With the transition to online school, some students have found it incredibly challenging to complete their assignments and avoid the temptation to procrastinate. There are multiple reasons this may be the case. Some students lack the technology and resources to be able to successfully complete their assignments, others may be living under distracting home circumstances, and for a few, the quarantine may have come across as a break and not transition from school.

“I don’t do my homework because it just feels like I am on break,” Luis Rodriguez (12) said. Rodriguez mentioned that he has occasionally done homework but does procrastinate a lot of his assignments. He mentioned that he has lost some of his motivation, especially since he is a senior that is just ready to walk (but unfortunately might not get to experience that). 

For seniors, four years of high school can be quite draining. Getting to graduate and walk is what many seniors look forward to, but with the prospects of that occurring growing less certain every day, some seniors have lost any motivation to do their school work. Graduation serves as a motivator for many seniors, especially during the last few weeks of senior year. But, with graduation unlikely, many seniors are experiencing a range of emotions, including anger and apathy. 

“I just want to be able to walk. It’s unfair,” Armando Rojas (12) said. Rojas came from Mexico his sophomore year and worked so hard to get to where he is now. He was excited to be the first graduate in his family. Like Rodriguez, he has lost his motivation but tries his best to get his work done and meet deadlines. Complicating Rojas’ situation even more is having to help around the house and help his younger siblings with their homework, all the while struggling to be motivated with his own schoolwork.

Another obstacle for students is simply the medium through which instruction is taking place. “Online school isn’t for me,” Stacey Myler (10) said. Myler is a straight-A student and learns best with in-person instruction, so having classes online has been hard for her to adapt to. She is still trying her best to maintain her straight A’s and not let online instruction ruin such a remarkable achievement for her. Nevertheless, online instruction has made the process of receiving such high remarks all the more difficult and stressful for her.

For some students, isolation has severely impacted their ability to concentrate on schoolwork. “If we could go out every now and then, this whole online school thing would be easier,” Isaac Sanchez (11) said. Sanchez gets bored of being home all day and does not have anything to do but sleep, eat, and do homework. He thinks being able to go out occasionally would help students recuperate and maintain their focus on their studies, but constantly being isolated indoors does not facilitate learning. 

Sanchez is also frustrated with the delays online instruction have posed on testing. He was going to take the ACT while in school; but since the outbreak of COVID-19 has forced students to remain home, he is going to have to wait until summer (and maybe not even then) to take it on his own. 

Overall, it remains clear that there are unique circumstances each student finds themself in that is making online instruction difficult. We must remain compassionate and empathetic to everyones’ struggles and be willing to offer each other support whenever and wherever possible. Lancers are family, and we are all here to help each other through these unprecedented times.