Title image credit: @versaceehottie

Becoming a senior in a Covid19 reality has introduced a lot stress. Since my university (and others') shut down for quarantine, there has been a mass of scattered thoughts overcrowding a lot of students' minds, including my own, that have been difficult to manage. But, I'm not here to get you down. I'm here to help.

To cope, I've found comfort in the belief that the "real world" gives you topics and subjects to think about through lived experiences, while school gives you the frameworks to organize the thoughts sprouted from those adventures. With the "real world" shut down, I was floating around for a while -- at a loss for inspiration. I've since realized that although school has closed its doors for the time being, the learning doesn't need to stop. I needed to construct my own "in-home school" so that I continue to reap the benefits of conceptual organization. I adore spontaneity and robust adventures just as much as the next woman, but a little structure every now and then can do wonders to calm unrelenting nerves, center thoughts, and reveal opportunities.

Since COVID started and we’ve been regulated to quarantining at home, these have been the resources I’ve sought out to keep my wits about me and my mind sharp. Hopefully, they can help you too.

• Free webinars

  Thankfully, free webinars have become available all across the internet and curating our own in-home curriculums just got a lot easier! If you haven’t already, make a LinkedIn account and follow companies that interest you. Sure, the Fortune 500s are great and all, but pay special attention to the smaller brands and industry professionals (many of which write helpful and interesting weekly newsletters), they tend to be way more customer service oriented and willing to offer free resources. I also recommend subscribing to newsletters from websites that interest you. For me, this includes: xoNecole.com, OMNoire, Forté Foundation, Travel Noire, and more… Many of these include intriguing insights and invitations to free webinars. Eventbrite also offers notifications for virtual webinars.

• Online courses

  Companies like Masterclass and Coursera have made learning easy with easy-to-follow online courses taught by industry professionals. How great would it be to greet the post-Covid job market with an online certfication?! Don’t let their price tags deter you. I’ve been watching my coins just like everyone else, but I’ve also been sure to be creative. Band some friends together and share an account or stay on top of these companies’ social media accounts and pay attention to their sale announcements. There is always a way!

• YouTube

  YouTube offers a plethora of information. I am actually convinced that the only benefit of going to college is the network of people you are exposed to. Everything else is available online. I highly recommend spending more time searching for YouTube content creators that interest you. Some of my favorite include: Black Love, Jubilee, Matt D’Avella, Shan Boody, Sorelle Amore, The Grapevine, The Skin Deep, TED, and Vice.

• IG Lives and IGTV

  Surprisingly enough, there are some stellar influencers out there that share their know how for free via their Instagram platforms. Pay close attention to which of your favorite accounts are releasing notices of upcoming IG Lives. Sometimes, they offer to answer audience questions so, come prepared.

• Free Documentaries

  With the help of Kanopy, I have been watching documentaries and independent films for free every week. I’ve set up two different accounts: one with my local public library as the sponsor, and the other with my university as the sponsor. Most everyone will have access to creating a free account and claiming their local public library and/or university as their sponsors to stream films for free.
  I hope that these five resources help you make the most of your time in quarantine.