Transition from Online to In Person School

Since March of 2020, we have gone through a rollercoaster of changes. As students, we have had to adapt to unprecedented learning environments.

The initial jump to online school was shaky and completely new from anything we had experienced. At the time, COVID was ubiquitous yet unknown. So was the concept of online school. With only 20-minute periods, most of our work was asynchronous and everything was very flexible. 

The fall of 2020 came with more rigor and structure. Adopting a new schedule with a 9 a.m. start time, we entered a school year where we would be opening up Zoom every day indefinitely. The first semester was tough and eventually, every day blurred into one. We got used to turning on our cameras every morning, exposing our pajamas and messy rooms. We turned off our cameras in times of need, grabbing a snack from our pantries at any given moment. 

By the time March of 2021 rolled around, we were eager to get back into school. Although the first portion of my Junior year was relatively easier and went by quickly, I craved more social interaction. The first few weeks of hybrid learning were exciting, yet it was tricky trying to navigate those in person and at home. I think the general feeling of the community was that we were grateful to be back. 

In contrast to last year’s in-person learning, which omitted class on Wednesday, this fall, we jumped straight back into 8:30 am-3:20 pm school days, 5 days a week. Given that we have not had school this intense in almost a year and a half, it has definitely been a challenging adjustment. We have regained the benefits of social interactions, hands-on learning, and easy dialogue. Yet, we lost the comfort of home and the flexibility of distance. Many students describe this transition as “fatiguing,” “exciting,” or “overwhelming.”

Almost a month into this new school year, it feels as though we have begun settling into this “new” learning environment — finding joy in full class sizes and interaction, even if it is still behind a mask. Through all of the ups and downs and uncertainties, it is important to stay connected to the community and those who support us through it all.