Learning How to Adjust to a New Setting
Team OSCIE
Ahva Ghazanfari and Darya Hajiseyedjavadi
Some few months ago, everything changed for so many teenagers, including us. Whether it be moving into an online learning platform, sheltering in place for weeks on end, or being required to wear a face-covering in public settings, life before the pandemic seems unfamiliar to society, especially students, now. And, with this unfamiliarity comes adjusting. Since our “coronacation” has already involved so many adjustments – including completely changing our lifestyles – transitioning back to school, especially online school, might be difficult for many of us. In order to maneuver this difficulty, it is very important to know how to deal with our constantly-changing lives!
Back to School
Every year, going back to school involves us saying goodbye to the long break from school and homework, and hello to productivity and a world of learning. Going back to school might be leaving you stressed out and somewhat upset, and those feelings are natural and perfectly valid.
Transitioning from summer to school is never easy. But while it might be challenging at times, school is an amazing place that allows us to expand our knowledge on countless topics! It is a world that places no limits on learning, and in turn, allows us to excel in the future. While this pandemic takes many of the things away that all of us look forward to upon going back to school, such as seeing our friends in person, playing sports, and more, we can take online school to our advantage, and gain so much free time from it. Here are a few ways that you can ease into online school, and keep a positive mindset:
- Stay in touch with your friends regularly. It’s especially important to socialize during this time, and friends can help you navigate through this bump in the road.
- Pay attention in class. Staying focused improves your listening skills, and it can also decrease homework time! The more you focus, the easier and less stressful your homework/tests will be in the future.
- Remember; you are NOT alone! We are all going through this together! If you feel lonely at the start of school, it’s always good to talk to adults you trust, or close friends. Talking to someone can be a huge emotional release, so it is very important to be vocal about what you are feeling.
- Create a schedule for yourself. Making a schedule can help you layout your day, week, month, etc., and can help prioritize your tasks. This way, you avoid procrastination and relieve a lot of unnecessary stress!
Because of this pandemic, we’ve all learned how to adjust to our new normal. And with school starting online, we have to learn to adjust, yet again. It’s stressful for most of us, and it’s okay to feel overwhelmed in a new setting. There’s always someone you can talk to – whether it be your parents, friends, or your teachers, you’re never alone. It’s crucial to stay positive and keep moving forward!
Date:
August 25, 2020