Home and school look a little different this year. Classrooms are emptier than ever before and students are only showing half of their faces. In the midsts of a pandemic, school can be difficult, with online classes and mandatory masks, students are adjusting to the new way of the new year.

Accountability and motivation are vital this school year. Most students are used to home being a place of relaxation and associate a classroom with classwork. It can be difficult for students to take online classes seriously when they are at home since it’s still and abnormality in their day.  Classes are longer and the the average attention span for a teenager is about 10-20 minutes many are finding it difficult to pay attention for the main duration of their classes. “It feels good to be back in school,” Ace Russell ‘23 said. “But it can be really had to focus during my classes especially since they are all 95 minutes long.”

Many students are finding that paying attention to one subject for over an hour at a time makes it harder to focus and can be quite mentally draining. “Since we only have each class once or twice a week, remembering assignments and taking responsibility and actually doing online classes can be a struggle,” Russell said. “It takes time to fall into a new routine and form habits, remembering all the work that was assigned can be tough. Although it’s not all bad, the hybrid schedule helps a lot with anxiety, there are a lot less people and I feel less rushed.”

Even though all classes are facing changes in their curriculum this year, student lead classes are especially being affected. “Hybrid is really hard on yearbook considering me and the other head editor are both in purple group and are unable to go in on gold days and help our new staff,” yearbook photo editor Jordyn Cimmiyotti ‘21 said.”I am also having a hard time with online learning and motivation.” Student leaders are having to keep up with their other classes all the while figuring out how to solve scheduling difficulties in the classes they lead.

However, while many are still figuring out how to adjust, not all students are having difficulties with their schedules. “It was a weird to get used to at first but since its the same thing everyday, it’s become a habit now,” online learner, Kaitlyn Lippart ’23 said. “Its kind of like going to regular school, but at my own pace and in the comfort of my own home. Having this kind of flexibility in my classes really helps with keeping my stress levels down.”

With all the change going on in the new school year, students have taken time to adjust the changing learning models. Everyone is in a different place finding their own pace and adjusting their routines.