Staying Connected During Times of Uncertainty
Posted April 16, 2020
I, like many of you, have faced a lot of uncertainty lately. From the commotion of school moving online and people figuring out what life now looks like temporarily...this time can cause us to feel alone and overwhelmed.
However, we don’t have to feel so alone right now. There are a lot of platforms to visit and things to do to keep us plugged in with one another.
- Zoom Calls or FaceTime
Most of us students may have a professor or a job that requires us to participate in a virtual Zoom calls so we stay plugged in, but this free platform is available for anyone to use. It is compatible with all devices, so if you do not have the same phone as a friend you’d like to stay in touch with, this might be a good option for you. If you are an SIUE student or alum, we even have specially made SIUE Zoom backgrounds free to download.
- Email
Emails are an important way to communicate with your professors, talk with friends, and connect with your fellow coworkers.
- iPhone Games
If you are starting to feel a little bored at home, and you and a friend both have iPhones, you can download an app onto your keyboard called Game Pigeon. There, you can play all sorts of games like 8-ball, basketball, archery, darts and more.
- Netflix party
This extension is perfect if you want to have a movie night with your friends, but can’t all be together. Basically, you make an account on netflixparty.com, and hit the ‘install Netflix Party’ tab. It shows a list of directions on how to add the extension and watch with friends. You can comment about the show in your Netflix Party, and even send one another Gifs and screenshots, too.
I hope that a couple of these virtual options will benefit you, your friends and your family during this time. While we all adjust to this lifestyle on a temporary basis, remaining connected to those around us is important.
Author: Jessi Peters, sophomore, mass communications major
