STUDENTS are in a crisis. These days they feel tired, sluggish and most of all hot. Combine that with the copious amounts of paperworks, study materials and requirements in school they are also overwhelmed and not in a good way.
As Manila falls into extreme humidity, that’s the sign the summer and El Nino season has already started and students are spending it inside universities or waiting for a transportation vehicle to take them to and from school.
How does it impact students?
Angelbhie Abar, a 3rd year student from the Lyceum of the Philippines University-Manila (LPU) spending her summer time in schools and having to commute is not an ideal situation to be in as it affects both her mental and physical health.
“The heat affects me in a way na hindi ako nakakapag-focus masyado sa pagaaral”, reiterating that because of the extreme heat it take away her drive to do anything. “Kapag ganitong mainit, lagi rin mainit ulo ko,” Abar added.
Her productivity is also compromised, “There’s a tendency na tatamarin ako gumawa ng kahit ano, whether it be face-to-face classes or online,” she said.
As for her physical health, Abar experiences headaches and even flu, “Ngayon na El Nino, iba yung lapat ng init sa balat, nakakapaso talaga and masakit sya sa ulo tapos kapag pumasok naman ako sa campus malamig naman,” the changes in temperatures she feels everyday has caused her to come down with a flu.
Meanwhile, Alexandra Uy , a 4th year student at Polytechnic University of the Philippines, being in school while the sun is shining at an ungodly temperature pulls her focus on her classes. Uy is one of the 40 students that is cramped inside a classroom running on just two electric fans, “The heat adds disturbance to each of us,” she said.
Uy resides in Laguna where the sun rarely shines “The [heat] is not the only weather I’m dealing with”, the shift from rainy to summer is one of the problems she faces every time. Her transportation going to Manila is another thing. She described it as a “crisis” because of the weather, the hotter it is, the more people flock to buses for relief from the heat.
Just like Abar and Uy, Roshenna Rapada, a fourth-year student at a state university experiences bouts of irritation when exposed to the heat for a long time since she uses public transportation going to school, “[The] heat always makes me complain,” she stated.
Rapada also shared that sometimes she doesn’t feel motivated to commute or go to school because of the heat, “I sometimes do not want to deal with it”.
“It affects my productivity,” Rapada said that with dealing with the heat, studying and deadlines it sometimes becomes too much for her to handle.
How do they manage?
Lots of adjustments. That’s what these students do in order to stay on top of their game in their academics and beat the heat crisis.
Abar, Uy and [roshenna] never go to school without their essentials as it helps them ease the effects of the heat even just by a little bit. Umbrella, handkerchiefs, fans and towels are a must.
For Abar, classes finish early therefore she’s out the classroom by around afternoon, in which the sun is at its peak, “Minsan nagpapalate na lang ako umuwi kase ayokong maglakad sa arawan,” a risk she’s willing to take instead of putting herself through that heat.
Uy on the other hand described her experience as something she just has to accept, “I just really have to deal with the scorching heat na lang talaga” she said.
As for Rapada, staying at home or indoors is how she mostly deals with the high temperature, “I do not go out if there’s nothing important to do outside,” she shared.
Reprieve
Abar’s break from the heat starts with a freshly washed polo shirt (her school uniform) “Helpful for me na bagong laba yung suot kong uniform kase for me parang nalamigan na siya from washing,” she even added that wearing shoes that are more breathable helps with the heat.
As for Uy, her essentials and tumbler filled with ice cold water keeps her hydrated and boosts her moods to get through a hot summer day.
“[Frequently] drinking cold water [is the key],” Rapada shared that it is the only way for her to prevent being too hot or dehydrated during the hot season.
What can Universities consider?
Adjusting to the heat can not only be from student’s efforts, universities or schools should have some measures as well.
Abar suggested that dropping the uniform policy for a while would be mean a lot, “Makapal [kasi] yung material ng uniform so nagdagdagan yung init sa katawan,” she said.
As for Uy, that her university should think about investing in more ventilation equipment like more electric fans, “They could allot budgets for that if air-conditions are not possible”.
Being sustainable also helps with the heat, “Prevent cutting of trees inside the campus as it helps to produce oxygen,” she said.
“Shifting to online classes would be a better option,” Rapada suggested that universities can consider modifying the class schedules to online for the time being since being exposed to the high temperature is disturbing and might be risky for anyone’s health.
