Pandemic Positives: New-Found Upsides of Online Learning

No+Place+Like+Home%3A+There+are+downsides+to+a+home-bound+existence+but+North+Atlanta+students+are+finding+there+are+some+upsides.+Junior+Ellie+Evans+said+she%E2%80%99s+finally+found+the+time+to+read+after+she+finishes+her+schoolwork.+

Ellie Evans

No Place Like Home: There are downsides to a home-bound existence but North Atlanta students are finding there are some upsides. Junior Ellie Evans said she’s finally found the time to read after she finishes her schoolwork.

There is no doubt that the new online learning and self quarantine way of life is a little less than ideal. Of course being face to face with a teacher in a live classroom would be the optimal way of learning, and Dubs would most definitely enjoy the once-thought basic freedom of social gatherings, but all in all some North Atlanta Warriors have been able to take joy in the positives of this difficult situation.

One benefit of online school is its overall flexibility. Online learning definitely has its fair share of downfalls, but many students have found that they can start and complete their work at their own pace, which can even make way to getting greater hours of sleep. “I like how I can start my work at 10 a.m. rather than 8:45 a.m. every morning,” said junior Graham Barnett. “This means I have to be more on top of my work throughout the day but I really like being able to work at my own pace.”

The shelter-in-place regulations have put an all new meaning on “forced family fun.” Combined with university closures sending many students packing, many Warriors have been able to spend much more time with their families and now at home siblings as they quarantine together. “Since school has been out I have definitely been able to spend more time with my family than I normally could,” said junior Tyler Hankin. “My sister’s back from college and it’s nice to have siblings to hang out with during all this.”  

Another positive to come from this less-than-perfect scenario is the ability for students to complete other activities with increased freetime. With cancelled in-person classes and extracurriculars, some Warriors have been able to spend their time doing other activities such as reading, painting, baking and much more. “One thing I’ve been able to do much more since I’ve been in quarantine is read,” said junior Ellie Evans. “I just finished a book which I haven’t been able to do in so long due to my usually busy schedule.” 

The Dubs diaspora has thrown all new challenges at the North Atlanta family, but many Warriors have been able to find light at the end of this seemingly endless tunnel. Making the best of this far from perfect scenario is one of the best ways for Warriors to come back from this better than ever and remember, we are all in this together. Go Dubs!