By: Emmy Ribero, Contributor
Many new changes have been made to what is considered “normal” school. Instead of having to be at school by 7:20, many students aren’t even waking up until 8:45, 15 minutes before class starts. Instead of sitting in a classroom for 6 hours a day, students are sitting at their computer for 4 classes and homework. In prior years, there would be a 30 minute lunch break; now, lunch is two hours. There are many perks to remote learning this year but, like anything, there are downsides. Students main complaints about online learning are that they have to make their own schedules, they need to be much more self-reliant, and they are unable to see their friends and teachers face to face. However, many students have remained optimistic and are able to see the bright side to this less than ideal situation.
According to a poll question that asked, “Best part about online school?”, a common answer was “sleeping in” or “not having to wake up at 5:30.” Because of the later start time, students can sleep more on their natural schedule. Teens tend to stay up later and sleep in later, and with online learning, this is made more possible. Some students have reported having more energy with remote learning. This could be because of the nap that most take during the two hour lunch break or because of less classes in a day, but this has been beneficial for a lot of students.
One of the best parts, according to some students, is that they can become more independent. “There’s an increased reliance on our own independence which prepares us for college.” said Tori, a senior at Wilde Lake . Students are forced into creating their own schedules and getting their work done on their own this year. This is an essential skill to have going into college. High school students will be very prepared for this because they are starting to have to do it now. Another perk to working independently is working at your own pace. Many students have said that being able to take their own time to do assignments and learn material has helped them a lot during remote learning.
With the new independence that students have with their time management, schedules have become much more flexible. They can go out to lunch with their friends during break, they can do however much work they want to on certain days, so long as it’s done by Monday. Wednesdays being off has provided much needed freedom to many and allows many students to be very flexible. “I usually spend my Wednesday breaks catching up on college apps and relaxing.” said Carolyn Cullen, a senior at River Hill. Many seniors in particular are enjoying their lenient schedule because it allows them to spend more time on getting their college work done.
Unfortunately, there are definitely downsides to remote learning. Some people reported that it has become increasingly difficult to stay focused. “With school being all online now, it’s hard to stay focused when you can do anything you want without consequence. It’s also not just staying focused, but finding motivation to do work is also difficult.” Says Jonathan Han, a senior. Being home, there are many distractions available. Distraction is always just a click away. This urge is very tempting because students can do anything they want any given moment from the comfort of their bedroom. But, it is important to not give in to temptation because completing work and getting good grades is still very important, and, unlike last year, grades are not just completion grades.
Online learning is a new experience for everyone. This new normal will naturally have positives and negatives that come with it. And while students struggle with not letting the negatives outweigh the positives, it is clear that the many perks of online school can help students make the most out of this abnormal situation.