Has the Work Ethic Vanished? Students and Teachers Weigh in

Redwood students and teachers reflect on the shifting motivation among students as digital distractions and pressures grow.

By: Isabel Copeland

At Redwood High School, the ongoing discussion about students’ motivation has everyone wondering: Has the work ethic of students disappeared?

The answer varies from students to teachers. Everyone faces their own sets of challenges from the lasting impacts of COVID-19 to the current struggle with digital distractions.

For some students, distractions play a major role in their work habits.

For Natalie Serrano, ‘27, “It’s like 50/50. Sometimes I can use my phone to help me work, but if I’m on it too much, then my mind will go blank, and I will start going on social media.”

Serrano defines a strong work ethic as “being able to work under the circumstances you’ve been given,” but admits the motivation to work can fall when she gets home and begins to feel lazy.

Julian Alvarez, ‘27, shares the same struggles and shares that his phone can be an obstacle. When asked if it is hard for him to stay focused due to distractions like phones or social media, he shared, “Yes, because I’m constantly getting notifications on my phone.”

For Alvarez, a strong work ethic is working hard and having passion for what you do, but he believes these ideas are fading over time. “Students are getting lazier over time, and the teachers are going way too easy on us,” said Alvarez.

Other students pointed out that digital shortcuts have become part of the problem with students’ work ethic.

“Things now are so much easier,” said Glorisbey Hernandez, ‘26. “It’s easier to cheat, easier to get things done. We have so many resources to make life easier, so it feels like we’re not learning anything.”

Hope Murapa, ‘25, shared the same idea. “I think students now don’t try as hard, but I feel like that’s all of us,” she said. “We just don’t have the same drive to do stuff as we used to because we have social media, but I think for what we are, we do as well as we can.”

Teachers have also noticed a change in students, especially since COVID.

“Pre-COVID, the work ethic and the expectations were very high,” said Mrs. Briana Martin, an English 2 Honors and American Lit teacher at Redwood. “ I’ve noticed the work ethic bow down significantly. Expectations aren’t as high, and I think COVID had a lot to do with it.”

Mrs. Martin believes that students aren’t unmotivated rather overwhelmed. “They’re all in sports, they’re in different academies, and they have core classes they’re managing, so I think just managing their time and just having a lot on their plates.”

English teacher Ms. Stacy Gonzales sees a different trend. “Post-COVID, I saw a change, then around 2022, I saw a pick up. I’ve seen students really try their best and try to achieve the most that they can.”

Ms. Gonzales believes an obstacle many students face is burnout at the end of the year. “When students remember to stay organized and try to create some type of schedule, I feel that’ll combat it.”

Mr. Ross Eskridge, an AP Human Geography, Civics/Economics, and Advanced Civil Law teacher here at Redwood, doesn’t believe that students are lazier, but rather motivated in different ways. “COVID definitely had an effect. Things have kind of changed, so you have to use new methods and things to engage them.”

It’s important to recognize the challenges that today’s students face. With distractions and pressure to perform, the concept of “working hard” is evolving. Today’s students are navigating a new academic journey, one where work ethic may look different, but matters just as much.

Mr. Eskridge goes on to emphasize the importance of motivation. “I think, as of everyone, it’s just come down to motivation, so you just have to figure out creative ways to keep students engaged and change things up so they can be motivated by perhaps new things.”

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