As COVID-19 continues to impact lives around the world, academics everywhere are searching for answers to unprecedented times.

COVID-19 has robbed students around the world of some of the greatest times of their lives but a certain group of academics will miss more time than anyone else.

The quarter system is treated like a trimester during the school year, with a 10-week fall, winter and spring quarter. There is also a summer quarter available when students can take one class to get extra credits.

Tim Donald, who is an Economics major at the University of Oregon explained that the stay at home order came at a weird time as it was implemented during his winter quarter finals week. “I was exempt from 2 of my finals just because of the virus so that was nice but it meant that spring quarter was entirely online.” Donald reiterated that being home for an entire quarter would put him at a disadvantage because some resources from campus would be available for him.

Donald said it has been a hard transition for him. Donald said a difficult thing for him was that he is, “Not sure when [he] will be able to go back to Eugene to get [his] entire wardrobe.” “I also have been paying rent for basically no reason and my other 3 roommates are also at their family home so the house is unattended.”

Having an entire quarter online was not what Donald had in mind and, “It is just unfortunate that [he has] to take these classes online.”

Quarter system students lost 10-12 weeks of school opposed to semester student who are missing 6 weeks.

These students are also at a disadvantage because they are starting heir classes immediately online. They never got a chance to meet their respective teachers and get an idea of how the course will be.

Semester students were already in the groove of how their classes were going so the switch to online was not as dramatic.

“It helps a lot when I have friends around to help me through some classes and explain the material to me,” said Donald.

Kathy Escobedo is a political science advisor at UCLA who has been working from home for several weeks.

Escobedo said Zoom has become a way of life for her. “Zoom has been a great outlet for some human interaction and has been a useful way for me to get in touch with students and faculty.”

“It hasn’t been easy,” said Escobedo but, “We have been working diligently to ensure a smooth process for our Bruins for the rest of spring quarter and beyond.”

Rent payments have been a major issue for quarter system students along with canceled internships.

Jack Elliott, a business economics major at UCLA, had an internship with AlphaSights this summer in New York City.

AlphaSights is a company whose mission is to connect the world’s top professionals with the world’s best knowledge.

This internship is something Elliott was really looking forward to. “It was going to be a 12 week paid internship in New York and I had an apartment sub-leased already so I was ready to go,” said Elliott.

“I understand why it was canceled so I can’t be mad… Since it was canceled, AlphaSights did another interview process after the cancelation and told me I have a job with them after college,” said Elliott.

Another university that uses the quarter system is University of California Santa Barbara.

Trudy Padden is a junior psychology major who explained that she has been on campus for a total of 4 weeks her junior year. “I was studying abroad from the beginning of the school year until Christmas… I barely had any time to see my friends.”

When asked about her rent payments Padden said that it was by far her biggest issue right now.

“Isla Vista is not very cheap as you can imagine and seeing that money go to waste has been really hard on me and my family,” said Padden.

Padden said she had planned to quarantine in Isla Vista but that it was not realistic. Her family decided it was best to stay home.

Students in the quarter system have been impacted greatly by the coronavirus but they are not the only one suffering during this pandemic.

An article written by Beckie Supiano illustrates the impact Zoom has on the fatigue of certain individuals. She talked to a professor at UNC Wilmington who had an interesting view.

Kevin R. McClure, an associate professor of higher education at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, teaches hybrid classes. McClure explains a hardship for him is that he can’t rely on students’ body language or the feeling in the room to gauge their understanding. It’s hard to tell whose turn it is to talk, leading to a lot of awkward pauses. McClure thinks best when he’s literally on his feet. He misses being able to move around while he teaches.

Mike Peixoto is the undergrad coordinator for economics at the University of Oregon. Peixoto oversees hundreds of students and is challenged with keeping students afloat in unprecedented times.

Peixoto said the hardest part for him is not meeting his students in person at all. He explains that his job is done much better in person and when he can get a feel for how to accommodate each student.

Students and faculty at quarter system schools have been placed in a difficult predicament for the rest of the 2020 academic year.

“I am trying to be there for my students… I want to give them any feedback they need during this craziness,” said Escobedo.

A month and a half of the school year is still left and all personnel in the quarter system will proceed with online school and hopes of brighter days to come.

COVID -19 has impacted countless people around the world and still continues today as everyone is trying to do their part to flatten the curve.

A group of people impacted by this virus are seniors. Yes, seniors that are old in age but senior students too.

Senior year is supposed to be one of the best especially for high school students.

High school seniors will be missing out on their spring sport season, prom, graduation parties and their last memories with their friends before making a big change after gradaution whether that be a four year university or a different path.

Luke Hatfield, a senior at Newport Harbor High School, said, “I can’t really put it into words… I was supposed to be playing my last baseball season with my friends. I liked going to school because I wanted to be with everyone.”

“Video games are getting old quick and I don’t know if I’ll ever get the right send off with my friends,” said Hatfield.

Lauren Richter, who will be attending Ole Miss in the fall, said she is the most disappointed in the senior trips she had planned that can no longer happen. “I was supposed to go to Coachella and Cabo with my group of girlfriends as one of our last memories of high school and unfortunately that got cut short,” said Richter.

“I know the severity of this virus is growing daily but those were the trips I never imagined missing. It was something I had been looking forward to for a long time,” said Richter.

High school seniors have been cut short of their last memories but they are not the only class of students hit hard by the reality of coronavirus.

College seniors have been home for a month.

Away from their friends. Away from campus. At their family homes waiting it out like the rest of us.

“I never in my wildest dreams imagined this. I mean who could have ever believed something like this could happen?,” said senior Dylan Kaplan.

When asked what he would miss the most Kaplan said he would miss baseball season, his last fraternity formal and most of all the relationships he had formed at Ole Miss.

“I think about my freinds everyday,” said Kaplan. “I wish I could’ve been prepared for this but it would not have made it any easier.”

Abby Griffith said not only is she sad for her and her friends but sad for her parents as well. “My parents always talk about the day I will walk across the stage to get my degree and how proud they will be of me. It just sucks that it might not happen. It’s hard to think about,” said Griffith.

“I would do anything to be in class with my friends or even a class with nobody I know. Crazy for me to be saying that but this virus has made me grateful for so many things I took for granted,” said Griffith.

“I have learned a lot through this crazy time so I guess that’s a positive I can take away from this,” said Griffith.

As the spread of coronavirus continues, people of all ages have been faced with a multitude of adversities. Some big and some small but everyone has a different ways of coping with this drastic change.

People in my community, Newport Beach or at large Orange County, have discussed among friends and peers ways of dealing with boredom and social distancing as a whole.

Ed Eaton, who has lived in Newport Beach for over 25 years, said he found new things to do that he has never thought of doing before. “I have become a hiker,” he said. “I go out to El Moro every other day and hike all the trails they have there. It has been a great workout for me and something I have really never done before,” said Eaton. “Being outside in the fresh air has allowed me to free my mind of all the stress that has been draped over me the past couple of weeks.”

Finding new ways to workout since gyms have been closed all across the area has been an area of emphasis for locals and they have been trying to execute many forms of exercise while also practicing social distancing.

Cory Lang lives with her husband and two daughters and said that going on walks has become a part of her daily agenda since her job as a 4th grade teacher has been compromised due to the pandemic.

“I start every day with a walk around Balboa Island,” said Lang. “It’s so peaceful down there and a relaxing activity for me to do while also getting in my daily exercise.” Lang said she feels comfortable walking the island because it is easy to keep a distance from people and that there is no harm going on a little walk.

Walks and hikes have been a great way for citizens to stay active and some have picked up bike riding as well.

Trudy Padden, who is a junior as at the University of California Santa Barbara, said she has been riding the bike trails around the Back Bay for the first time in her life. “I have lived in Newport Beach my entire life but I have never gone on a bike ride on these trails and I have no reason why,” said Padden. “I love doing it so much now and I will definitely add it to my routine once all of this craziness is over.”

Most of the beaches have closed down to the public along the coast of Southern California but this mainly prohibits tourists not the locals.

Marc Annenberg, a resident of Newport Beach for the past 17 years, lives on the peninsula. His home is on the beach and he explained how grateful he was that he lives on the beach in these trying times.

“Living on the sand has been a blessing for me and I have got to access the beach with no problem from police or the lifeguards on duty. I have been able to surf every morning and that has taken a lot of stress off of me,” said Annenberg.

Annenberg said that he was surprised initially that the beaches were shut down but was relieved that it was not enforced on the locals and that they could still use the beach as a safe haven. He reiterated that surfing had become therapeutic for him and not just a fun activity.