When the Covid-19 pandemic struck the United States in March of 2020, it would change the way the school system works possibly forever. As we approach the one year anniversary of the virus hitting the United States, I would like to take time to reflect on my senior year with the virus. 

I never expected my last year in high school to be as chaotic and challenging as it has been, between learning a new way to go to school and figuring out what I want to do with my life after high school it’s been rather stressful. The new way we as students are learning and adapting to the new challenge has been a struggle for most, I personally have not enjoyed online learning as a whole, I don’t feel as if I truly learn through a screen, I find is extremely difficult to concentrate on what I’m doing and taking in the information that is being relayed. I finally was allowed the option to be able to come to school in person and can absolutely say it is easier to learn and stay caught up with work. 

But as this is a positive there are also the negatives within this new system of learning. I found that the teachers have a hard time balancing the remote students as well as the in person students and it affects all the students as a whole. I constantly find my grades slipping and everyone always seems on edge, the vibe at school just isn’t the same, there are no longer fun conversations at the lunch table or the laughter in the halls, the students seem to just want to get the day over and just move on, as a student I catch myself doing the same.

 I hope for the pandemic to end, allowing future students to get the same highschool experience as I had gotten my first three years at Carbondale Community Highschool.