Lockdown Diary Of A Teenager: Screens are fine, but when can we go back to school?
Though we wouldn't give up on any opportunity to relax and keep our eyes glued to our screens instead of reading textbooks, we cannot help but miss school.
The big question in the minds of teenagers today revolves around the topic of our education. Though we wouldn't give up on any opportunity to relax and keep our eyes glued to our screens instead of reading textbooks, we cannot help but miss school. Seeing the faces of our friends every day, attending PE classes, even if it means enduring our least favourite subjects and getting reprimanded by teachers for not submitting homework; all these still seem a better proposition compared to the current scenario.
While many students are fortunate to be studying in schools that have introduced online classes and brought education into their homes, not everyone can benefit from the same. On the one hand, there are Class 12 students who still have a few board exam papers left to take, with no clarity on when they will take place. On the other hand, Class 10 students have no clue when they will be going back to school.
Teachers, who are the very foundation of educational institutions, have also become victims of this conundrum. Their days are both physically and mentally strenuous. Along with taking care of their home and hearth, they are also burning the midnight oil to prepare online presentations for their students. When asked to comment on the uncertainty regarding the present academic year, teachers also seemed to share the disappointment of the students.
One teacher says, “We are as disappointed as the students. We were looking forward to them coming back to school to meet their friends and teachers, and continuing the regular academic year.”
Another teacher says, “The current situation is unfortunate, but we are privileged to be able to stay safe in our homes. I encourage students to stimulate their minds and make the most of these difficult times rather than while away their energy by just being lazy.”
On a positive note, many teachers have been encouraging students to spend this time more productively, by picking up new hobbies and spending quality time with the family, which in today's world, is a novelty.
It almost seems certain that the battle against coronavirus is a long one, so instead of getting lost in the cloud of gloom, let us see the silver lining — Nature has pressed the pause button temporarily to help us rediscover ourselves, our hidden talents and explore all the things which we procrastinated under the garb of our academic load.