We are online while hanging out with friends, working and studying. The amount of time we spend in digital spaces requires us to contemplate what the effects of it are. Studying online can be a freeing experience that allows us to better combine work, family and studying. On the other hand, it can lead to loneliness, alienation and disturbances in identity. We asked our fellow online students about their identity and the experience of belonging to a student community. Our mission was to see whether our experience of feeling like a “fake” student and not belonging to a student community might resonate with others.
“When I started my online studies last August, I decided not to engage with the student community. I didn’t plan to buy student coveralls or attend events, thinking they weren’t for online students and that I wasn’t a “real” student. My focus was solely on earning my degree.
However, within weeks, I realized I would regret that decision later in life and didn’t want to spend the next three years feeling isolated. Since then, I’ve participated in various student events, and I’m glad I changed my mind. The sense of belonging and community has been a great asset during challenging times.”
“When I started my studies in fall 2024, my goal was to focus and graduate quickly. However, meeting a fellow student changed that. We’ve attended student activities together, and I got involved in student activism. Next fall, I’ll be a tutor. I even bought coveralls and started collecting patches.
Despite this, I often feel like an outsider in the student community, like a “fake student.” At events, most attendees come with friends from their programs, while we’re often the only ones from ours. It’s rare to find online students who actively participate.”
“I feel like I am primarily working and just studying a bit for fun in my free time. Honestly, I don’t quite feel like a student. Perhaps, it is because I have already had my experience of regular student life, and my priorities are different now. My identity is more based on work and social life outside the student community.
Sometimes, I wonder if I am missing out on something important. I don’t meet other students face-to-face. Sure, I have a social life of my own, but isn’t studying supposed to be a time to make new connections and experiences?”
Our fellow online students seem to think the same. Many say that they don’t necessarily long for belonging to a student community. They have family, work and friends outside their studies and their identity is based more on those things. Yet, there are online students who need a community. They want to be part of a larger group of students and gain experiences together through events and activities. Some feel like their effort is downplayed and their identity questioned because studying online is not seen as proper way to study as other forms of studying.
Being a student is about acquiring study credits, doing assignments and attending lectures. Equally, it’s about constructing an identity and belonging to a group of students. Belonging to a student community helps people to stay motivated and engaged in their studies. Studying, no matter if it’s online, is an experience that we share with people in the same position as us. It’s shared joy about an interesting assignment or an upcoming event, nervousness about exam results and hopefulness regarding one’s career after graduating. Despite their form of studying, every student has a need to engage with other students in a meaningful way. That’s just part of being a human.
Suurin osa Showcasen blogeista on toteutettu osana Laurean opintojaksoja. Koko koulutustarjontaamme voi tutustua nettisivuillamme. Tarjoamme kymmenien tutkintoon johtavien koulutuksien lisäksi myös paljon täydennys- ja erikoistumiskoulutuksia sekä yksittäisiä opintojaksoja avoimen AMK:n kautta!