When asked about the repercussions of the virus in our life, one’s mind naturally wanders to the thought of closed businesses, the gigantic strain on peoples’ data plans, and of course, millions of stories of death and terror faced by victims of the virus. However, more often than not, what has been a deceptively harmless addition to this aftermath – often looked past on an account of its promise to prevent harm – has been the lifestyle change of social distancing.
For a species whose textbook definition typically includes the phrase ‘social animal’, it’s not hard to guess that this would have created a challenge for us all. What might be slightly harder to follow is the path we’ve taken, ever since, in an attempt to adjust to a life of isolation from what we need most. The life of our college, the cause of constant bustling in corridors, the metaphorical pillars that fuel youth into the ancient SVKM building… or what’s simply known as our college committees in non-Shakespearean English, are social entities that have only ever known to survive through the connections formed by its people. When these connections get dismantled, delinked and distorted through the aloofness of a virtual world, you can’t help but wonder how they would stand a chance to continue functioning online. Transitioning from the warm atmosphere of being around your friends as you all squeeze in for a group picture, to switching through Zoom panels to take in all the unfamiliar faces of your committee members – the shift of building bonds has been unanimously hard within all committees. If you were to take an insight into this change, it looks something like this…
BEFORE Walking through that classroom door with a hop in your step and a gentle knock Speaking to our hearts content without interruptions Staring into someone’s eyes, knowing you have their full attention and focus Physical touch Paper and pen being mandate Inside joke glances “Meeting tomorrow at 2:00pm” “When and where?” “Foyer or Lift area?” Please come forward and share your thoughts The shuddering thought of having to say “Sorry… I don’t have any ideas to pitch” GBM - General Body Meeting (your committee coming together, what could be greater?)
AFTER Entering that meeting room after 20 minutes of lonely waiting room block A frustrated speaker with their million “Am I audible?” intermissions Background sounds of your Dad’s embarrassing towel revelations Digital rush Screen recordings becoming the easier way Zoom private messages “Meeting tomorrow at 2:00pm” “Link?” “Zoom or Teams?” Why is my face pinned to the screen wall “My microphone isn’t working. Hello? Hello? Can you hear me?” fake glitch GBM - General Body Mee… (sorry you’ve been disconnected, please try again later!)
While everyone went home and stared at the sad screens, there were also the students of the first year who while sitting in their houses miles away from college were welcomed in a new city, new college, new classrooms and new committees. They crave human presence and standing next to each other, noticing how their new friend’s eyes twinkle when they laugh and how short or tall, they are; but it seems that the little ones are growing wiser and have understood the importance of the serendipities in life. They’ve come to realize that at the end of the day, what matters the most, is conversations, and understanding different human thoughts. Beyond the fun and frolic, festivities and classroom fun; lies silence. The silence which your heart experiences when you feel something extremely precious when you truly feel emotion and become a part of it. Committees at UPG College managed to touch emotions even through the screens. Committees like the Drama Team managed to extract true pieces of art which brought tears to people’s eyes while they gasped at the screens and saw strangers from their class share heart-wrenching stories from their past. So even though the students in their first year never entered college, they felt at home and the committees managed to give them a glimpse of the warmth that UPG has.
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