MY STORY:

• A glimpse into online college learning at the University of Utah

MY BLOG:

When we were deciding what we were going to be writing about, I knew I wanted to give students a voice. I wanted their woes to be heard. As I was continuing my research about the many issues students seem to be having, learning in a pandemic was one I simply couldn’t ignore. It was an issue many seemed eager to talk about. Students were frustrated and so, it seemed, professors were as well. By using them as my sources, I was able to learn how education was truly being affected by the COVID-19 virus. Firsthand accounts were perfect for this story, no one else knows a student’s struggles better than the students and educators themselves. For the story, I did have to set aside my own perspective as a student. 

This story wasn’t about my opinion but the ones of others. Very few times did opinions differ. When it came down to it the majority of the students interviewed agreed with each other. This made my angle easy to find and utilize. When I was interviewing educators, however, it was a different story. Some agreed with the frustration of students and some seemed to make their online classroom as normal and efficient as possible. I was surprised by this, though the students were collectively doing similar to past years; the teachers too were struggling to make sure information was retained and students could be engaged. By the end of the article, part of me had hoped, with online learning continuing, our ability to utilize it as a better tool is growing.

ABOUT ME:

Reede Nasser is a second-year full-time student at the University of Utah. She was raised in a small town in Southern California and moved to Park City, Utah, before her high school years. This allowed her to meet people from every walk of life and gave her a better understanding of how a range of economic resources can shape a town.

She is a hopeful future journalist studying political science and communication who has found a passion for advocating for those who can’t in her writing. Nasser has had a love for reading and poetry from a young age, something she attributes to her mother who was an AP Literature teacher when she was growing up. 

As naive as it may sound to her, Nasser’s aspiration of working with the New York Times has been as prevalent as it was when she first saw the building at the age of 10. This goal of hers has not wavered — maybe this was due to her father buying her a subscription when she turned 15 or aunts and uncles allowing her to visit the building every year since she was 10, but she believes she will make it. 

At the University of Utah, Reede found her place within the Greek community. She belongs to Alpha Phi the Beta Sigma chapter. Within the community, she has found empowerment and support from her fellow Greek women. Joining this community has opened her up to leadership and community service opportunities. This has provided her access to stories of other amazing women, which have truly shaped her for the better.