Digital distress

The routine once promised by an eight-hour school day quickly became non-existent as academic and recreational worlds blended together, making the establishment of boundaries a near-impossible task. 

“My motivation with online learning [was] at an all-time low,” senior Allison Durocher said. “I could not imagine having four core classes online. It’s so easy to get distracted, and not being able to really communicate with peers and teachers really takes away the joy of learning.”

Those who opted for remote learning found their productivity levels declined due to loss in structure. Additionally, the school’s designated software for online instruction, Edgenuity, slightly impaired communication between teachers and students and resulted in discouragement from students participating in the virtual pathway, like Guzman. 

“When you [attend] in-person school, you sometimes have to turn in an assignment or test before the class period ends [and] your teacher assists you with any questions you may have,” senior Camila Guzman said. “Online, you can mostly turn it in whenever you want and it’s a bit harder to get a hold of teachers.”

As they faced the abnormalities of schooling in 2020, some admitted to losing interest in academics altogether. Velarde, who is enrolled in Advanced Placement (AP) classes, stated the course load could be overwhelming, posing an additional struggle to his mental health. 

“My challenge this year was AP Chemistry,” Velarde said. “[I became] understanding about time management and also balancing my mental health with school. In virtual classes, it’s a little harder because it’s a lot more draining. There would be moments where I would [think] ‘Should I choose just feeling OK or doing good in school?’ I had to decide on that factor and take my mental health seriously.”