UMass Spotlight Webinar Series is a 30-minute virtual program for prospective students, held each Wednesday. Led by UMass Amherst admissions counselors and campus partners, our webinar will allow you to receive first-hand experience and information about the UMass campus and its community.

“I am an early childhood education major and it is something that I have known I have wanted to do all my life,” Julia says. She tells me about how she has worked at the after school program at the elementary school in her town since the beginning of high school, has babysat since she was 13 and nannied for 3 young girls this past summer. “Working with kids is one of the most rewarding things for me and I absolutely love it and I can’t wait to have a classroom of my own one day,” Julia adds.

I first learned about the American Revolution in third grade. It was reintroduced to the curriculum in fifth grade, and again in seventh. By the time we covered the same concept in tenth grade U.S. History, I learned that the saying was, quite literally, true: history does indeed repeat itself. During my whole academic career, I hadn't yet had a course, or even one class session that I could relate to my identity as a Filipino American.

For many of us here at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, this is our first entirely remote semester, which could be a significant adjustment for students who are accustomed to traditional face to face learning. You may not have been prepared to turn your living space into your workspace for this entire semester. Suddenly your bedroom, dining room, or even your kitchen has turned into your new classroom and workspace, which can be a rough adjustment especially if you are living with other people who have completely different schedules.

To help make this new normal a bit more manageable, here are four tips for working remotely that will make your experience this semester less stressful and more productive.