For weeks, students across the country have had to attend online classes due to the risk of contracting Covid-19.  High school seniors are especially disheartened, having to spend their last couple of months in isolation.  Students have been dealing with online school and the expectations, and possible complications that come along with it. Three seniors have shared their experience with their online classes.

Online school can create a barrier between students and teachers, and in turn makes communication more difficult.  Emma Lloyd, 12^th grade, said her experience with online school has been more stressful than in person, in part because she would prefer to be able to communicate with her teachers face to face.  With everyone in the county trying to access Teams every day, it creates some technical issues.  On top of that, the amount of work teachers assign creates more stress on students.  Emma said she preferred being physically at school because it “keeps me motivated.”  Emma hopes that events such as prom and graduation can still take place eventually. “It is my senior year; it is supposed to be awesome and memorable.”

Kailyn Reska, 12^th grade, prefers online school to being physically present due to the anxiety that school can bring, which makes it more difficult to concentrate.  Kailyn feels more freedom in online school to complete assignments at her own convenience, rather than sticking to the set schedule.  Although online school has been more relaxing, she said it isn’t without its own set of difficulties.  She has had some technical issues using Teams, as well as teachers not being so clear with their expectations and instructions.  As a senior, Kailyn was looking forward to going to prom and her graduation, which have been postponed until further notice.  “It was going to be one of our last chances to hang out with friends before leaving for college.”

Sam Leszczynski, 12^th grade, said his time in isolation hasn’t bothered him too much.  He enjoys being able to spend more time at home and finds his schedule more relaxed now.  However, he misses being in school and interacting with his teachers and fellow students.  Sam has faced issues with Teams involving uploading assignments and receiving work from teachers.  Although he found this very stressful, he said that his teachers have helped him work through this difficult time.  As for prom and graduation, he was excited about attending those events, and said, “I think the school needs to provide a date for when those events will take place again.”