In-person learning rejuvenates students as midterms approach

By Liv Collom

As the halfway point of fall quarter approaches, many students can expect to see their academic, extracurricular and social commitments increase. While burnout may seem inevitable, some have noticed an increased motivation to study with the return of in-person instruction, eager to take advantage of the first quarter back in nearly two years.  

For first-year students, the shift coincides with the start of a new chapter of their academic life. Business freshman Addie Rhee welcomes the change of being back in a classroom after spending a significant portion of high school behind a computer screen.  

“It’s been a really nice transition because my high school classes were all on Zoom,” Rhee said. “It’s fun to learn again.” 

With a pre-pandemic campus now a distant memory, seasoned Mustangs have also taken advantage of their return to Cal Poly. Some upper-division students say the move to in-person learning has given them a motivation to diversify their coursework. Computer science junior Paul Soetart took on two minors this year, computing for interactive arts and philosophy. 

“My classes so far have been refreshing, and I’m enjoying all of them,” Soetart said. “I’m invested in both my minor classes that I have going for me. I added those minors because I’m interested in them.”  

Being physically surrounded by classmates may be the secret to this newfound academic zeal in many students. 

“I’m getting an opportunity that a lot of people at other colleges or even at Cal Poly aren’t getting by having all my classes in person,” journalism sophomore Eden-Rose Baker said.