I want to start off with a thank you. Thank you to all the frontline workers during these tough times.
The farmers, the health workers and our first responders do not stop working and sacrifices like these are why I’m thankful to live in such a great community.
I was asked to write about what school is like for Rimbey students during the COVID-19 pandemic? That’s something I’m sure many people are wondering during this crisis.
The first thing I can say is it is not an easy transition. Frankly, it has ruined my schedule.
I am a teen that happens to dislike school at the best of times and I was never fond of the idea. On a typical day, I had to get up at an early time and work for eight hours, five days a week. Some days I loved it and others, not so much. Trust me I am aware working in the real world will also requires me to wake up at an early time, but as for every teen having to wake up at 8 a.m. — it is the worst.
The truth is now is that I would much prefer the in-class setting. I have learned that waking at 7 a.m., getting dressed and going to school is a lot better than at-home learning. During this pandemic I go to bed at 1 a.m. and wake up at 11 a.m. in the morning. That has proven to be the worst schedule to adapt to for me. Additionally, It is also hard to get out of that type of schedule.
Online schooling is also a lot harder than I would have expected. I am struggling to find motivation to do the work at home, although truthfully, my teachers would probably agree that I never did have that motivation in class. To be honest my English teacher is probably confused why I am writing and article when I can’t even finish an essay!
That is perhaps beside the point — the point actually is that motivation is hard to find when one doesn’t have to go to school where there is a whole system in place to keep you accountable. Right now, I am instead waking up in pyjamas, walking to my computer — only to open my work and then immediately switch to the next tab and watch Brooklyn 99 for two hours.
I am the type of person that has the attention span of three minutes, tops. Things distract me. I could be cleaning my room and, “Squirrel”! Therefore, online schooling doesn’t work ideally for me. I couldn’t even do my work in school, I never finished my homework, and when I did it was three minutes before a homework check. Now I sit at my desk and I cannot find the motivation to open my school and start doing it.
Online school is definitely a different thing. I don’t understand how homeschoolers do it. I also forgot to mention me being in homeschool is driving my mom crazy! In all seriousness though, kudos to the homeschoolers. It takes a lot to do school in your house and still keep sanity. I never thought I would say this, but I much prefer a classroom setting over an online setting.
Given all this, I am still thankful to receive an education. There are so many kids out there that would love an education, but aren’t able to. The things we are experiencing now is nothing compared to the poverty many people experience every day. Therefore, we must appreciate the things we have. Other people, even in our country, don’t have what some of us have like access to a good education.
-Submitted by Rimbey Student Dylan Jeffcott