by Aubrey Hamm
Due to the crazy circumstances caused by COVID-19, students and teachers alike have been finding ways to handle online learning for the past several months. Everyone is struggling in some way right now, and this year has been difficult, but there are always ways to make online learning easier and even more fun! Here are some important tips on how to improve your online school experience and survive these hectic times:
1. Stay connected.
There have been a lot of changes that came with COVID-19 and the shut down of in-person learning, but one of the biggest challenges is communication. History teacher Bob Kelly understands this pretty well. He has learned to really appreciate being in a classroom setting where students can focus and communicate with each other. Kelly said, “One of the things I really started to understand is how really weirdly important it is to go into a room for a specific amount of time and just focus… That’s really important, and I just took that for granted.” It’s pretty difficult to not only communicate with your peers and teachers academically but also emotionally. Isolation is so easy to fall into, but as Mustangs, we have to stick together and stay connected as a student body. Counselor Jessica Chacon said, “I’m all about connection and relationships because I feel that's the best way we learn, and that is very hard to do that over a screen.” So even though screens are all we have now, use it to your advantage. Text or email a friend. Stay after class and ask a teacher how they are doing. Join a club that can be done over Webex meetings. Do something that can help you feel like you are not alone, and stick to it.
2. Be prepared.
It’s hard to stay on top of all the assignments and Webex meetings when many other things are going on. Getting behind in classes is understandable, but it can hurt you in the long run. Junior Liyah Aqa advised, “Keep up and don’t fall behind because falling behind is really easy when you’re at home.” One way to stay on task is to keep Canvas and your school email account easily accessible on your phone, so you are always in the loop. Sophomore R’majae Bernstine does this so that being aware of everything can be easier. Another tip is to make sure sure you aren’t missing any assignments in classes. When it comes to Webex meetings, Bernstine says, “Be on time, even if you’re in the waiting room. Make sure that you’re prepared.”
3. Take care of yourself.
School can be very stressful, especially when you’re stuck in your bedroom all day. It’s very important to take care of yourself, emotionally and physically. Feel free to give yourself grace and time to get some perspective. Through all the stressful things going on in the world, Bernstine and many others have learned to sort priorities. Bernstine said, “Don’t forget about what’s important...Your mental health is important, it’s okay to take breaks.” To keep your spirits high, read a book for fun, watch a movie, listen to music, go outside, go for a walk or a run, wash your face, or anything similar. Whatever makes you happy or feel taken care of, do it. Now especially, you need time to yourself.
4. Have hope.
Having hope and being positive can be hard but still so valuable. Kelly can’t emphasize this enough. “If we can make that work, then there's not a lot of stuff coming forward as our lives get more complicated that we won’t be able to handle... If we can do distance learning through all of these different obstacles, we’ll be fine moving forward. It’s not fun, but it’s a good lesson to learn.” It’s difficult to live during a global pandemic and much more, but we can get through these hard times as a community.
Chacon summed it up well. “Do what you can to stay connected, don’t let isolation get the best of you, and cling to hope and keep going.”
You got this, Mustangs.