So what's it like being a student in 2020? Whilst we're hearing a lot in the media about the impact of students on local infection rates and the small minority who break the rules its important to remember that behind the headlines a human beings.

I work full time in student support and have spoken to dozens of students since term began, listening to how they are feeling and linking them up with support. No two students are the same, but there are some themes.

Firstly- many students are lonely. One of the best things about university is the social interaction, but with local and national lockdown that is obviously lacking. Its hard to have an informal catch up with your friends in the corridor outside a lecture when the lectures online

Secondly- many students who struggle with their mental health are finding the isolation difficult. Many people with anxiety have found the lack of contact has made them more anxious about contact. Many people with depression have found that isolation can lead to low mood.

And thirdly - and perhaps most importantly - life hasn't stopped. I've spoken with students who have had family die, school friends die, whose family are terminally ill, who are estranged from their family, who are awaiting a disability diagnosis...

So what can we do to help them? Well, as our new Vice Chancellor @SEBuitendijk said so eloquently last week - let's treat them as adults. So last week I spoke with over 200 students and asked them what they'd like to see students and staff work on together this year.

Our student course reps will be identifying the priorities next week, but there are a couple of themes showing already.

Firstly, students have lots of ideas for social activities that they would like to see. We're going to support them to get these set up so that they can keep connected to students and staff in the school (a bit like the excellent work @Law_Leeds and @Parkendlydia have been doing)

Secondly, students made a number of suggestions for how hybrid & digital teaching could help improved. We've acknowledged from day 1 that we're doing a lot of things for the first time and that we'll need to reflect on them with students (who are experts at being students!)

And thirdly, students are thinking about what happens when they graduate - the skills and knowledge they will need to succeed in an uncertain and shifting jobs market. Many of the students I work with hope to work in the arts sector, and they want to be ready to build back better

Whilst I work with students every day, I will never truly understand what it means to be a student in 2020. But I do know that the best thing we can do to support students is to treat them with respect, work together, and learn from each other.