A Look on the Bright Side By: Mason Munier

It may seem sometimes as if we are all in the dark. Alone, in the pitch black with no light to guide us. Especially today, given the circumstances our world is facing. 

Coronavirus has spread like a wildfire to most of the world and has effected each country in a different way. For us here in the US, most things have been shut down temporarily including schools. From first grade all the way to seniors in high school and even some colleges, the students are stranded at home with minimal resources and still required to learn and retain information just as if they were still in school. Virtual learning is the closest thing we have to a routine school day but it is by no means the same. During these hard times there are many things we wish we could change but for the time being we have to overcome adversity and focus on the good. 

The first positive thing about virtual learning is that we can learn in the comfort of our own homes. No more of the countless hours of sitting behind a desk. We can create our own space, maybe at our dining room table, maybe in a quiet corner of our rooms, or maybe even outside on a nice day. There is so much more flexibly now then there ever was before. 

Along with the flexibility of our workspace, our schedules are also a lot more flexible. During a routine school day you would wake up and get to school at 7:00 a.m. and leave school around 3:00 p.m.. And an extended schedule for the people with after school activities or sporting events. Now we have about 2 hours on, a hour break, then about 2 more hours on. This new schedule might even be better for some people! This allows us time to get up and take a break and regain our focus for our next classes. 

Although most after school activities are cancelled or put on hold for the time being, student are still finding ways to be active and socialize after our virtual school day. Whether is playing sports, going on a hike, or hanging out at your friends house, it is very easy to socialize and stay active after virtual classes because of the condensed schedule. 

For the last point, I think I can speak for all students on this one. But sleeping in is defiantly a plus! Since our virtual classes start at 8:00 in the morning, there is no reason to wake up at 6:00 anymore. No more waking up to the obnoxious beeping of your alarm clock on and early Monday morning. Now kids are energized and in a better mood showing up for class. A clearer mind and more focused student can make all the difference in someones work ethic and grades. 

So next time you sigh or complain about our virtual classes, I think you should take a minute and see just how lucky we are that we can still be learning and also getting so many new opportunities from these difficult times we are facing today.