Class of 2024 First Year in The Building
By: Naeemah Morton
June 3, 2022In the year 2020, our world was introduced to a highly spread disease known as the coronavirus, affecting the lives of many people. On March 15, 2020, the United States proceeded to shut down resulting in businesses, schools, and public activities ending. Since schools were forced to close down students' only access to learning was through online assignments and virtual calls with their teachers and fellow classmates.
The current year of 2021-2022 is the students' first time being back in the building since the shutdown of the country in 2020. Here at George Washington Carver Engineering & Science Hs for the class of 2024, this was the majority of the students' first time on school grounds as a sophomore spending their freshman year virtually. Jonathan Brown, a current sophomore, believes that having virtual learning has both its benefits and challenges.
“The benefits of virtual learning were not having to get up early, so I could head-on, get dressed, and go to school. I can just stay in my bed, stay in one place,” said Jonathan. “The challenge was learning from the screen, staying focused, and not having distractions.”
Virtual learning was a major adjustment and affected students in different ways. For some students, remote learning was good for them because it gave them more flexibility, time, and free time. Although for other students adapting to this new way of learning was not easy, which caused students to have a loss of motivation, self-discipline, and studying needs. Remote learning also made it difficult for teachers to assist students with comprehending different concepts, especially with the students' different learning styles.
While remote learning was a struggle, the transition this year back to school was also too. Isjeer Lowery, a student who spent his freshman year virtually believes the hardest part of it all was getting to school on time every day.
“I think the struggle was getting to school on time,” said Isjeer. “That’s still a struggle for me because I still come to advisory late, but that’s the main struggle.”
Siani Mobley another student believes that after doing her first year of high school online a struggle with coming to the building was not knowing anyone.
The pandemic caused students to have an increase in anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, conduct problems, pro-social behavioral problems, sleep issues, and the worsening of preexisting mental health disorders. Major help with the transition was the teachers and the rest of the adults in the building making sure everything flowed smoothly as possible for the students, especially in the classroom.
They made it easier on the work, did basically go in here and get tests every single day. They just said, what we’re going to do and they gave us policies like we could get late work done, “ said Jonathan. “They were just going to take it easy and let us stay light on the homework, quizzes, classwork, and projects.”
Many students prefer in-person learning because they are able to interact and get to know their peers. Being in school also allows them to remain focused and driven toward working hard on their schoolwork, especially with the 2021-2022 school year coming to an end. Although the class of 2024 had a year of their high school career taken away from them they were still able to make the best of it with high hopes for the upcoming junior year.
“Make sure I’m getting better grades, stay focused, and everything’s on top of things so I can basically be able to have a successful career and have a successful life,” said Jonathan. “Also be more concentrated on the important goals and getting money.”