By Nicholas Wong, staff writer
When I first heard about distance learning I was nervous. Like most other students and even teachers, I wasn’t sure what to expect. However, the school year finished off pretty easily as everyone was just getting used to the new system. As this year rolled around, I was anxious again because I heard it was going to be different. Contrary to what I thought it would be like I actually found this year to be less stressful than last.
Coming into this new school year, my expectations were that I would be overwhelmed. Since I was taking harder classes this year, I assumed that I would be much more stressed out than the previous years in-person and distance learning included. Now that we’ve spent 6-7 months in distance learning, I feel much more comfortable than when we first began. Classes feel more structured this year compared to the prior school year we spent distance learning. I feel like the teachers have done a better job this year preparing classes that cater to online learning rather than last where it felt like we were still adjusting an in-person lesson structure but over zoom. I also feel like I’ve established a more uniform and consistent daily routine given how long we’ve been having class on zoom.
In comparison to regular school, I feel more organized in distance learning. Being able to have a set schedule each day without extracurriculars or outside events is a lot less stressful than when I had to worry about whether I would be getting home in time or whether or not I had enough time to do homework. In addition to homework being virtual, I feel like having every assignment on google classroom has helped because I am someone who is very prone to forgetting and losing homework. Moreover, having classes spread out has helped me to keep track of deadlines and focus on each individual subject more efficiently.
A downside I initially worried about was being overwhelmed and not being able to get help from teachers. Fortunately, this has not been the case. With so much extra time, I feel my performance in school has actually improved. However, one thing I would have to still worry about is laziness. It has been easy to get comfortable and have class in bed but that also means that it would be just as easy to lose focus and attention in class. While a part of me would like to go back to in-person learning, I’d be conflicted because I’d also want to stay at home due to the relaxing aspect of virtual classes.
In conclusion, I don’t mind how distance learning has turned out. I’ve gotten pretty comfortable with it. However, if presented with the opportunity to go back, I would be conflicted because there are pros to both sides. Mainly, I feel based on my classes, with fewer distractions and more organization is a big contributor to the relief of stress in comparison to in-person learning. If I were to go back, one of the things I’d be worried about would be if the stress would return too.
