By Melanie Arriaga, staff writer
Twenty-twenty was an unfortunate year for many due to the covid-19 pandemic; it was plagued with deaths and tragedies. It’s been the year where we all have to quickly adapt to changing circumstances and students aren’t exempt from that. Personally, having the stress of graduating and completing assignments while people you love contract covid has been difficult.
Back in March, when the pandemic struck the US, and students were abruptly forced to quarantine; I foolishly believed that the pandemic was a blessing in disguise. I say this because during junior year I was completely overwhelmed with school work, barely eating or sleeping, and battling social anxiety. I thought distance learning was perfect because I would get more sleep, more time to work on my hobbies, and eat more healthily. However, I realized that it was ignorant of me to think that because I now know that many can’t quarantine or don’t have the resources to do school online.
I don’t believe I have ever felt such frustration in my entire life due to distance learning. Moreover, I feel this immense amount of frustration due to teachers giving an absurd amount of homework and busywork, while the world feels like it’s crumbling around me. I have been stress eating and gaining weight due to homework assignments that are uploaded at midnight… Why are teachers even awake at that time? The constant google classroom notifications, teachers extending class time which goes which cuts my lunch short, assignments during a break, assignments during the weekend, attending clubs, college apps, and scholarships, etc… it’s all too much.
Another con of distance learning is the strain on your eyes from so much screen time, at first that didn’t bother me. But after multiple hours of online class, 6+ hours of homework a night, and club activities. My eyes feel like they were going to roll off my face. Besides, the multiple headaches I get from being on the computer and my phone. I feel sick every time I have to enter class because I don’t want to be on my computer. During winter break, I made sure to not touch my computer unless I had to do work.
The lack of workspace I have has also been detrimental to my academics. I come from a Mexican household and my grandmother loves playing her music, really loud, or watching her novels on very high volumes. So when I tell you it’s difficult to concentrate, it’s difficult; sometimes she asks me to clean while I’m in class or she’s occupying the bathroom during a break I may have.
I never noticed my family’s habits because I was always at school but waking up and trying to complete assignments while coexisting with other family members is beyond difficult. Just last Friday I had to attend class in my kitchen while the blender was going at the same time. Numerous times she’s also decided to small talk with me while I’m in class or trying to do homework, and I don’t want to be rude, but it’s hard to ignore. The constant bickering and loud construction occurring right outside my apartment window also prohibits me from achieving academic excellence.
I always considered school as a small escape but one that has now been taken away. This year I feel lost, frustrated, and sadly have very little motivation to pursue my academics.
