You wake up at 8 A.M. on a Monday morning. Your bedroom is a mess. You slouch out of bed, grab your computer and keep your head pointed at the screen for 45 minutes. Online school, at least theoretically, should resemble normal school, so why is it so much worse for some people? After talking with many people and trying to figure out why online school affected people so differently, we have come to some conclusions. In terms of adjusting to the new medium through which online school is conducted, people have varying reactions. People who tend to be more extroverted in school can struggle more with online classes because they are missing the social aspect and don't get the benefit of actually being in the classroom. It seems like you're just on the side while the in-person class is in its own world.
It seems like you're just on the side while the in-person class is in its own world.
On the other hand, people who are more introverted in school tend to enjoy online school more, because they feel like they do not have to worry about social interactions. Moreover, some people may feel uncomfortable with their camera turned on, creating an extra distraction when trying to focus on learning. Teachers also have criticized students who do not turn on their cameras, even if they might have a very legitimate reason for not doing so.
People also have gone from being told to have less screen time to having to sit on a computer all day, which is, in fact, extremely draining. I myself yawn and struggle to keep my eyes open during online classes. In addition, even if turning in assignments by taking pictures is nothing new, submitting pictures of work for online tests can be quite stressful for students, especially with the introduction of time limits. Every test comes with a bombardment of emails from students who had technical difficulties and couldn’t submit on time or had their wifi cutting out. I think it’s fair to say that online school has affected both students and teachers.
In general, the coronavirus has changed everybody’s lives. Yet, in spite of the personal challenges that everyone must now face, what matters is what they do to overcome it. Perseverance went from a word you needed to memorize on your 6th grade vocabulary quiz to something absolutely vital in these difficult times.
This resilience that people have shown and the human will to “push through” has been exemplified in many situations. Many activities that we did not imagine myself doing before have now drawn our interest because of this pandemic: spikeball, playing guitar, playing cards and different types of video games, to name a few. In a sense, COVID-19 has brought together many kids who have been able to find new hobbies and passions in their free time. It has allowed for more family time, and many siblings have been able to get closer.
The fact is that online school is terrible. Nonetheless, some positive things have come to light because of this change of scenery. When you sit in your room dozing off, figure out how you can be more productive. Perhaps write yourself a schedule or try to find a new hobby. You can't change the hand you have been dealt, but you can change your mindset.