Taking Control of Uncertainty

This is the time of year when we look ahead to the fall term. But our heads aren’t quite there yet, despite the back-to-school commercials, the mailings and e-mailings from college.

Some of us took a gap year, expecting life would be back to normal, and it isn’t. So you may be asking yourself what the effect of another gap year might be.

Even if we’re keen, there’s so much we just don’t know yet. What is this year going to look like? Will we be having in-person classes? Or is it a mix? Will I have to find a place to live closer to campus, and what will that cost? What are the rules for masks, vaccines, class size, distancing?  What about residence? Am I accepted? Not accepted? How soon will I know? What is the effect of Delta–what risks am I really taking for myself, for transmission to others? Are there accommodations for a disability that puts me at greater COVID risk? Can I continue online if I want to? What about the research I put off until it was more feasible?

Every campus has different answers to these questions. And the answers change from week to week. 

Every student, every professor, every administrator faces these questions and this uncertainty. It is tempting to just wait a little longer to see what shakes down–but that nagging feeling in the back of our heads wants some plan, some certainty. 

The cliché of plan for the worst, hope for the best is not a bad plan in the face of this kind of uncertainty. You can actually manage the effect that uncertainty and unexpected change have on your term.

Here’s how:

• Write out each question you have.
• List the alternative possibilities.
• Sketch out your plan for how you will deal with each possibility.
• Plan to cover as many alternative bases as you can. For example, if you have to move closer to campus and walk, get together with potential roommates and get a deposit down. At the same time, in case you can’t find a place and are going to commute, make sure your car is in running order and you have the proof you need to get a student bus pass.
• Generate alternative action plans.
• Draw to-do lists for different scenarios.
• Schedule your to-dos.
• There are some tasks that need to get done regardless. Enrol in your key courses. Make sure you have any documentation and medical appointments you need for accommodations. 
• Check your campus information board daily.
• Be prepared to change your plans or to add new scenarios. 
• Schedule your alternatives.
• Schedule time to review and manage fall opening.
• Schedule time for health and wellbeing. Schedule time for fun. 

Speaking of health and wellbeing, look after the single task that is the closest guarantee that you’ll complete the term in good health: If you haven’t already done it, get vaccinated!

We’ve done it before, we’ll do it again! Connect with me: [email protected]