'Out of the Mouths of Babes': What Students Are Saying about the Impact of COVID

Purpose: This study was driven by the interest of public health students in learning how COVID-19 has impacted student life. Specifically examined were students' experiences and preferences with modes of education during the pandemic, influence of COVID on students' mental and physical health, impact on employment and future careers, and thoughts on vaccinations and mask mandates. Methods: Both quantitative and qualitative data was collected through survey research. A total of 375 students at a mid-size liberal arts institution on the east coast participated. Results: Data indicates above average attitudes towards mask and vaccination mandates, slightly higher level of agreement of vaccination's efficacy, but a lower-than-average agreement that legal action should be taken for those out of compliance. Politics and social media play a role in people's knowledge and attitudes related to COVID. Data also reveals that majority reported their GPA remained the same and that students took three times the number of courses on-line as face-to-face, but preferred face-to face more than on-line. Descriptive statistics reveal students are more satisfied with their face-to-face courses than on-line, and distractions with on-line courses were fairly high. Students reported a fairly high level when asked if COVID impacted their education negatively. Additionally, students reported COVID impacted their mental health but not necessarily their physical health. For employed students, less than one-fifth had opportunities to work at home, while the majority did not work from home. Participants neither agree nor disagree that COVID impacted future career decisions. Conclusion: Implications, limitations, and future research are addressed at the conclusion of the study.