Supporting students through the pandemic

CSF AmeriCorps College and Career Coach Courteney Coleman shares the challenges of supporting students through the pandemic and helping them prepare for an uncertain future.

I began my service as an AmeriCorps College and Career Coach at the start of the 2020-21 school year. As a first-generation college student, I understand the importance of having access to the tools and resources needed to prepare for college, and it was disheartening to see the pandemic’s devastating impact on students who were feeling so lost and uncertain about their future. Becoming an AmeriCorps College and Career Coach gave me the opportunity to give back to my community and help students on their journey toward higher education during this turbulent time.

Middle school is a great time to begin encouraging students to look toward their futures by giving them the tools to prepare for and succeed in high school. Throughout my year of service at Mercer Middle School, I have educated students about post-high school opportunities and helped build their confidence to begin working towards higher education goals.

Providing connection during isolation

During remote learning, I presented college and career readiness lessons to my eighth grade students via Zoom. Their screens stayed black, and their mics remained muted for the majority of the lessons. I knew my students were struggling with the online environment, and I wanted to help.

I started beginning my lessons by asking about how they were feeling and encouraging them to share in the chat. They started by sharing memes and gifs, but they slowly began sharing more. They expressed how much they missed their friends, working face-to-face with their classmates, and getting to know their teachers in person.

For some students, school was the one place they could express themselves and showcase their talents and personalities. The isolation harmed their mental well-being. They felt anxious, sad, and scared about the time they were losing, and they feared things would never return to normal. So I began looking for ways for my students to express themselves and share their talents with their teachers and classmates.

Each year, AmeriCorps College and Career Coaches are given the opportunity to award laptops to students through an incentive program. In the past, we have created essay contests or awarded to teacher-nominated students. Last year, I chose to use the program as an outlet for my students to share their creativity and talent.

I encouraged them to tell me about their dreams for the future. They could use any medium they saw fit, from essays to music videos. The contest received over 250 student entries and provided connection during a difficult time of isolation. While distributing the laptops, I was able to see the students in person for the first time. It was incredible to see their eyes light up as we discussed their entries.

Returning to in-person learning

I enjoyed my service with the students so much that I decided to return for a second year with the CSF AmeriCorps team. I chose to serve at a new school to get the opportunity to work with more students. This year, I began to serve in person, working with students at Meridian Middle School as they returned to their classrooms.

The change in students’ moods and attitudes towards school is palpable. They are excited and energetic in the classroom, happily participating in discussions and group activities. However, returning to the classroom did not mean COVID was no longer an issue for schools. Students are required to wear masks and stay at least three feet apart. Seating charts in class and lunchrooms are strict, and sports and after-school activities are limited.

Even with the restrictions, students are happy to be around their peers and learning in person. But they still share stories of their disappointments from the previous school year. The new COVID variants bring their anxieties to the surface. Staffing shortages and limited substitute teachers lead to school closures. Large amounts of absent students leave classrooms half empty. The uncertainty of the future floods back to students who want to remain in school but also fear getting sick.

Working through feelings of uncertainty

I have spent many hours supporting students through the pandemic and reassuring them about their futures. Together, we discuss colleges they are interested in and research their dream jobs. They are resilient and handle the daily changes well, but they still have frustrations and worries.

I give them space to share, work through their feelings of uncertainty, and find ways to help reassure them. I try hard to find ways to incorporate games and fun activities into their lessons. We work together to prepare for high school, focusing on study skills and learning about classes they can take to get ready for college.

The laptop incentive program is returning this spring, and I am encouraging my students to share their dreams for the future again. I look forward to seeing their talents and knowledge on display.

Preparing for the Future

I have learned so much during my service with CSF. This organization cares deeply about helping students prepare for their futures and gives them the tools and opportunity to achieve their dreams. I am so thankful I had the chance to work with other advisors to prepare our students to continue working with CSF throughout high school and college.

The future remains uncertain and ever changing. I do not know exactly what it holds for my students, but I am thankful for the opportunity to help them discover and plan for the life of their dreams. I know CSF will be there to support them along the way.