What Do You Mean I Have to Speak?

One soft skill that I have developed the most over the past year and a half as a result of the pandemic is the ability to communicate with my peers and professors.

When students began online learning around early 2020 as the virus rose rapidly, I took note and observed a multitude of complaints online regarding the lack of communication between family members, friends, and teachers/professors. I personally did not have much of an issue with this, because I am what is known as a “lone wolf” to teenagers or Gen-Zer’s (says a literal Gen-Zer, who does not get today’s social trends and ideas).

A “lone wolf” to my understanding is someone that is, well, alone and attends to their own business by themselves. Academically speaking, I did not prefer to work in groups, or ask for feedback, or ask teachers for questions, because I relied on my own skill and understanding. This changed quite drastically when I began to work from my computer, behind my desk, with no student beside me to make me chuckle for the dumbest reasons. Initially, it was satisfying silence that for once did not require me to listen to dirty jokes in a classroom full of dirty-minded high schoolers.

I was never really a socially introverted person because if I HAD to speak during group work in school, although it was not preferable for me, I managed to do all right . . . for the most part. However, I only communicated with peers and superiors if I was asked to.

Well, after lockdown commenced, to my horror, I had to speak, yes, SPEAK, voluntarily.

Through online learning, some professors were not specific with their instructions or made typos that changed the context of modules/ assignments. Along with this, I had to actually speak (again) and call the bookstore for backordered books, make phone calls to professors because they wanted to “get to know us,” and schedule nerve-wrecking conferences with professors or faculty about my academic progress (which was responsible, but all the more unwanted on my part).

With the painful task of having to reach out to professors with questions AND needing to read emails or posts that included feedback for my work, I realized that I had to gather the nerves to communicate with others . . . and with little hesitation, too.

By Estefano Torres Editor

This was mental suffocation.

Soon, to my benefit, through classes such as Creative Writing, Publications, and Literature, I found myself evolving in a way where I began reaching out more with questions and concerns, as well as taking feedback more lightly. While I growled at creative feedback or constructive criticism pre-pandemic, I even developed a sort of benevolence for responding to criticism and giving feedback in return.

This synergy that was present between me and my professors was benefitting me, and I was surprised that a pandemic lockdown actually helped me improve in willingness to communicate more than ever.

In the present day, I enjoy reading feedback on my work from professors and peers, and I enjoy, for the most part, participating in class discussions and showing my understanding of the course work. This soft skill in communication truly did help me evolve as the year passed, and I believe that because of it, I will excel even more post-HCC!