This material was written by a Dallas College licensed counselor. All views expressed in this piece are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dallas College.

We hear all the time that we need to plan! Plan for the career you want. Plan your course of study. Plan your pathway. Plan your semester. Plan your week. Plan your day. That’s a lot of planning!

At the same time, our society has seldom been less sure about important things. If folks in charge aren’t sure what to do or how to proceed, how are we supposed to know?

We do know that uncertainly can lead to anxiety. So, not only are we faced with lots of uncertainty as to how and when society, business and college will eventually move past this pandemic, we now have to make plans in the middle of all that uncertainty?

Let’s talk about planning.

Online Classes and How To Do Them Better

• Be honest with yourself: How well do you do online classes? What resources are available to help you with your classes?
• Do you need extra time to do online classes? How can you make that extra time?
• Do you have the internet connection and computer capability at home to do online classes well? If you don’t, are there ways for you to access them?
• Do you have the space and privacy at home to do online classes? If not, how could you get those for yourself?
• Do you have the self-discipline to keep yourself on track? How could you find help to do that?

Feeling Frustrated Because of Online Classes and the Pandemic

• This is your schedule, and you can change it — you are in control of that!
• Unforeseen circumstances can affect plans. Success is often more about how you react and adapt to changes vs. having a great original plan. Can you adapt?
• Take advice from Charles Darwin, who said that it is not the strongest of the species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.
• Do not compare yourself to others in your family, your friends, folks you went to high school with or people your age. Remember that their situations and life challenges have not been the same as yours.
• Everyone is frustrated right now. No one is getting what they thought they would six months ago. Those who succeed will be those who adapt.

How Can You Be as Successful as Possible This Semester?

• What are your personal challenges?
• What are the resources available to you?
• How can you put together a plan that puts your timetable and resources together and then execute that plan?

Still feel like you need some help addressing the points above? A great place to start would be with your academic advisor, TRIO staff or Office of Student Life staff. They’re here to help and will introduce you to all the great resources Dallas College has for you (including the counseling staff listed below).

Planning amid uncertainty is tough! The good news is you can do it if you take a minute, take a breath and take charge of your situation. And, Dallas College will help.

Written by Dr. Jesse Gonzalez, personal counselor at Dallas College

Dallas College Online Counseling for Students

Our professional counselors are here for you! As a Dallas College student, did you know you can meet with a counselor for a virtual one-on-one session — for free?

Currently enrolled students can set up a virtual meeting through a safe and secure Webex link. To get started, all you must do is simply contact your campus Counseling Center. From there, a member of your campus Counseling Center team will walk you through the necessary pre-appointment procedure.

Contact your certified campus counselor

Please note: If you are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call 911 or visit the nearest hospital emergency room rather than requesting an online counseling session.

Community Mental Health Resources Available in Our Area

• North Texas Behavioral Health Authority can help pay for community psychiatric, mental health and substance abuse services — please call 214-366-9407.
• Suicide and Crisis Center of North Texas — please call 214-828-1000.
• National Veterans Crisis Line — please call 800-273-8255 and press 1.
• National Domestic Violence Hotline —please call 800-799-7233.
• National Sexual Assault Hotline — please call 800-656-4673.
• Message 741741 from anywhere in the United States to text with a trained crisis counselor. Heads up — standard messaging rates may apply.

It’s okay to say. If you see something that could be helpful to someone else, spread the word and share this information. Even if you’re not dealing with a specific mental health issue, chances are someone you know is.