Most people do not think about getting sick until they begin experiencing symptoms during their daily routine, such as a stuffy nose, constant sneezing, or a scratchy throat while sitting in class. You reach into your backpack, only to find three old pens and no tissues. Suddenly, all you can think about is how much longer you have to make it through class.
Between classes, work, and other responsibilities, preparing for cold and flu season can easily slip your mind. Taking a few simple steps to stay prepared can make your time on campus more comfortable, keep you feeling your best throughout the semester, and help reduce the spread of illness.
The best place to start would be buying tissues, along with hand sanitizer and a clean face mask. All these things take a minimal amount of space in your backpack and can be stored easily. Make sure to keep the items where you will be able to access them quickly. Preferably, somewhere other than the pens and chargers in the bottom of one of the pockets. In case of coughing and sneezing, cover your mouth with your elbow and use a tissue, then throw it away after you are done.
Monmouth will conduct its last clinic offering influenza and COVID-19 vaccines for the current season on Wednesday, November 11, between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m., in the Anacon A, which is on the second floor of the Stafford Student Center. The vaccines will be provided by the CVS Pharmacy. You can make your booking through the QR code on the flyer attached to Nov. 9 campus email.
The hardest thing about being ill in college is having to look into the calendar and see a quiz, group presentation and a work shift in there for one day. In case you feel sick, you should skip attending the lectures and classes, informing the teacher about your condition in advance via email. In case there is going to be a group project during that day, inform them which slides or notes you can send for them to be prepared for the discussion.
The same applies to the commuters, it can be difficult, once you arrive at campus and find a place to park your car. However, after you become increasingly ill by lunchtime, it is advisable to find out which of the events can be rescheduled for the following day and go home. One additional trip to the campus can prove to be easier to manage in a week than to come now.
Inform your roommate that you are ill, keep your cups separate, opening a window in the room if possible and transferring your study sessions to the online environment would be yet another way to prevent spreading your illness.
On the sick day, give yourself enough time to rest properly. Take a new water bottle with you, grab easy-to-eat foods and go home to sleep. Text a classmate regarding what you had missed during class can save you from having to check the course page frequently. Once your condition begins to improve, you can start your homework assignments with the first due date and continue the others.
In case one of your friends feels ill, sending them the notes or informing them about the upcoming task will take just a few minutes. This would make your friend return to the class more easily after the hard week.
Next time you pack your backpack, put the tissues in the pocket. You will appreciate your decision later.
