My name is Alberto and I am starting the eighth semester of my Bachelor’s Degree in Agrogenomic Science in the ENES. The pandemic emphasized how scarcely updated in digital technologies professors are and also displayed the needs that many of us students have. These needs did not improve for everyone. Three days before the voluntary quarantine in Mexico due to COVID-19, I travelled abroad, to a work stay period in the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, in Peru. Right before the trip, the borders of that country closed, and I could not carry out my exchange. Upon my return to Mexico, I saw a very different scenario than what I was used to seeing. I didn’t know what my educational situation would be like, and I had no idea if I would be set back a semester of if I would continue normally. Luckily, I was able to take the corresponding subjects, finishing my semester in a proper and timely manner. In terms of my subjects, I didn’t learn much. My professors weren’t prepared, and many didn’t even know much about certain virtual technologies. Only the teacher that gave us Biology of Systems generated a different strategy to the others, providing a space of adequate and proper learning.

My seventh semester was not bad at all, and I even adapted quite well to the situation. I began with my social service and the subject of Investigation Work. I believe that my planning with my professor was key to not becoming overwhelmed with activities and giving the project the attention it needed. I was able to finish the semester with a thoroughly completed project, without any pressure and it was something I enjoyed quite a bit. I hope that this eighth semester, which is about to begin, is just as comforting and I learn plenty.

Now, about the outside of the educational sphere, I am a boy with diverse activities and interests, such as participating in social projects in the state of Guanajuato. The pandemic forced all the events and activities I participated in to shut down. Being at home in lockdown after a life of movement, in which I travelled up and down the city, caused a bit of confusion, fatigue and anxiety. Although I continue with my activities at a distance, I can no longer enjoy being in touch with people, seeing children be happy, teaching, carrying out all these activities. I don’t feel the same through a computer. I feel highly unmotivated to do all those things I used to do.

In my family, we have all been looking after ourselves as much as possible. My family runs a business, and I am the only child that studies, at the moment. As much as we would like to stay home, we can’t. For us there is no ‘Home Office’. If we don’t sell, we don’t eat. Unfortunately, for over five months we were unable to go out to work, since the government would have fined us and even sanctioned us in harsher ways. During those five months, there was no income and my father had to ask for several loans, which only sank us further into debt. After those five months we went back to work, but sales were scarce. We were not making enough to pay back our debts. Regarding health, we are a few of the lucky ones. We have not been infected and all our family members are healthy. Only my grandmother got infected, but it never went past a little flu.

All the students, teachers and other people related to science have different stories. This is mine.