At first, in-person learning wasn’t so bad. But after a few days, the novelty wore off. And even now, I’m still struggling to transition.
Every day has become a tiring routine. I get up at 6 a.m. for my first class at 8 a.m. And then for hours, I run on autopilot — shuffling through the halls to my classes and after-school clubs. Sometimes I’m so exhausted, I catch myself falling asleep at my desk.
It wasn’t like this last year. Having three hours of class a day allowed me to work when I felt most productive. Now, I find myself anxious and unmotivated during certain parts of my day. But work can’t wait for another time anymore.
Of course, online learning had its disadvantages. I sometimes felt isolated and didn’t have many opportunities for hands-on learning. But being in-person every day feels so overwhelming.
I’ve found ways to cope with the exhaustion — breaking up my study sessions into sections or minimizing social obligations. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Every student learns differently. With an option for hybrid learning, students like me can thrive with some of the flexibility we had before.