1. Create Account
  2. Login
StudyUSA
Match Me
  • Create Account
  • Login
  • School Search
  • Resources
    • All Resources
    • Articles
    • Student Voices
    • Videos
    • Magazines
    • Podcasts
  • Services
    • All Services
    • Accommodation
    • Support
    • Career
    • Financial
    • Testing
    • Other
  • Apply
  • Chat

Coping Strategies for International Students During COVID-19

Coping Strategies for International Students During COVID-19

Apr 1, 2021

By Alejandra Salas

Without a doubt, college life can certainly feel overwhelming due to busy schedules and the stress that comes with classes, exams, assignments, and cultural adjustment; and as an international student, I have been aware that this is part of the college experience. Yet, when the beginning of the pandemic started, I felt that I had to re-adjust to the current situation. This was not easy at first since the whole world was trying to adapt to a virtual environment while staying at home, quarantining, and for us students, keeping up with studies. 

 

(Unsplash)

Since COVID-19 happened, I had difficulty coping with school while being away from my home country and my family. We, as humans, tend to care for ourselves but also feel the need to protect our loved ones. I say this because during quarantine I was stable and safe at Lake Tahoe, but my family was in my hometown of Lima, Peru, where my entire city was overexposed to the virus. During that time, I was taking online classes, adapting to the idea of staying at home and social isolation, yet I couldn't help myself with the concern of my family’s well-being and safety. This added more stress on my student life because I had to cope with fear, anxiety, and at the same time succeed in my classes, which I found quite tedious but not impossible to balance. 

  

(Unsplash) (Unsplash)

I know most international students had to deal with internships, work-study jobs, social life, family concerns, and financial difficulties, plus now with a worldwide pandemic which has made many feel stressed in different yet unexpected ways. Living in a new country and adapting to the current campus environment can be challenging and surely can affect your mental health. Therefore, here are some coping strategies based on my personal experience of how to address these difficult times. 

You’re not alone

First, embrace the fact that you are not the only one faced with anxiety; this can turn into strength once we realize we are not alone in this situation. The unknown can be exhausting and overwhelming, especially when some of your relatives got exposed to the COVID-19 virus. I found faith and resilience during this time by talking to my closest friends about my worries and expectations. Expressing your concerns will help balance your thoughts and release distress so you don’t fall into overthinking and jumping to shallow conclusions that only make it worse. If you find yourself worrying about online learning and your family’s safety, I will suggest keeping constant communication with your professors and letting them know about your situation. Keeping them updated regarding your academic progress will also help them apply a different approach. Remember: everything can be solved by maintaining good communication. 

Take advantage of available resources

Second, use the free student resources on campus. For example, Truckee Meadows Community College’s Counseling Center has an amazing staff of knowledgeable counselors to help you navigate personal and educational decisions throughout the semester. In many cultures and families, we are taught to “tough it out” and repress some feelings since it is a shield mechanism. Seeing a therapist or mental health counselor comes in handy when we are under unmanageable stress and can’t talk about certain problems with our friends. Talking to a counselor can help us redefine our goals and see more clearly through challenging times.

Overall, if you are a student and you think you might be experiencing mental health issues that are affecting your academic development, don’t hesitate to reach out to your campus counselor, peer mentors, and academic advisors, who will help you in any way possible. 

Especially during these times, I encourage you to stay connected with your loved ones, keep consistent exercise and find an adequate sleep schedule to keep your sanity. Embrace the situation and make the most of it! We are in constant learning, and this current situation will help us manage future events. Also, don’t forget to check the picture below for some bits of advice on how to avoid the blues during these challenging times! 

(Unsplash)


Alejandra Salas from Lima, Peru, is an architecture student and new International Peer Mentor at Truckee Meadows Community College. 

Follow us:
Written by

Alejandra Salas

Get matched to the best program for you

Let us know what you're looking for so we can find the best school for you.

Get matched
Call to action background image. Decorative.

Useful Articles

Main image for the blog post titled New Year, New Me…not!
New Year, New Me…not!
Main image for the blog post titled An Open Letter to Lycoming College
An Open Letter to Lycoming College
Main image for the blog post titled Learn to Protect Our Environment for a Living
Learn to Protect Our Environment for a Living
Main image for the blog post titled Learn English at Disney
Learn English at Disney
Read more

Check Out These Schools

Irvine Valley College

Irvine Valley College

$5,000—$10,000 Semester

Bachelor Degree 2yr/Community College - 2+2 Programs Certificate/Short Term
Contact
Gannon University

Gannon University

$5,000 - $25,000 Year

2yr/Community College - 2+2 Programs Masters Online
Contact
Georgetown University English Language Center

Georgetown University English Language Center

$1,000—$5,000 Semester

English Programs
Contact

Related Stories

Student blogger Indira - I Heart the USA

Main image for the article titled Student blogger Indira - I Heart the USA
Student Blogger Indira - The Nuts and Bolts of Transferring

Main image for the article titled Student Blogger Indira - The Nuts and Bolts of Transferring
Student blogger Indira - The Holiday Season in the U.S.

Main image for the article titled Student blogger Indira - The Holiday Season in the U.S.
From Student Blogger Indira: Interning in the U.S.

Main image for the article titled From Student Blogger Indira: Interning in the U.S.

Start your U.S. adventure with Study in the USA

What's your dream? We can guide, advise, and connect you with your perfect U.S. school. We can also help you with the application process.
More about us
Partner Services

Learn About U.S. education financing, housing, and more

Partner service logo for CORT Furniture Rental Student Packages

CORT Furniture Rental Student Packages

Most U.S. apartments come unfurnished. Make your move easy with a student furniture rental package from CORT. Flexible lease terms. Delivered before you arrive. Starting at $99 per month.* *with a 12-month lease

Read more
Partner service logo for Collegey

Collegey

Develop the portfolio and skills you need for your future! Embrace meaningful projects while collaborating with expert mentors and expanding your professional network.

Read more
Partner service logo for ELSA

ELSA

ELSA - World's Best English Pronunciation App. Speak English like a native speaker. Get instant feedback on your speech from proprietary artificial intelligence technology. Learn more. Get a 10% discount using code: StudyUSA

Read more

Testimonials

Quotation mark.

First of all the school is about to issue my I-20 for visa for the process. StudyUSA.com has helped me a lot when it comes to given out information on the happens at US schools the scholarship. StudyUSA.com encourages me on how USA schools help international students with plenty opportunities.

Kingsley Assan Ghana

It has informed me about the career advantage one will have from studying in the USA.

Tshegofatso Modiga South Africa

I think the rich database of schools has helped me find a lot of schools very fast.

Jian Zhou China

Resources

Learn about American culture and education direct from our experts at Study in the USA. Read more

Achieving Your Goal
Admissions and Placement Testing
Beyond the Basics
Education System in the USA
Financing Your U.S. Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Life in the USA
Resources
Student Experiences
For students age 10-18
Study in Canada
Podcasts
Magazines
Videos
Student Voices
Ask StudyUSA.com

Subscribe to get the latest from Study in the USA

You can unsubscribe at any time.


StudyUSA
Explore

  • School Search
  • Resources
  •   Articles
  •   Student Voices
  •   Videos
  •   Magazines
  • Partner Services
  •   Accommodation
  •   Career
  •   Financial
  •   Other
  •   Support
  •   Testing
  • Apply
  • Chat
Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Course Index
  • Article Index
  • Create account
  • Sign in
  • For Educators & Institutions
Match Me
  • English
    English العربيـة Español Français Bahasa Indonesia 日本語 한국어 Português Русский ภาษาไทย Türkçe Tiếng Việt 简体中文 繁體中文

  • Privacy & Policy
  • /
  • Terms

Study in the USA logo

© 2023 Study in the USA. All Rights Reserved.

Global Study logo
A member of the Global Study network

When you visit or interact with our sites, services or tools, we or our authorised service providers may use cookies for storing information to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for marketing purposes.