Living through a global pandemic has greatly changed my role and the way I approach students. It has been a tough 18 months in which things have changed so quickly. However, lockdown and restrictions on movement have given us something new. To become much more resilient.

Stress, anxiety, loneliness, and financial hardship were the challenges most students faced during this pandemic. As I moved on dealing with it, I realised looking after our mental health was important for us. Staying connected and listening to each other helped a lot to overcome some of the barriers. One thing that became very clear to me from the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic was the need for regular communication among us. Regular communication between staff and students helped me complete my task quickly and felt more connected with each other. When I went on maternity leave, I always read the messages on Teams and stayed connected with everyone. This made me easy to prepare myself for getting back to the office and adapt as quickly as possible.

Finally, this pandemic has taught me a new way of working and living a lifestyle. I take this positively as we have now both experiences before and after the COVID time. With these experiences, we can be more creative and build a better future both professionally and personally.

Simran — Student Services Manager