Six months ago, students all over the world rejoiced over the unexpected vacation bestowed upon us by Covid-19. IBA students, in particular, had additional perks like optional attendance to online classes, no final exams, and a Pass/Fail System that kept our hard-earned GPAs intact. But with so much happening all over the world, going back to school sounds more daunting than ever. What should we, as students, expect as our new reality?
Remember the Rules
Right now, several months have passed with limited social interaction. It can be difficult to resist the desire to throw caution to the wind and socialize as much as possible. Even I find it frustrating to meticulously prepare myself with a mask and sanitizer every time I leave the house. But what we need to keep in mind is that although these precautions may be annoying, they are quite literally saving us from hurting either ourselves or our family members from catching the virus.
Wearing a face mask in the sweltering heat may very well make you uncomfortable- but it won’t kill you. So be prepared to follow all the rules you’ve been hearing about for the past few months on repeat, and do so with responsibility. Denying will only bring you and those around you unneeded hardship.
Be Empathetic
This summer, every person going back to school had their own battle to fight. For some, strict lockdown caused severe financial problems in their household. Others had to deal with tolerating quarantine with toxic family members and no escape. Some people had to face seeing the effects of the virus up close – watching their loved ones fight death on the ventilator, or asking for blood donations. Several young students even lost their parents to the virus.
Whether it’s a student, teacher, or staff member, every person has struggled during these past few months. This makes our duty to be kind and considerate to one another even more important.
Stay Focused
Though it may not be easy to get back into the typical school routine (waking up before noon being one of the major challenges), it is definitely important for the future. You are going to be attending classes in-person after a long time. Feeling overwhelmed or confused is only natural. Everyone here is learning as they go on, so it may be possible that things are no longer as organized as they used to be. Be prepared for some mild disorientation, as you get to know the new normal. This will allow you to stay grounded and focused on what matters- learning.
All this may seem like a lot to take in, I know. But the fact is, this is new for everyone. Going back to school amid this change will definitely take some time to get used to, but in the end, it is how we respond to it that matters.
