By: Brooke Logan
Since the return to school, everything has changed for everybody. Asking around, you see that everyone has a different perspective of being back to school in person and what it has been like for them.
Mrs. Duerre, American Sign Language teacher, says her word “would have to be ‘finally’.” Duerre says that “as a teacher, it has been so difficult to teach in such an impersonal way.” She says that she is “Finally, able to see how students are doing. Finally able to hear my students’ stories. Finally, I feel like a true teacher again.” Duerre talks about not being able to have a connection with the students through Zoom and being in-person again, the connection is growing.
Mr. Adams, a World History teacher, and Law teacher describes being back as ”weird”. After being a teacher for 16 years, Adams says that this is the first time he is “meeting” his students in April. He also notices that he has been teaching these students all year but cannot “recognize them because they have had their camera off the entire year.” Adams also says that he cannot “make out former students [he has] had because of the face coverings.”
A few days later, Adams makes a revision to his word. He says that “school is feeling more normal again.” He talks about how “school is feeling more normal,” and that he “actually had a good day” talking and teaching to his students. He really “needed a day like that for things to feel back to normal.”
Mrs. Fariss, a Freshman English teacher, says that she is “appreciative” to have “normality back in her life.” Fariss says that she “took the little things for granted before quarantine” and that she feels both, “grateful and appreciative to have” those things back.
Karisa Guajardo’s, ’23 word is “unfamiliar”. Guajardo says, “even though we used to be in school all the time,” it is something completely different.” With all the changes this year has thrown at the Rangers, “It’s just another thing we have to get used to.” Though Guajardo adds that she is “at least glad to be back!”
Kyla Seitz, ’22 says that her word would be “refreshing”. Seitz says that quarantine was “so isolating” and that she “wasn’t allowed to really do anything.” She says how “refreshing” it has been to “connect with peers and students.” And also how nice it is to actually be engaged in “lessons” during class. Overall, Seitz is just “happy” to “leave the house” and “see people again.”
Savannah Southern, ‘21, President of the Yoga club says that she would describe being back to school as “different”. School just “isn’t the same without all the activities.” The “atmosphere” is so much different than it normally would be. This year is “nothing” like “my past experience,” Southern says.
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