By Karen Mai and Mandy Sun
The pandemic has influenced the youth, in particular as some of the most affected by the pandemic. As college applications and decisions are right around the corner, students are confronted with choosing their path in this soon to be post-pandemic world.
In fact, many students are lost in deciding their future. COVID-19 has made it harder for students to choose a college with the right fit and the chance to explore their future professions. “I have no idea where I want to go or what I want to do because the information about prospective colleges is so hard to find. It’s really hard since there are no in-person college tours and I can’t go out to explore different fields of work,” says Mia Stratton, a current senior.
Students are also struggling to navigate through the college process, and this is especially prevalent in immigrant families who never had the experience with the Common App, which is the portal for college applications throughout the country. COVID-19 has exacerbated this language inequality with school support as virtual platforms oftentimes lack immediate translators. Students feel even less supported, particularly in school with a large ratio of students to guidance counselors. This lack of support has resulted in students becoming dissuaded from even applying. Andrew Lee, Boston Latin School (BLS) ‘21, says, “I find it hard to stay motivated and find peers to review my work.”
Another point of concern for many students is how they can pay for college. Marcky Antonio, a Filipino American High School Student who is applying early, says, “I am still looking for as much financial aid as possible to ease the burden of tuition costs on my parents.” This stress on money has gravely impacted high schoolers as they choose a college that’s affordable, and they are now forced to choose a job that is stable and offers much money.
Others are worried about the future workforce that they will enter. They have no idea whether the pandemic will return and what jobs will exist in the near future. Gian Martinez, a senior interested in public policy, explains that, “I’m interested in a broad group of things. It’s completely possible that, because of COVID, one of those job markets would become very hard to find a job in, and so I have to pay attention to that when I’m picking what I want to major in for my future career.”
In contrast, since COVID-19 has confronted students with these concerns, some of the younger grades feel more prepared for their future. Regina Chiem, a junior at the Boston Latin School, felt the pandemic has forced her to plan for her first years of college. As a junior in high school, she started to take a set path less seriously, believing, “I think it is all a guessing game at this point, I try not to worry about the jobs and fellowships that I am a part of, but because they are related with the government, I have been scared of a government shutdown.”
To read this article in Chinese (Traditional), please click here.