There’s No Place Like Home, COVID-19 Turning Point

It’s no surprise that our nation, the world, is working together to battle the Coronavirus outbreak. As many colleges and high schools are beginning their spring breaks, the Coronavirus has thrown a wrench into many planned large gatherings or social events. President Trump has issued Coronavirus guidelines for Americans to follow in order to suppress the spread of COVID-19. Americans have been asked to become more socially vigilant, by avoiding social gatherings of groups of 10 or more. America is currently at an important turning point; your home is the place to be for us to defeat the COVID-19 monster. Looking for more COVID-19 student-impact information? Find it here. In addition to the limitation on group sizes, President Trump and the Coronavirus task force have recommended schools to close as well. American’s are shocked, some scared—High school and college students and their parents are wondering what they can do while stuck at home; positively using their time, rather than filling it with stress or anxiety. Americans have only just begun the advised, 15-day social avoidance guidelines. Already bored, you may have asked yourself: What can I do while stuck at home? How can I minimize my anxiety related to the Coronavirus pandemic? Our suggestion is to make the best of it! Here are five ways you can make the best of the COVID-19, social-distancing at home.

Apply for Scholarships

We cannot say this enough here at Fastweb.com—the more scholarships you apply for the better your chances at earning scholarships. As travel has been suspended, now’s a great time to apply for scholarships. Take one hour from each day to apply for one scholarship. Get this, in the next two weeks you will have applied for at least 15 scholarships!! If you’re done before your hour goal, apply for another scholarship. Use the remainder of your day to get outside to enjoy a walk. Below are scholarship lists we’ve put together to make applying for scholarships simpler. • Get Lucky with Scholarships • 10+ College Scholarships You Can Apply for Today • College Scholarships: 2020 Edition • Scholarships for College Students

Sign Up and Take Free Certifications

It always seems hard to find the extra time to work on professional development, but here we are with a few weeks of nothing but time. There are many FREE certifications (some very weird and fun) out there you should look into. Here are four certification sources you should investigate while stuck at home: • Google Digital Garage • Hubspot Academy • Codecademy • Alison Many of these certifications you can add to your resume or personal statement. Parents: You may want to research these free certifications to help you advance your career.

Begin Your Summer Internship, Part Time or Work From Home Job Search

While the U.S. economy is currently dire, companies are going to be desperate for employees and extra help here soon. Now’s the time to start applying for your summer internship! Check out these lists below: • 50+ Exciting Summer Internships for College Students & Grad Students • College Internships: 2020 Edition Working from home seems like a great idea too due to the current pandemic. Here are some part-time, work from home jobs you may not have thought about.

Update Your Resume or Personal Statement

Have your resume and/or personal ready to go. You’ll use one or both pieces in many ways, including applying for summer jobs and/or internships! This will help you avoid any time-consuming mass overhauls in the future. Once you’ve updated your resume, be sure to use Monster’s FREE resume assessment.

Practice Your Interviewing Skills

While you’re practicing social distancing, you can use videoconferencing to digitally reach out to an old friend, but why not practice your interviewing skills too?! From Marco Polo and Facebook Messenger, to Skype and FaceTime, this CNET article details seven free ways to connect.

Brighter Days Are Coming

Your grocery store shelves may be depleted, Disney Parks have closed, McDonalds’ dining-room lobbies are closed, your spring break vacation may have been canceled... Life seems to be on the gloomy side, but remember every storm runs out of rain—sunny days are ahead. It’s important to give yourself grace; many Americans, of all generations, are feeling the emotional lows of this situation—you’re not alone. While embracing our new way of life for the next few weeks, know we will get through this historic public-health crisis, together. If you have a topic you’d like to see or hear from our Fastweb editors, please drop us a note in the comments section of this article. We’re happy to help out however we can!