JJC Students on Staying Motivated Academically, Personally During Pandemic

As the COVID-19 pandemic keeps remote working and learning in place at Joliet Junior College, students are encouraging their peers while sharing how they’ve been impacted by this situation.  

Sarah Goff said it was hard at first to imagine how she would manage online nursing classes because of the value she gets from face-to-face interactions with her professors and fellow students.

“But there have been no issues,” Goff said. “As a matter of fact, this has opened doors for me that I didn’t even think existed. I never had thought about what healthcare would be like if we had to do it over a screen. So it’s actually kind of aided me in that sense.”

Savanna Rusch is also a nursing student who is planning to graduate in December. The opportunity to have an immediate impact in her future profession has kept Rusch motivated.

“I’m going to be helping and saving so many lives once I graduate and be on the front lines with the rest of the nurses,” she said.

David Lozano, vice president of JJC’s Latinos Unidos student club, has taken notice of the technology services JJC has made available during this time.  

“Almost every class is online now. They were also offering Chromebooks to students who didn’t have computers or had outdated computers. A lot of the student activities, such as the clubs, have been meeting online. OSA, the Office of Student Activities, has been great with that.”

For Dontae Crowder, who this month will formally become JJC’s new student trustee, it’s important to keep an open line of communication with professors and friends.

“Always have some type of communication outlet with friends, peers, or other classmates,” said Crowder.

Margarita Reyes also had reservations about online only course work. She’s a first-generation student and up until this point had never taken an online class. But her concerns quickly faded because her professors have been accessible the entire time. 

“As a student that doesn’t really have anyone else to ask for help at home, the teachers themselves are doing an amazing job getting back to you,” she said. “And just in general for anyone who is thinking about taking online courses at JJC or worried about it since it’s their first year, I would really recommend it and I believe that you’re gonna do a great job.”

JJC faculty will continue online instruction through the summer semester. Employees will also continue to serve students remotely through a variety of resources. That includes virtual advising sessions, available through offices such as the Student Advising Center, Career Services, and Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, among others. Current and prospective students can also get answers to common questions through the college’s FAQ page.

Registration for the summer is open, with five-to-eight week sessions available, beginning May 25.

Register Now for Summer Online Classes

For media inquiries, contact Communications and Media Coordinator Scott Harvey at sharvey@jjc.edu.