“Covid blew up my last year of high school. I’ve been anxious ever since”

Who: Clara, 23 Field of interest: History of science Graduating from: U of T in 2027

When Covid hit, I couldn’t believe how depressed and anxious it made me. I was in my last semester of high school, and every day started to feel indistinguishable from the last. The next year, I started the life sciences program at U of T, but classes were still on Zoom. I tried to participate and stay engaged, but it was hard not to zone out. I felt utterly detached, and when I tried to connect with on-campus resources like accommodations or learning strategists, it took weeks to get appointments because they were so backed up. I couldn’t shake the feeling that nothing would ever be normal again. I barely made it through that first year; it took everything in me to submit my final assignments. After that, I decided to take a year off to recuperate.

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When I returned, classes were back in person. I could actually meet my peers and engage with course material, and I eventually switched my major to the history of science. When my anxiety flared up, I occasionally had to drop a class, but university life was slowly growing on me. I think we had all spent so long learning to work independently and avoiding strangers that it was hard to kick the habit. It wasn’t until 2024 that I felt truly settled in. I made friends, and we discussed our classwork together. I realized that I struggled to focus at home, so I got to know the campus libraries. A few of my professors knew me personally, and I started volunteering at a print studio I’d heard about at a campus event.

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But switching my major, taking a year off and dropping a handful of courses has slowed down the process. Right now, I’m on track to graduate in 2027—almost seven years after I started. Even though I’m glad I stuck it out, it’s hard to make friends just to watch them graduate and celebrate new milestones without me.