Reety Erwin
Class of 2021 | Public Relations | Tulsa, Oklahoma/Chittagong, Bangladesh
Transitioning to an online platform has not been the easiest, and I doubt that I am alone in thinking that. However, realizing the fact that I miss my college campus helps me understand how privileged I am to be able to attend a university worth missing. The way OU has responded to the changes brought by COVID-19 with transparency and empathy made me even more proud to call this place home.
Thankfully, I am not alone in this transition. Along with my classmates, my professors have worked hard to make every part of their courses accessible and understandable. Like other universities around the world, we have transitioned to video-based classrooms, but our professors are the reason we are continuing to succeed as students. Every week, my professors check in on me, not only because I am one of their students but because I am a human being they care for. Faculty across this campus understand that for many students, this transition can mean anything from staying back at their apartment to having to move thousands of miles back home. Since each circumstance is so unique and I’m grateful that our administration hasn’t created a “one-plan-fits-all” solution.
As a student in the Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, I am used to learning through the different experiences and hands-on curriculum that is provided on campus. When we could no longer continue having classes on campus, the college adapted. Instead of reducing the quality of our education fade because of the circumstances, my professors made our learning even more personal. By pushing us to see all the ways we can learn about the world right now, all Gaylord students are more able to see how their disciplines fill important roles in the real world and how to adapt to crises.
“I consider myself extremely lucky that 18-year-old me chose OU."
- Reety Erwin
For example, I am in a course called Search Engine Marketing and we learn all the ways Google advertising works with my major, public relations. We found out that half a semester of planning a campaign for our partnering nonprofit would no longer work because of the international circumstance. Instead of letting my group give up, my professor helped us adapt every factor of our campaign simply because we believed the cause was too important to give up on. While adapting complex plans over video calls and shareable documents is no easy task, I can say it feels a lot better to work harder rather than give up. And now our adapted campaign is running! Because of my college’s persistence, we can help a nonprofit’s cause and my team is on its way to being Google Advertisement Certified. I am proud to be walking away from this experience with a higher level of learning and a certification that boosts my ability to get hired.
I didn’t choose OU with a chance of a global pandemic on my mind, but I still feel like I made the correct choice. Honestly, I chose OU purely based on the fact that it would be a good source of education. My intentions were just to gain mentors, get involved with organizations that would help my future, and do all the right things that would help me get a job. Yes, OU helped me fulfill all those goals, but the extra perks like being able to build a rooted community, create a real “home away from home” and make me miss a cluster of buildings that have been the source of so much joy were not in my plan. I consider myself extremely lucky that 18-year-old me chose OU.
I’ll be honest, being able to wake up and “go” to class within the same few minutes is pretty cool. But I’d be willing to trade it all back just to sit out on our beautiful South Oval with my friends and laugh about all the different things in our lives. As a substitute, I video chat with all my friends for many hours every week. For us, school became the place for us to see each other and grow together. As hard as it is to believe, I just really miss school and I consider myself lucky to go somewhere that could make me so sad to leave!
I wish I could show you campus myself! As a tour guide, I love being able to show off my home to so many students who may choose to join my team. Choosing to attend the University of Oklahoma has been the best decision I have ever made, and I’m excited for you to make such a great choice for yourself. Even if you decide OU is not the school for you, I hope you find a place that feels so much like home and pours into you not just as a student but also a global citizen.
