The pandemic has been difficult both for international students living away from loved ones and those far from their institutions wondering about interruptions to their programs or research. (Matese Fields/Unsplash)
International students can harness emotional intelligence to manage stress associated with COVID-19 challenges, writes Rakha Zabin, a Brock University PhD student. The author explains that international students face additional challenges such as border closures, visa and graduation status, and decreased practical training opportunities, and that international students should receive better institutional support to deal with pandemic-related challenges. Zabin adds that international students can use aspects of emotional intelligence – self-awareness, self-regulation, social skills, empathy, and motivation – to manage pandemic and other challenges. “[E]motional intelligence is crucial for managing their adaptive processes and regulating their emotions and is essential for better overall health and well-being,” writes the author.