I climb into my desk chair, open up both my school-issued and personal computer, and get ready for class. This has become an unfortunate routine of a virtual-only student since March 13, 2020. I remember the day like it was yesterday. After coming home from a long day at school, I went and flopped onto my family’s new gray sofa and cracked open a freshly cold Coca-Cola. It had been as a normal day full of the usual teenage manner. But nothing would be the same after this day. From this day on, I will remain a virtual-student and will be a further advanced than others.

For the eleven long years of my life, I had sat in a school classroom for seven hours every day. I would socialize the majority of the time at school with my teachers, friends, and others. Now in my last year of school, as a twelve grader, I have suffered greatly. Due to my parents having pre-existing conditions, I put my social life and senior year on the line. I decided in early August, to decline the first option, in going back to school and accepting my second option of staying at home.

Now, virtual learning does have drawbacks but also has positives. Personally, as a person who loves to work at their own pace, I have enjoyed virtual learning. I can plan and set my whole week around my classes. Unfortunately, like I said there are some drawbacks. Yes, drawbacks include; non-human interaction and unusual learning from home. Not being in school, interacting with peers and teachers has deteriorated my social life. I feel disconnected from my teachers and peers, viewing them from a computer screen every day. I am forced to communicate to them through a mute and unmute button. I have not succumb to these negative effects, but I adapted to the Pandemic and made it positive.

Yes, some may say the negatives outweigh the positives, and some may say the latter. This Pandemic has also opened many opportunities for me. I have worked on my craft of Journalism more than I ever. I became more outgoing and worked harder on being an amazing Sports Journalist. I can communicate and convey my thoughts better in my everyday life, due to Journalism. I have met amazing peers with like-minded interests in this field, and they have been a great inspiration for me to continue writing and putting my all into giving people amazing stories to share. Journalism has taught me that everyone needs a good storyteller; why not have a purpose to the storytelling.

One thing I have learned from this pandemic is to be grateful for every single thing in life. Life goes like a blink of an eye. Even though this Pandemic has been hard, I am grateful for the experiences and lessons of perseverance that it has taught me.