Virtual freshmen face real issues By Brody Berrios, Staff Intern
According to a recent Gallup poll, three in 10 parents say their child’s emotional and mental health has suffered during the pandemic. Freshmen here are no different. “Once second quarter hit, I started to feel less motivated to do some of my work,” Camry Le said. Many freshmen, like Le and Maverick Quartiano came from their respective middle schools with straight A’s, but when they got to high school, things changed. “During online school it wasn’t necessarily motivation that I struggled with, rather concentration because of the amount of distractions available and coming to school has greatly helped with that,” Quartiano said. One of the issues some freshmen are facing is motivation. Sometimes, simply completing one assignment has become a challenge. “I’d rather lie in bed and watch a movie than do my math homework,” Le said. It has taken time for freshmen to get used to staying at home for school, but some have found that creating an everyday routine could help with motivating yourself to stay on task, such as homework or other activities. Lori Carlson, the ninth-grade guidance counselor, has many students reaching out to her. She recommends that students “set an alarm with plenty of time to get ready in the morning and to make your work environment look like it would if you were at school.”
Carlson also encourages students not only to come back to school to collaborate and socialize with other students but to understand teacher expectations a little better and navigate the campus. Unlike Le, Quartiano returned to in person learning. “I returned to school because I found it easier to learn in person and would’ve liked to see my friends again,” Quartiano said. Quartiano is getting the freshman year of high school he’s always wanted, while keeping good grades and living a mentally good life. Freshman Nick Rapalo has been at school since they allowed students to come back. “I find in person learning much better because I can interact with my friends,” said Rapalo. Times of crisis can have long term effects on a child’s behavior as well as their mental and emotional well-being. However research shows that with the right support, hard times can build resilience in young people, giving them the ability to better handle stress and rebound from a setback or challenge. Carlson said that any freshmen who are battling mental health issues should contact her for an appointment immediately. Other people to reach out to include family members, friends and teachers. “After reaching out to find help, I’ve watched myself get better mentally day by day,” Le said.
Freshman mental health check
62%
Online Freshmen
38%
In-Person Freshmen
Motivation In-person freshmen
71%
Reported feeling more motivated attending in person learning
Online freshmen
56%
Reported feeling less motivated attending in person learning
Stress & Anxiety In-person freshmen
43%
Reported feeling less stressed attending in person learning
Online freshmen
41%
Reported feeling stressed attending in person learning
Grades
59%
41%
In-person freshmen Reported an improvment in grades
Online freshmen Reported being pleased with their own grades
Based on a survey of 55 students conducted on between March 30 and April 1. GRAPHIC BY ISABELLA CASTELLANOS JOA Freshman Hunter Jenner and another student sit in Ms. Maharaj's classroom.
thetornadotimes.org <May 2021 > Student Life | 11
