Editor’s note: “The new normal” is a continuing series that looks into how members of the Los Medanos College community are coping with a shelter-in-place order amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

It’s been just shy of one month since the state-wide shelter-in-place order was put in place. With the news that classes will be moved to remote instruction until the fall semester, some students are still adjusting to the new method of learning.

Classes such as Introduction into Social Problems and Contemporary Moral Issues require lots of discussion between peers and instructors. Los Medanos College student Francisco Gonzalez is one of many students learning how to adjust to from in depth, in person talks to discussion posts on Canvas.

“I would say I am adjusting well to this situation. I would rather not be in it but I don’t really have a choice,” said Gonzalez. “We have got to flatten the curve somehow.” 

While he admits to adjusting well to the situation right now, there are some issues that are causing struggles for him and his classmates due to the transition online. 

“The only challenges I’m facing is sometimes my power goes off at random times so I lose my WiFi for a bit and can’t do my homework,” he said. “Other than that it’s really hard to find motivation to do my work since I am at home but it’s got to get done.”

Gonzalez understands that this situation is difficult for all parties involved, but says,  “It’s kind of hard to retain any information so it makes doing the work harder.”