Class of 2020: Amy Langton
Finishing university is a difficult time for any student. Our alumni usually continue with further study, go travelling, or find job opportunities. However, finishing university during Covid-19 has left the Class of 2020 with a very different experience of finishing their degrees. In our Class of 2020 series, recent alumni discuss the impact of Covid-19 on their studies and future plans.
Amy Langton Bio
From Skipton, Amy Langton attended York St John University to study Creative Writing and English Literature. Whilst at university, Amy was a member of the English Literature Society, becoming Charities Officer in second year. In her third year, Amy became Health and Safety Officer before stepping down to focus on her dissertation after Christmas.
In her second year, Amy was the vice-editorial director for the university anthology Beyond the Walls. The following year, her work was published in Beyond the Walls 2020 alongside other writers from the Class of 2020.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE MEMORY FROM YOUR TIME AT YSJ?
My favourite memory of my time at YSJ was probably the whole of my second year. I had some of the best nights out with my friends and I met some of the greatest people. I also massively enjoyed my modules too. My lecturers were brilliant and the subjects I studied have led me to enjoy things I may not have otherwise, such as poetry.
WAS THERE A MODULE YOU ENJOYED THE MOST IN YOUR THREE YEARS, AND WHY?
Revolution and Response in my second year was definitely my favourite module in the three years. As there weren’t many students on the module, it meant a number of us got really close and became really good friends, arranging nights out and a meal at the end of the semester. It also meant we were able to help each other with our assignments as we were all studying the same texts. The seminars we had for this module were really fun as we were all able to bounce ideas off each other and study the literature in a fun and friendly environment. This is also the module that helped me gain a love for eighteenth-century literature, specifically female poets of this era, which is what I ended up exploring within my dissertation.
WHEN CAMPUS CLOSED AND IT WAS ANNOUNCED TEACHING WOULD CONTINUE ONLINE, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?
My first reaction was probably annoyance, but then it was mostly shock. It was also very saddening because it was my third year. It meant I probably wouldn’t see a lot of my peers or lecturers again, or at least until graduation, which has now been postponed.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE FINISHING YOUR DEGREE DURING LOCKDOWN? DID YOU HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AND IF SO, DID ANYONE HELP YOU OVERCOME THEM?
Finishing my degree during lockdown was very strange. I was very lucky in that I was able to get home and be with my parents just before the lockdown, but having to do all my work on my dining table or my small desk in my room was very weird. Our last seminars were all online too which was very strange, as it didn’t truly feel like a seminar. It felt much harder to communicate on camera than in a room together. My main problem was talking over webcam; it was much more nerve-wracking than being in person. But once I finally spoke I realised how much easier it was than I thought it would be and I was proud of myself for getting over that hurdle.
Teaching online wasn’t always great. The seminars were at awkward times, such as when my parents got home from work, and I didn’t have a quiet environment to work in. Another problem I faced was getting resources for my dissertation. Due to the lockdown I wasn’t able to bring all my books home. We actually collected a lot of my stuff on the day lockdown was announced, meaning I had to scour the internet for e-books or new quotes if I couldn’t find them through the library. This created a lot more work for me, and a lot more hours sat at my table on a small laptop.
HOW DID YOU CELEBRATE HANDING IN YOUR FINAL ASSESSMENT?
In all honesty, I didn’t really celebrate it. Knowing me, I probably just sat down on the couch and watched something on TV with a cup of coffee. I can imagine if not for Covid, it may have been celebrated with a few of my course mates in York. It felt very anti-climactic also, as now I’d done the work, I had to wait for the results
WHAT ARE YOU DOING NOW, AND HAS COVID-19 AFFECTED YOUR PLANS?
In the holidays, my plans weren’t really effected too much. However, because of the lockdown I rediscovered my love for reading. I have since made a bookstagram which is the book side of Instagram, which I’m absolutely loving. I’ve met a complete range of people who all share a love for books, and everyone on there has been lovely. Around January of this year I applied to do a MA in September. I still plan on doing it, however the university is keeping track of the Covid-19 guidance from the government, so hopefully it still goes to plan!
You can follow Amy’s Bookstagram here.
Enjoyed this post? Keep an eye out for the next installment in our Class of 2020 series. Why not read Ethan’s post?
All images remain the property of their respective owners. Group image of English Literature Society 2019-2020 taken from their Instagram. Final image of books, including Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar, property of Amy Langton.
