Transitioning from High School to College During the Pandemic

Abstract

When COVID-19 reached America, the pandemic was only beginning stages of creating a health crisis. I still remember the first wave of consequences from COVID-19 as if it were yesterday: people getting hospitalized from the unforgiving symptoms of COVID-19, with some losing their lives while family members, friends, and loved ones were spending their last moments with their dying relatives through a glass window. Resources such as masks, ventilators, and healthcare are being swept up for others by others, leaving everyone scrambling for anything, and many businesses and schools are shutting down for employee, student, and faculty safety. My high school was one of them. During my senior year of high school, I was ready to embark on a new chapter in my life after four long years of my high school education. However, with the COVID-19 pandemic getting worse each day, with the number of deaths increasing with fights for any resources and essentials taking place in stores everywhere, I doubted if I would even achieve such a dream of transitioning into adulthood now that my high school shut down and resorted to online learning. From that point in the pandemic, I and many others had to learn and overcome technological maneuvers and unique obstacles at home to keep up with schoolwork, homework, quizzes, and exams. If not, we could risk failing or even resorting to dropping out. This is evident in one study where researchers found The numbers of student test scores and learning Decreased due to pandemic disruptions. (Hugh and Chavez, 2022). My friends and I were stumped as internet connections were flimsy at best, and work could quickly pile up, especially multiple assignments due on the same day. For this reason, I will use the “making of” decision model to explain the solution to my work ethic in the virtual realm during online learning.