Now that classes have returned to campus, students are feeling both excited and anxious about transitioning back to in-person learning. 

To help students ease the stress of in-person instruction, the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP) hosted a workshop to help students prepare for in-person classes again.

“I am very excited for in-person classes, but also very nervous,” said Christina Acevedo, a biology major. “Classes have already been difficult online, so I hope in-person will give me more discipline.” 

Many students were optimistic about the benefits of attending the workshop. 

“I love the concept and the idea of it,” said Aya Mallek Kherici, a biochemistry major.  

Acevedo is also excited to see what the workshop has to offer. 

“I am completely new to the in-person experience and really have no idea what to expect, so I hope the workshop gives me a preview as to what to expect and what is expected of me,” she said.

Acevedo also hopes that the workshop “shows what Cal State LA has to offer, such as different programs.”

Students attended the workshop in hopes of getting answers to their questions, concerns and some tips for doing in-person learning the right way.  

The workshop kicked off with some questions to break the ice, followed by a number of activities.

Students were shown several different pictures of dogs and were asked to choose which ones they resonated with when thinking about coming back to campus. The majority of students chose dogs that looked scared, concerned or worried. 

The topics covered included effective note-taking, strategies for test-taking, tackling test-taking anxiety and creating presentations. Students shared their note-taking techniques, ranging from old school pen and paper to using an electronic device. 

After the workshop, most students were pleased with the information but had more questions. 

“I was very happy with the workshop,” said Acevedo. “I believe every topic such as note-taking and so forth is all very important. However, I was expecting something a little different. I was expecting more of a tour of the school or what the school has to offer in-person: events, activities, programs.”  

Even after the workshop, many students still didn’t feel completely prepared to be back on campus.

“I’m feeling more comfortable about my work and what is expected of me as a student, but I don’t feel fully comfortable with what in-person campus life is all about,” said Acevedo.

“All my classes are in-person this time, and I think this time the semester will be a bit better than the last semester because I learn better in-person,” said Carlos Diaz, a computer science major. 

Rudy Sanchez, a chemistry major, is excited and said he will need to get used to having a routine again. 

“This is going to be my second semester attending in-person classes,” he said. “I expect it will improve my focus during class since I will be there learning with all my senses. That being said, my body is going to have to get used to walking up the hill again.”  

After almost two years of the pandemic, many students are concerned about being physically and mentally prepared to find thier classes and get around campus. 

“There were one or two questions asking for the campus maps and how to navigate around the campus,” said Lilian Leung, a staff member of LSAMP. “Few of them also asked if there are any good note-taking applications.”

For students returning to campus or going to campus for the first time, a map of the university can be found here.