by Isaac Linnen
Oh my. This has been an odd experience. My first year of High School has been tumultuous one to say the least. Frankly, the class of 2024 as a whole came out of the frying pan and into the fire of a new school structure with very little warning. I asked six freshmen, three virtual, three in person, and a 9th grade teacher to answer some questions about this past year.
Question 1: How did you feel about how online was handled at the beginning of the year?
Kendald Gutierrez: It sucked. I couldn’t focus because of distractions
Ethan Liddell: It wasn’t that bad, just not the best.
Abby Grayson: It was really hard to get motivated to do anything…At home you just stare at a computer screen, and you get distracted easily.
Corbin Duncan: I felt better learning from home.
Joanna Speck: It was really boring. You end up just staring at a computer screen.
Question 2: What motivated you to come in person?
Henry Lott: My mom said I had to.
Abby: I wanted to see my friends, I wanted to have a normal high school experience.
Kendald: It felt easier.
Question 3: What kept you from coming in person?
Ethan: My mom has Asthma, so I didn’t want to come in for her sake.
Corbin: I preferred online learning. It helped me learn better.
Joanna: I live with my grandparents and their immune system isn’t strong.
Question 3: Overall negative for the year
Kendald: COVID.
Isaac: Really?
Kendald: What else is there to say?
Isaac: OK.
Ethan: There were many teams issues at the beginning. Really hampered the learning. I also felt socially isolated, due to not being able to talk with my friends.
Henry: My AP Human Geography class was difficult.
Mrs. Olson: I heard that, Henry!
Question 4: Overall positive of the Year
Abby: I got to see some old friends and make new ones.
Ethan: The teachers kept me engaged and kept it interesting.
Joanna: I could do more things that could help me, like chew gum or put on music.
Question 5: Sophomore motivation
Henry: I’m looking forward to seeing friends from previous years.
Abby: I’m concerned about the change… there will be more students, classes will be more structured, more paperwork. I just think its going to be a little weird.
Kendald: [I hope] That everyone can be back [in person].
Joanna: I’m wondering if the lunch food is good.
The opinions of the year by freshman are certainly varied. Many of us were bored with online, but those who preferred it excelled in the new setting. Though many of us felt negatively about the year, students weren’t the only ones with opinions. As each student decided on when, or if, to enter the building, teachers were also preparing themselves. I asked one of the teachers of the Freshman Academy, Mrs. Olson on her opinions of the 2020-2021 school year, and the freshman class.
Question 1: Did you have any preconceptions with the incoming class?
A: Well, it was hard to discern from what I knew. I knew the Sandy Springs Middle crowd well, but we have students from all over the county. It was difficult to form my own concrete opinions on them. I’m kind of jealous of the Sophomore teachers, they’ll get that in-person relationship I couldn’t.
Question 2: What would you say some Pros and Cons of this year were?
A: Well, a few pros of this year would definitely be, the ability to actually see students. After the end of last year and beginning of this year, I know a lot of other teachers, including myself, really missed having students in the building. So, when we finally got to see them in person, there was a lot of joy. This year has also forced a lot of us “old dogs” to learn the ins-and-outs of new technology. I remember in last March, I couldn’t even operate a call without an administrator with me. Now, I can do everything like second nature.
Among the cons, I would say the difficulties of spending my time between online and in-person were chief among them. It was hard to truly give them the APHUG experience when I’m at my desk. It was such a shift from previous years that I really think it put damper on how my students learned this year. I’m also somewhat worried that there will be a rough curve for them in their Sophomore year. They’ll have to adjust to the actual high school experience.
Question 3: What did you notice from the Freshman you taught as the year moved forward.
A: I saw a new type of freshman come out. Of course, most years there are a lot more fun poked at the freshman, but with the lack of mainly seniors in the building, I think the freshman were able to own it a lot more. They had more of a voice in the building, and less of that “new school” anxiety. In class, I also saw them interact more and hide less. In a class with 30 students, some kids can just hide away and skate by. Now, they must participate a little more which I think is an absolute positive. Though, here was also an unfortunate shift in their work ethic. There was more anxiety in the first semester on tardiness, and as we progressed, a sizable number of students realized they could play the grading system. I am afraid that’ll be a rude awakening next year.
Question 4: What are your hopes for the Class of 2024 for sophomore year?
A: I hope that they take the positive aspects of year and run with it. I know this year has been rough, but I’ve seen a lot of students find positive aspects in the year. I would hope that they would continue to move forward. Keep pushing boundaries.
Both perspectives of this year understand the difficulties and triumphs of this year. I would say that despite the hardships we’ve faced, the Class of 2024 made the best of it. I would like to thank all the students whom I interviewed for helping with this article, and of course, I would like to thank The Marvelous Mrs. Olson for giving a deeper teacher insight on these issues.
See everyone next year.
