Name: Jan Erica B. Joves
Course/Year/Section: BSMA 1-2
Subject: Purposive Communication
Professor: Mrs. Asuncion V. Gabasa
Building virtual relationship amidst pandemic
The pandemic is so powerful to change the world and the people in different
corners of it. It constantly gives dramatical impact to the way of living of people, including
the relationship with their families, friends, teachers, and community as a whole. Millions
of people have lost their jobs, making it more difficult for them to find the source of income
they need to meet their family's needs. Thousands of people need to sacrifice their lives
just to provide service to their communities. All of us have lost some, or even all, of what
were our traditional ways of interacting with other people, as we want to keep each other
safe from the coronavirus. This pandemic has indeed affected various aspects of our lives
especially our social life. Many of us have found ourselves having a huge adjustment in
losing face-to-face contact and being thrown into much distant interaction than usual.
However, many of us also found ourselves spending more time with our families or
relatives, which is good as it nurtures our connection with them.
As a student, it was really hard to cope with new normal. The lifestyle that I do
almost every day has gradually changed. Before, I'm used to wake up early so as not to
be late for class, after school there will be bonding moments or hang out with friends, the
jeep trips, and group activities meet ups wherein full of memories might be build. But now,
the laptop and mobile phone serve as the primary medium to have communication with
my new classmates, professors and friends, which led me into much closer contact than
usual. At first, it was really difficult to adapt adjustments on how I will connect myself to
my classmates who I have not yet seen in person and unfamiliar with their behaviors or
personalities. I also feel shy and uncomfortable in showing myself in screen and in sharing
some of my thoughts. But as I gradually adapt the new mode of learning, I also gradually
learn to socialize through online. The art of building connection with virtual people is
indeed challenging. Thus, I have some ways to nurture my relationship with other people
amidst pandemic. First, I become more personal, my classmates and I were shared our
common grounds and being personal can go a long way in relating my connections and
breaking down barriers in understanding and communication. Moreover, it also
strengthens mutual trust and gradually identifies each other’s behaviors, likes or dislikes.
Second, I become helpful, any kinds of help can act as a building block of virtual
relationships. Pandemic gives adverse effects to everyone especially to us, students, who
feel stress and worry because of role strain and difficulties in adapting new mode of
learning. Thus, simple acts like sending of words of encouragement and motivation to
each and everyone is a big help. Third, being myself, I am just expressing myself to them
and being honest and open. Lastly, I become more careful with every word I say to them.
Every people have different level of sensitivity and we don’t know that other words have
a different impact to them. Consequently, it is important to remember the quotation, “Think
before you click” because sometimes in virtual world there are some words or statements
that people misunderstand or do not explain properly. Thus, I always consider other’s
feelings before I send them a message or tell them something.
My ways of socialization may have changed in today’s era caused by pandemic.
However, there is a technology which is a big help because it serves as a bridge that
connects me to other people even if they are far away from me and especially today that
I need to keep distance from them to keep safe from coronavirus. As this pandemic
continuously spreading, I am becoming more accustomed in building virtual relationships.
Consequently, I need to practice more various ways on how I will build virtual connections
efficiently and effectively. With dramatical effect of pandemic, this is not a natural process
of socialization for me, even for everyone. But through transitioning from face-to-face
contact to the online world, I can gradually grow my virtual network into one filled with
valuable relationships.