Maika Yoshida, Grade 9
UWCSEA (East)
Note:
This is a very “now” article. This article will make the most sense now. This piece of writing won’t make as much sense as soon
as quarantine time is over. So if you’re reading this after the time of quarantine has long passed, this may not be as relatable.
Almost everywhere right now, there is a global pandemic sweeping across and affecting millions. Those who are responsible citizens stay home to be safe and to keep others around them safe. With everyone locked inside their homes, we are now scattered everywhere, yet isolated. And for those people who gain energy by socialising, not being able to see friends and family for weeks and perhaps months may almost seem like some punishment.
I miss my friends and want to see them again in person, which is near impossible for me since I am in another country. I spent weeks participating in online lessons with my classmates, yet doing nothing outside of class. I lost my motivation to learn and to seek something to learn. Why? Because the people around me in school made learning fun, and now I couldn’t see or talk to them as often. My lack of motivation led to me not learning anything outside of class, to boredom, to frustration.
I felt a lack of improvement in some skill. These are just things, such as social, physical, artistic, and problem-solving skills. To improve in a skill, you would have to practice consistently over a period of time. There are so many things you can do to strengthen said skills. But then why do people choose the option to watch non-educational youtube videos all day on the computer or listen to music while scrolling through social media? It’s because we don’t have anything to follow. The great thing about school is that the teachers decide for you which subjects you have next and when. They don’t go “Go learn Physics someday this week for some random time”, they give you a certain period (usually 1hr and 30 or 40 minutes) and teach you a specific topic. You don’t have an option to skip class.
It is challenging to create a schedule when you’re on a 2-week break, and you have snacks and a comic book lying around. But it makes a big difference when you do. Fortunately for G9 students, the PE teachers had decided to incorporate “schedule making” as a task for us all. A mental, physical and social task, as well as a reflection for each week.
This is a very “now” article. This article will make the most sense now. This piece of writing won’t make as much sense as soon
as quarantine time is over. So if you’re reading this after the time of quarantine has long passed, this may not be as relatable.
Almost everywhere right now, there is a global pandemic sweeping across and affecting millions. Those who are responsible citizens stay home to be safe and to keep others around them safe. With everyone locked inside their homes, we are now scattered everywhere, yet isolated. And for those people who gain energy by socialising, not being able to see friends and family for weeks and perhaps months may almost seem like some punishment.
I miss my friends and want to see them again in person, which is near impossible for me since I am in another country. I spent weeks participating in online lessons with my classmates, yet doing nothing outside of class. I lost my motivation to learn and to seek something to learn. Why? Because the people around me in school made learning fun, and now I couldn’t see or talk to them as often. My lack of motivation led to me not learning anything outside of class, to boredom, to frustration.
I felt a lack of improvement in some skill. These are just things, such as social, physical, artistic, and problem-solving skills. To improve in a skill, you would have to practice consistently over a period of time. There are so many things you can do to strengthen said skills. But then why do people choose the option to watch non-educational youtube videos all day on the computer or listen to music while scrolling through social media? It’s because we don’t have anything to follow. The great thing about school is that the teachers decide for you which subjects you have next and when. They don’t go “Go learn Physics someday this week for some random time”, they give you a certain period (usually 1hr and 30 or 40 minutes) and teach you a specific topic. You don’t have an option to skip class.
It is challenging to create a schedule when you’re on a 2-week break, and you have snacks and a comic book lying around. But it makes a big difference when you do. Fortunately for G9 students, the PE teachers had decided to incorporate “schedule making” as a task for us all. A mental, physical and social task, as well as a reflection for each week.
Guest Writer |
This helps us keep track of what we’ve completed and accomplished each day like a digital diary. I highly recommend creating a timeline padlet (website tool used to create logbooks and mindmaps) and making a schedule. It motivated me to take a break from my hobbies and instead do other things like going outside and running.
I wanted to answer this question “Is quarantine time truly a waste of time, or is it an opportunity?”. I used to think that being isolated and left without motivation could never be an opportunity. And that sort of made sense. But the time we spend being isolated is also time we can spend on reflecting on ourselves. The time in which we have no plans and no schedule shows ourselves who we are. In a situation where we are not forced or guided, it’s easier to see what kind of person we are. Will we take the initiative and learn a new skill? Or will we choose to do nothing? When we graduate from school and have no one guiding us on what to do each day, we will be responsible for our own learning. Isn’t now the best time to practice for that period in the future? |
Image Citation: "Reflection Of Finger In A Mirror" Photographer: Henna Hamra
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