Possibility of a return to in class learning gives sigh of relief to UNBC student

Provincial Health Officer,  Dr.Bonnie Henry announced on Monday that all public Post Secondary institutions in BC should prepare for a full return to on-campus education next fall.

According to Sage Meyers, a second-year Environmental Engineering student and member of the Timberwolves women’s soccer team at UNBC, that was the ‘best news she’s ever read’.

“When the switch was made, I was in some pretty intense physics, calculus and chemistry classes,” she explained, “and they required a lot of teamwork and engagement with the professor so it was really tricky.”

The absence of lab classes made chemistry particularly difficult, as she and her classmates were unable to physically see reactions and chemistry work.

“However, for the classes that I like to go to, it’s not so bad but the ones that I dread are the ones I’m having a harder time in,” Meyers explained.

The cancellation of Timberwolve’s soccer season was the most difficult part of the COVID-19 pandemic, as Meyers’ soccer career was stopped in its tracks.

In August of 2019, Meyers blew her knee out and was about one-third of the way through her physical rehabilitation when physiotherapy centres were shut down in BC.

“That was really hard and then when the season got cancelled this year it was just devastating for me because that was when I was supposed to come back and start training,” she stated.

Meyers funds her own education, and being that she isn’t from Prince George, she couldn’t afford to move back to the Northern Capital with just online learning available.

Next year she will be transferring to UBC as the Environmental Engineering program is joint with UNBC.

“I’m so excited just to have interaction with friends and even being able to go to a library and study with people in my program,” Meyers explained, “some people say online learning is easier and that’s fair but I would 100% take the extra challenge and be able to see my friends.”