The second semester is underway at the UG! With the flurry of snow, the city seems to have come alive, and a buzz can be felt all over! Online education is in full swing, and it only seems fitting to share some fun GIFs to light your academic fire and poke some fun at the online learning environment.

 When you just passed your courses, and realise you have another semester left. But the snow in Groningen has made everything feel achievable!

 When March is just around the corner and you have the feeling that you’ve done this all before. (Groundhog Day reference - if you haven’t seen it, or would like to see it again I highly recommend it; if you haven’t seen it, or would like to see it again I highly recommend it; if you haven’t seen it, or would like to see it again I highly recommend it… wait a minute.)

 When you’ve been having a conversation on the phone with your best friend during a lecture and you hear, “um, good luck with your date on Friday,” in a voice that really sounds like your professor. That’s when you realise you didn’t mute yourself.

 After turning on your mic and camera to answer a question correctly, and then turning them off immediately so it’s like you were never there at all.

Turning your camera on in a Google Meets session can be the perfect time to look at yourself and enact all your music video fantasies!

If the professor asks to see the class cute pets and you don't have a pet, don't panic! Luckily there are a wide variety of filters to choose from. Who’s the cutest kitty? You can be!

Frantically searching through the Black Board Collaborate website to find your seminar group, before your presentation is due to begin in 5 minutes.

This semester, like any other, will be filled with opportunities to learn, grow and have a bit of fun!  While the academic workload may seem heavy, there are plenty of moments that lighten it all - like seeing your professor’s cat, or new-born, or embarrassing yourself a little by forgetting to mute your mic. 

So good luck and have a blast (before 9pm and preferably outside ;) )!