The ‘Tres Marias’ of the Campus Press’s Downfall in the Pandemic

Diane Angeli Martinez

“No heart, no soul.”

Ignorant human beings find this pill very hard to swallow — the fact that the majority of the students enroll in online classes because they don't want to be left behind. Students tend to sacrifice their mental health in exchange for high grades. Indeed, having high grades is like a melody to everyone’s ears. But are you really going to sacrifice your wellness and pressure yourself to please others?

According to Rappler, one (1) student from Saint Louis University (SLU) of Baguio City was confirmed to have committed suicide due to heavy workloads. Yet, there are nine (9) unverified cases of deaths that are still under thorough investigation. It is alarming since these cases can lead to depression, anxiety, development of suicidal thoughts, and the last resort of students is to drop out from school as online classes aren’t effective and helpful for them. Drop-out rates have been rising in the Philippines as online classes drag on due to pandemic. Referring to PhilStar’s news article, even senators were alarmed over the increasing number of dropouts. Almost four (4) million students weren’t able to enroll for the current school year. Most of the common reasons are financial problems, family matters, and the sudden shift in online learning — making the students come to a consensus to choose not to enroll in online classes as they’re having difficulties adjusting and keeping up.

This is one of the current situations that most of the students here in the Philippines are experiencing as they embrace the new normal in learning. Skipping meals, sacrificing their sleep, and not having enough time to rest makes them anxious and stressed over their heavy workloads and hectic schedules. Their worries are also eating them up — being worried that they might fail and be a disappointment. Unfortunately, I can compare the online classes as a battlefield where soldiers fight for their lives, and there are instances where doubts are eating them up, thinking that they wouldn’t make it. That battlefield is complete hell and torture, but whoever reaches the finale will be considered one of the strongest. I am certain that just like the soldiers from World War II who stood up still until the end, they will be acquiring the reward they desire in life — recognition, honors, and diplomas.

On a more specific note, students are Aussie battlers in this kind of setup. They study hard every single day and end up having no help from the people around them. As thoughts run through their head, they feel that they are cannon fodder. They considered their lives worthless.

It is a battle that needs to be succeeded every single day because, in the end, they only have themselves. Even though it is hard, I think students need to bite the bullet to surpass every situation they have been experiencing in their classes.

People don't know that this setup is not all about participating in every activity. They don't know that this online class is mental torture to everyone. Come to think of it, you're in the middle of a pandemic, you and your family are experiencing personal problems, yet you still need to go to school virtually just because the government says so. It is like all students are caught off guard with the sudden implementation, they were all unprepared for the battle they will be partaking into. Some want to fight, but some want to surrender. They have sacrificed their health just for the sake of their studies, and it is an excruciating feeling to every one of them. Hence, they have no choice but to keep fighting and overcoming because the only thing they have are the rewards they will receive in the future, even though they need to offer up everything and take the risky road.

Hopefully, all will go back at the right time, and education will remain the tool that students need in the future. I, on the other hand, have to heed the call for the government’s open eyes to realize the bad side of this set-up.