JULY 2020

“My biggest concern when it comes to coronavirus is with the education system. There are many degree courses, particularly arts courses such as my own (music) which simply can't be replicated online, and yet students are being expected to pay the full tuition fee for something that doesn't match the course they signed up for. Additionally, lockdown occurred throughout the third term of university and many students were forced to move out of their accommodation but were still forced to pay for it.

Lockdown has also had an impact on my mental health. It's really hard not being able to see my friends, and living with that feeling like the entire world is shifting beneath me. I'm just grateful for the work of NHS staff and other essential workers.”

JULY 2020

“Lockdown for me has been a surprisingly positive experience. Leaving university early was something that i was never expecting, and i did leave quite a bit behind in brighton. Adapting to online class was difficult, but my exam results showed that i coped fine. However back home i managed to get my first ever job, allowing me to save up for when i return to uni. It has been daunting working as an essential worker during a pandemic, but ive gotten used to it. I think not seeing my friends has been hard for me, but obviously i keep in touch with them, and we’ve planned for after lockdown. I have seen one friend in person since lockdown has been relaxed, and that did wonders for my mental health. Like the rest of us, i am so appreciative of the nhs and other key workers that have been keeping us all going throughout this crisis.”

JULY 2020

“My personal lockdown experience has been chaotic to say the least. The day I left my uni accommodation was also the day I fractured my ankle, going into the walk in centre really brought the pandemic into reality for me as it hadn’t hit before. I was ready to focus on myself and growing to become a better person during lockdown however I wasn’t able to do that the way I wanted. Lockdown has been stressful for everyone of course. But it also caused immense pressure at home causing us as a family to break distancing rules for our own mental health. This has made me feel incredibly guilty as I had been determined to stick to all the rules placed but I wasn’t able to object to what was happening. It makes me very grateful for those who are still following rules and even more annoyed at those disregarding them to do something as frivolous as having parties. During this my boyfriend had broken up with me too; I lost a support system when he left so felt even more isolated. However this allowed me to reconnect with my friends again, and now I’m closer friends with them than before. I’ve been able to pick up new hobbies too, and found that I need to dedicate time to myself instead of throwing my attention to other people for validation. So overall my lockdown experience has been very educational despite the confusion from uni.”

AUGUST 2020

“Life. Just. Stopped. We were sent back home and no one knew when wed be back and that was hard. Not seeing my friends for 6 months was tough yeh but not seeing my amazing partner that almost broke us. COVID meant I was trapped within these walls not really sure when I could get out, return to the amazing city that is Winchester. I’m not saying it was all doom and gloom. Ive started an amazing research project and completed personal projects but overall I’m counting down the days till normality is restored.”

AUGUST 2020

“Lockdown while hard, was a blessing in disguise. For most, including me, it changed life as we know it. And while it was difficult to have to move back to Ireland, leaving my friends, work and university with less than 24 hours notice to pack up my life, it gave me the time I didn’t know I needed to just sit with my thoughts and process my emotions. Heartbreak, depression, anxiety. So many sleepless nights, not knowing when things would return to normal. But I slowly learned that this was the new normal and actually I was ready to change with it. I processed emotions I had been too long shoving to the back of my brain, and I released a creative flow that had felt blocked for a long time. I’m a different person now because of lockdown and while it was hard to go through, knowing everyone was going through it with me gave me that ounce of strength to keep going. Being with my family was something I’m so grateful for because when I felt at my most lonely, I was never truely alone.”

SEPTEMBER 2020

“lockdown really helped me understand myself - taking time out from the buzz of london and the constant cycle of university gave me much needed time alone to rejuvenate, focus on myself, and my studies. it also helped me reassess relationships and whether they were worth my energy, and truly invest energy back into myself, where it was much needed. lockdown also has helped me appreciate the simple things i took for granted: going out with friends, having family in easy access and the comfort of routine were completely destroyed. covid also, like everyone else, made me frustrated at the state of the world and the political systems, and arguably made me change my university course to politics, as it became even more crystal clear to me that politics for a lot of people is the matter of life and death. losing a close family member during this time, and hearing of deaths all around consolidated this belief. in short, lockdown has made me more comfortable with myself, but very uncomfortable with the world around us.”

SEPTEMBER 2020

“Lockdown was the longest 6 months of my life. It was a time that had its ups and downs. Not being able to see my friends was though not to mention all the gigs I couldn't go to. But it allowed me to focus and learn more to help me after I leave uni. Going back to work was a bit strange with everything that needed doing to ensure people were safe and I think uni will be similar. But I'm looking forward to the challenge.”

SEPTEMBER 2020

“I always knew that lockdown wasn’t going to be easy, I had to shield from everyone including my family, and going through a breakup at the same time certainly didn’t help, but a few weeks in I started to realise it was an opportunity to treat myself better. The time lockdown gave me to just sit and think about pretty much nothing was honestly amazing, there was no work or looming deadlines in the way, I could just take the time for myself, go on walks (lost 1.5 stone, go me!), play video games, take some photos, although I was stuck at home I have never felt more free to do whatever I want. Lockdown really helped me grow as a person, the person I am now after lockdown is definitely not the same person who went in and that’s a good thing. I know lockdown was hard on a lot of people but I think I can honestly say it was probably one of the best things that has happened to me, because at that moment in time I think taking some time for myself was exactly what I needed”

SEPTEMBER 2020

“For me, life in lockdown was a period of time for self-improvement and edification. Right before lockdown started, I managed to escape from an acrimonious relationship, and took the time in lockdown to re-evaluate myself, and who I wanted to be.

I also focused on playing music and threw myself into the online coursework - an aspect the University did not deal with well, in many of my course mates and my opinion.

I adapted to the constant indoor life quickly, and I am forever thankful i had my family with me, and relieved that I suffered no close family deaths due to Covid-19.

Being quarantined made me realise just how important the entertainment industry is. Could you imagine being in lockdown without any type of streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, or Disney+?”

SEPTEMBER 2020

“All in the space of a few days I was forced home, away from the life I had built for myself at University. With little to no guidance of what comes next it took, lockdown definitely took its toll on me. Minimum communication from University as to what we should do created enormous amounts of stress, a two week assignment extension for us whilst we were fighting a global pandemic was the most information given to us. It was not all negative, I was given the space and opportunity to grow, however the lack of support during the lockdown period has made it difficult to bounce back to normal life.”

OCTOBER 2020

“Lockdown was something I never really expected to happen, but all of a sudden I found myself stuck at uni with my family having to isolate at home and by the time I could go back I was swamped with my exams. I spent my spare time trying educate myself on things like the BLM movement, the different environment changes from lockdown and took up hobbies including sewing and journaling. It was definitely challenging, being away from home and feeling overwhelming stressed with it all, but I'm happy that I've learnt a lot from it.”

MARCH 2021

“Self reflection and growth has become one of my biggest focuses during lockdown. With everything happening around the world, lockdown has created a force for social justice which has inspired me to look upon myself and people who I surround myself with.

One of the other biggest effects it has had on me is the sudden use of online learning. Universities have not been great in communication, and with the recent announcement of the £24k Greta Thunberg statue, students feel even more animosity with their recent experience at university, and I feel the same.

I’m forever grateful for all the family and friends that have stayed close during the pandemic, and relieved that I have suffered no losses due to COVID-19.

Overall, the pandemic has made me realise to put my feelings first, to surround myself with true people, and to treasure all the good times”

OCTOBER 2021

“Lockdown for me was both stressful and extremely enlightening. As an international student studying abroad, it was especially stressful when COVID first erupted in the UK, as I was told to try and get home as quickly as possible. I was in-between packing and trying to find storage for my stuff for 6 months while I would be home in Norway. It was a very challenging and anxious period.

During the first 6 months of the outbreak, I spent most of my time reading, trying out new things (as I’m sure most people did) and spend as much time with my friends as I could (and was allowed to). It was quite an eventful summer (as Norway didn’t have the full on lockdown as England did), and I learnt a lot of great things about myself. When I arrived for my second year at Uni in Winchester again, I experienced my first ever proper lockdown in the UK, that taught me how to appreciate the small things. My housemate and I would go on walks and explore new wooded areas locally. I also walked a marathon, which would never have happened if it wasn’t for lockdown. I got to know my friends in other ways than just clubbing or going out, by connecting on another level by going on walks and spending time outside.

Lockdown for me, was enlightening because I saw how much joy I could get out of doing the bare minimum and that life is too short to not explore everything about it, no matter the size. Of course, it would be fantastic if lockdown never happened and I could use my time in the UK travelling and exploring more, but in a way I’m glad it happened as it opened a whole new opportunity for me. I’m going to appreciate every minute of my time left in Uni, no matter the cost.”