Carver Students and Teachers: Hopes for 2021
When you think of the year 2020, what comes to mind? For most of us at Carver E&S, along with people around the world, 2020 was a memorable year and not necessarily for all of the right reasons. Life as we knew it completely shifted—We began quarantining due to a global pandemic, many folks found themselves without jobs, and most students and teachers across the world began doing school remotely. But now that 2020 has ended, we can look toward what comes next. To uplift us in a time when positivity is something so desperately needed, students and teachers from the Carver community reflect on 2020 and share their hopes for 2021.
Mr.Bickel, Teacher
The obvious thing [that changed in 2020] is working at home and doing everything online.It's not often that you have to do something in a totally different way.All of a sudden, none of the old stuff works. And every day, finding new challenges with getting everyone work, collecting work, and grading . There's so many little things that now have changed and you have to learn new ways to do it.Then, just being at home and finding ways to entertain yourself and interact with friends and with colleagues.It feels very different which I think changes how you end up doing things. Everything feels so restricted and strange.
I'm hoping in 2021 that we'll be back in person.Something that I want to do when we go back is take all the stuff that we're learning about how classes work from being online, and use it to make in person classes better.There are things that have come up that I actually really like [for example] using the chat to talk with students. I think there are a lot of students that wouldn't talk out physically in class.
One thing that I think is really good this year is that people are kind of recognizing that they have to take care of themselves in different ways. I've never had more conversations with students about telling them not to worry about little five point assignments. [And instead], go take care of the stuff that's happening outside of school in their lives, and being mentally in a good place.
In 2020 I learned that your friends will make everything better. Your friends are the ones that keep you sane through everything. Like I have this one friend, and everyday she tells me "good morning" and "goodnight". She is very consistent. And, I also have a math group chat where we help each other out. Everyone's super friendly. I also play video games with one of my friends, Nathan. He is funny and sweet.
So in 2021, I hope to keep the relationships that I built in 2020.
Bryson Downing, Student
Mr.Ciccarelli, Teacher
I think what I've learned most in 2020 is the fragility of people and how much we're dependent on each other. Even though we have social media to stay connected , and we have all these platforms that have grown up and become more popular within 2020, we still need one another just for companionship, support, and instruction. As much as we we try to think of ourselves as these independent creatures, not needing anyone, we are. We are desperately dependent on one another for reassurance
In 2021, I'm hoping to check up on people more to see how they're doing. I think once we are back in person, we will too easily assume that things are back to normal.And the way things were weren't necessarily good or as ideal as they could've been. I want to be more cognizant of making sure I continue to check up on my students and see how they're handling their schoolwork. I want to make sure that I'm being more mindful of their needs and other ways that I can help get them through academic, personal, and creative struggles that they may have.
In 2020, I wasn't really in a good place per se.I was sad. The main reason why I was sad was because my mom transferred me like very late into the year. And, I really miss my friends. In 2020, I also had bad relationships. I couldn't stick with friends. Most of my friendships went down the gutter.
So in 2021, I'm hoping to prioritize my well being. I go to therapy now so I can talk about my feelings. I also want to prioritize money. I plan on getting a job and I want to create my own online business. I want to stay focused on school this year. I'm trying my best to keep them[my grades] high. But, I get distracted easily.
Kyhir Young, Student
Mr. Wagenhoffer (Wags), Teacher
One thing that I learned[in 2020] that is not necessarily a good thing, is how selfish a lot of people can be.I say that only because I've noticed that a lot of people have been selfish in regards to how they've been treating others during the pandemic. I see still a lot of times when I go out to shop, that people aren't wearing their masks. I've seen people not respecting other people's boundaries. I guess I take that for granted myself, because it was something that was very plain and very simple for me , to wear a mask and to keep other people safe .Those are things that I don't even question or think about, because I'm just so used to doing that and thinking that way
One thing that I'm definitely going to do better in 2021, and it's something that I've been doing with all of you[students] so far up to this point , (and I've always been this way as a teacher), is try to respect all of my student's interests. I want to also respect your[student's] time and all of you[students] as individuals and give you[students] a voice. I know that before when I was in the classroom,I took for granted too often the interests and power of chemistry the motivating factor to teach you[students]. And what I really have taken away from 2020 is how important it is to really stress the things that are going on in the world and make it so you all still feel like you have that voice. It doesn't need to just be in one type of class or another, you know, these are things that we can talk about outside of chemistry and still within my classroom as well because it's all related [to chemistry]. So that's something I've really been focusing on and it's something that I think is so important for all of us.
In 2020, I learned to appreciate things more. That's a thing that I learned because I feel like I didn't really appreciate what my parents did for me. Now I appreciate everything they do. I now see the importance of a family.
Something that I am want to accomplish is 2021 is self love. I haven't had time to work on that because I put too much time aside in my day. I really have to work on me and appreciate myself. If you don't have confidence in yourself, you're not able to accomplish anything. Everyone needs to care for themselves sometimes and have times to tell themselves "I'm beautiful and I'm worth it".
Katherine Uribe-Toxtli, Student
Ms.Bradley, Teacher
in 2020, we were forced to slow down in a really uncomfortable way, and kind of sit with ourselves and our thoughts, our goals, our hobbies, and our families. And that was really difficult in a lot of ways, but as we've continued through quarantine, even through school as a teacher I've had to slow down. Things take longer in classes. I don't get to see my students every day. Even just reading through a book together is double the time it would be if we were in class together. I think a lot of times I look at that as a negative thing, and something that's negatively impacting students, but I'm starting to come around to the idea of slowing down intentionally and appreciating it. Last year, if I wasn't doing 1000 things, I felt like I wasn't doing enough. And when I stopped having the opportunity to do so many things at the same time and really sit with one thing at a time, I started to find some value in that.
[In 2021]I hope to take that with me. Even when we don't have to slow down and we don't have to stop and rest, I hope that I give myself space to do that. And, I hope I get my students space to do that too.
I learned that not everyone will stick around. I mean, I learned that in other years as well, but 2020 was the year that it stuck out the most. I think this is because they're going through a lot staying at home. They're either sick of the people that they are living in the house with, or they want to spend time with the people living in their house. So people really don't keep up with you, or keep up with anyone. Because we're so focused on home now.
In 2021, I'm hoping to keep my circle small. Like of course, I'll have those friends or classmates that I talk to during class.But I feel like I could limit those that I keep in contact with to a small group of people.
Marina Morales, Student
