With 2020 behind us, universities and colleges in and around Cape Town are slowly starting to welcome students with open arms and have been working around the clock to ensure a safe academic space for their students.
Institutions such as the University of Cape Town (UCT) and the University of the Western Cape (UWC) have wasted no time, as students have started registration and quarantine in res since mid-February.
The walls of the residences at the University of Cape have been filled with excited and fresh first-year students. The students were invited by the university for the First-Year Campus Reception (FYCR) for registration on February 28th with strict safety measures in place.
According to UCTNEWS, the institution will be accommodating around 130 first-year students in Baxter Hall where they are required to quarantine, while certain students have already completed their quarantine period.
“I was so happy to be back at res, but it felt very weird. It was so quiet, and the quarantine period was quite lonely for me,” said Bangiwe Mtombeni, a subwarden at Baxter Hall.
The students and staff at the University of the Western Cape are also under strict precautions and are required to quarantine before arriving at the campus. Visit their website for more information on the quarantine procedure.
As seen by the experience of returning UCT student Mtombeni, transitioning into university whilst in the middle of a pandemic can be extremely overwhelming- there are already so many other things that you have to worry about as a student, and adding Covid-19 on top of that is a lot. With that in said, we have compiled a list of safety tips to ensure that you are safe and can focus on your studies.
Follow and stick to the safety protocols
It is always easy to forget that you are living with new friends and everything is fun and new but it is important to maintain a safe distance, wear your mask and sanitize your hands and the surfaces in your room.
Focus on your studies
This sounds like a piece of cake, but online learning can become stressful at times. Therefore, it is important to pay attention to your mental health and wellbeing during these tough times we are in.
Maintain a healthy diet
Having cheats days throughout the week is not ideal, with Covid-19 it is even more important now more than ever to take your health seriously. According to Healthline, eating food with high levels of Omega 3 -acids offers many benefits such as reducing levels of anxiety and depression.
Exercise
Respect your body and make time to do some physical exercise such as walking, running, and yoga.
Keep In Touch with family and friends
Being away from home can be difficult and feeling lonely during your first year or final year is common amongst students. By scheduling a video call with your loved ones or grabbing a coffee at your favorite coffee shop with a friend will be beneficial for you and your mental health in the long run.
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