Written by Elizabeth W.
Back in 2019 when I was in 4th grade, school got shut down because of Covid. It was challenging with all of the packets and virtual stuff which we had no experience with at all. It all just happened at once, no time to think, and I had no idea it was going to last this long.
We have been in and out of quarantine several times since then and every one would think we would be used to it by now. That everything would be as simple as normal, but it is not…not at all. When you are quarantined, it is really confusing. You have an assignment but sometimes it feels like you still do not know what to do. It is like the things that make sense in school just don’t make sense anymore.
Sometimes when you are quarantined individually your work gets sent home on the computer. You do not just see the work that you are supposed to do, you can see what the kids in school are doing and that makes it tough to know what you need to get done and what you need to wait on, and most of the time you still have work to make up when you get back.
When you are at school you have to wear a mask which I feel is distracting and uncomfortable. You also can’t see many facial expressions, only through the eyes. You also miss out on a lot of things that would have been done in previous years before Covid-19. For instance, this year we are not allowed to have lockers or do games or activities in which we would have to get too close. Things like field trips may also be affected. After a quarantine and you go back to school, it seems like you have been gone forever which is funny because really only been gone for 1 to 2 weeks in most cases.
There are also positive things about being quarantined though: you get to sleep in a little bit, start on your work whenever you are ready, take a break when you need one, be with family, eat what you are in the mood for and whenever you want, you can work extra so you have less to do the next day, and you could also do your work outside in the kitchen or living room where ever you want really.
Although learning in a pandemic is hard, it is no one’s fault if you have to be quarantined. Wear a mask, miss out on exciting activities, or social distance because it is not only tough for you, it is tough for everyone. So you just have to keep going, keep trying, and know that it is not just you that feels confused. So ask questions and do what you can. It is not the same when you are quarantined, but it is not all bad. There are positives and negatives and it is different for everyone.