or go outside for a quick coffee run. I think it’s important to give yourself time to recharge after or in between classes.”
Although taking breaks to enjoy the sunshine can be surprisingly motivating, students are currently dealing with more distractions than the weather.
USD senior Ashley Raines explained that students’ ability to get vaccinated has led to far more opportunities for socializing.
“Now that I’m fully vaccinated, I’m more open to making plans with my other friends who are also fully vaccinated,” Raines said. “I think a lot of people want to make up for the lost social time, especially before graduation. It’s great being able to be more social now than I have this whole semester, but it’s also hard to balance it out with school and impending finals. My Sundays are completely dedicated to all the work that I put off during the week.”
With the recent extension of vaccine eligibility, many students are becoming tasked with navigating an increased social life, while still caring about schoolwork and the safety of those who aren’t fully vaccinated.
Colachis shared some exciting (and still socially-distanced) springtime activities for when students have some free time in their busy schedules.
“Having a picnic with friends at Kate Sessions Park in Pacific Beach is always fun and doesn’t require that much planning in advance,” Colachis said. “If you have a completely free day, The Carlsbad Flower Fields is probably the epitome of spring activity in San Diego.”
Raines also noted her favorite places to go in the spring.
“I love going anywhere in Balboa Park on a perfect San Diego day,” Raines said. “The Japanese Friendship Garden is also especially beautiful this time of year.”
Hopefully, after this semester, USD students won’t have to open Zoom ever again. In the meantime, students can do their best to get vaccinated, enjoy springtime activities, and look forward to the arrival of summer.