Though for the well-being of the public, Garcia and many other Sacramento State students are no longer able to fully live the college experience. It has truly impacted her personally and academically as she can no longer utilize campus resources such as the WELL. “Personally, this pandemic has created a stressful environment because I am unsure of what tomorrow holds or the day after that,” quoted Garcia.
Before the sudden rise of the pandemic, Garcia’s responsibilities consisted of managing the front desk. At the front desk, she not only welcomed students into the EOP space, but she also helped with scheduling advising appointments and guided them to the proper department according to their needs. Aside from interacting with students, she would also collaborate with the EOP staff for upcoming projects they needed help with. Garcia says, “The best part of my position was being able to interact with students on a daily basis and help them in any way possible, but because of COVID-19 I am now engaging with students online instead. I find it hard to have that one-on-one interaction."
Even though Garcia doesn’t have the opportunity to meet with students in-person, she noticed that the engagement of students has increased on their social media presence after the outbreak of COVID-19. Students now rely on the program even more for updates, communication, and a platform that provides a positive virtual environment.
Someone who made Garcia’s transition easier from working at the office to working at home was her trusted supervisor, Alejandra Franco. She tells Garcia how she has been very flexible and quick to adjust to her environment. Franco has also commented on her admirable ability to balance work obligations and school academics all while being at home.
New strategies that EOP intends to incorporate into their program are providing counselors via zoom for students. There will also be revised drop-in hours for each counselor and last-minute scheduling. EOP commits to assisting the Sacramento State population whether it is in person or online. They are here to help students thrive and adjust to our new normal.
Written by Ayra Nunez '21