The Zoom ages: A student’s perspective

We are mostly on the other side of the pandemic, and I don’t know about y’all, but I hated looking at myself on a screen every day!

Zoom classes, meetings, hangouts, and all that, did a number on my confidence level. Waking up every day, going through my normal routine, then turning on my computer and entering a virtual meeting was rattling on its own. But then having to look at myself on a computer screen, see what other people see, and have the will to keep your camera on was a whole other animal!

Every facial expression could be seen; every sneeze, cough, yawn, rolling of the eyes (all the time), hair out of place, and so on, could be seen by any one of those strangers on that screen. We didn’t have to wear pants, but we did have the chance of our faces being under scrutiny every second we were on camera.

When I didn’t have my camera on, I was paranoid it was on! Technology fails us left and right, so I always assumed someone could see me unless I was fully out of the room, but then I could be seen as not participating or absent. There was no winning unless you went to the bathroom ahead of time, had everything prepared, cleared all dust out of the room and turned up the thermostat so you wouldn’t sneeze… the whole nine yards.

What we could always count on, though, and what you would likely not be prepared for, was the eyes of someone on a pimple that decided to show itself within the hours of that meeting, bags under your eyes from a bad night’s sleep, a bad hair day, a reflection in the window showing you had no pants on… the list could go on forever.

One good thing that I was able take out of that experience, though, was my hair and personal style are now better than I think they ever have been. Between the excitement of being back in-person at classes and meetings, and the recognition of less self-confidence in front of people during the Zoom ages, I started working on my style more than I have in the past. I worked on it starting in the Zoom ages, so once we were back in-person, my confidence level also shot up – I was not a confident person, I’ve faked it most of my life. I still feel like I’m faking it most of the time, but at least I’m benefiting from it.

I think my people skills probably benefited from the experience, as well. Probably because I realized that not being able to hang out with a lot of people during the pandemic was so depressing. I realized how much I hated being alone and wanted to be around people. Coming out of that experience with a better personal style, and the recognition of my need for people, my confidence shot up and with that came being able to talk to people without crippling anxiety.

Why did the confidence shoot up? Because I was determined to make some damn friends and be free from isolation.

I hope that you all have also found something you can be happy about coming out of this pandemic. Whether it’s gaining some serious gardening skills, creating some great new recipes, having a chance to take some classes and gain a skill or start a new life chapter, maybe adopting a pet, creating a fun living space, anything!

I think we can all find something to be grateful for, if we choose to.

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