Hi
Hope everyone is staying safe. This week Inara has shared her experience of online learning and traditional classroom learning. Hope you all enjoy reading it. Inara has highlighted a very important aspect in unfolding her experience, the stress and depression from online tools.
Too much of screen time can cause headaches and stress. Till schools re open, online learning is a must. Since you do spend significant time on school work online, you will need to think of different ways to reduce your virtual screen time during non-schooling times. Adapt or practice a hobby where you don’t need to watch a computer/phone screen. You could try your hand in drawing, reading, writing, singing, playing a musical instrument , dancing, gardening , baking etc. Speak to your parents if you feel tired or stressed due to virtual learning. Maybe you can find ways to help your parents in doing their day to day chores. Of course, do not lose focus on your studies but adapt a practice that will help you to relax and learn a new skill. As I said last week, please Never Stop Learning!!
Stay safe and keep reading and writing!
Regards,
Aunty Sesh
Student’s Pick – Unfolding my experience of schooling during the pandemic
by Inara Zeenath Kabeer
During the days I attended school physically, at a time when Online learning was never expected, I enjoyed all those little moments of passing notes between friends, waking up so energized for the day, coming back home and having a fresh wash etc. Suddenly COVID-19 became so severe that the school closed. I was upset but a little excited too. The first morning of online schooling, I got up extra early, but I was sad knowing my prepared bag of books was not needed. But still I moved on, my mom helped me on the first day with online learning then afterwards I got used to the same cycle day by day.
In grade seven during the 1st term, I got a laptop I knew by this time I had to be responsible for what I did. I never saw my friends but of course as soon as school closed, we made a group on Whatsapp and communicated via chat and even had video calls. But as time flew, we were mature enough to understand that we were busy. We used to chat on zoom too however now all are too busy to come together. It’s like an island of fun that’s deserted. All my friends were talking about when we become older how we will be using all forms of devices to communicate. However, here we are getting headaches, stressed and depressed due these online tools.
I remember, everyone was excited when school opened for a short time. Even the students who hated school and the students who forgot their books weren’t like that anymore and was looking forward to school. It was two weeks of complete fun, just getting to see my friends boosted me up. Sadly, they closed schools again as the number of COVID-19 patients were increasing. I pray hard for this pandemic to end and I simply want to return to my good old days of physical school.
Written by Inara Zeenath Kabeer
Grade 7
Methodist College,Colombo-3
