Social Life in the New Norm

The emergence of COVID-19 has changed much of life as we know it. Gone are the days of handshakes and high-fives, social gatherings, parties and live events and countless other things that we took for granted. In times of social distancing, MBA students have had to adapt to new ways to keep in touch with each other. Students have taken advantage of the phone and internet to find creative ways to maintain a sense of community. Here are a few ways students are adapting to the new normal:

Happy Hours and Socials: While social gatherings may not take place anymore, rest assured, online happy hours and socials still take place regularly. Every week, cohorts meet together online to talk, share laughs and keep in touch. In times when people remain home all day, getting the chance to talk to friends is a great way to get away from all the chaos.

Live Music Events: For those students who crave going to live events, fear not, there is a solution. Many musicians and DJ’s are live streaming their music online. Students are able to join the fun online and connect with their favorite musicians together.

Games and Competition: It is true that sports leagues have taken a hiatus. Fear not, students have figured out ways to play games with each other and bring on the competition. Trivia, charades, bingo and many other fun games can be played online. True to style, competition still takes places between cohorts as student teams try to best each other to win prizes.

Movie Time: Movie theaters are closed and quite frankly, it doesn’t matter. With so many on-demand options out there, students have a variety of choices to be entertained. Online platforms are available that allow people to watch movies together. With options to video chat while watching movies, students are able to share laughs while they watch their favorite shows and movies. 

Phone Calls: Phone calls seem like a lost art. Since the advent of texting, nobody makes phone calls nowdays. With people having so much free time, phone calls are making a serious comeback. Students are making two-way and three-way calls with each other to connect and share their experiences. While it may not replace being there physically with each other, phone calls have become a great way to stay connected. 

–By Ashraf Khan. Khan is a 2020 MBA candidate and dean's fellow at Maryland Smith. He is originally from Potomac, Md., and worked as a civil engineer in the Washington, D.C., area prior to pursuing an MBA with a concentration in marketing.