Zoom learning is now a thing of the past. What we have now at South is face-to-face, fully in-person learning once again. This is not only better for students, but also for teachers, parents, and administrators.

The return to in-person learning hasn’t been easy for many, according to students posting their feelings on the INTERNET. While online learning made the ‘learning’ part harder, being at home was more convenient and relaxing, which was a help during these particularly difficult times. 

The transition back to school was kind of rough. I was late on the first day. I was suddenly struck by the fact that there would be no more “open-note quizzes”, and that teachers would actually check your notes. It seemed like everything was going so much faster than usual, or at least what I had been used to for the last year.

I slowly started to get the hang of it, and I realized that maybe in-person learning wasn’t so bad after all. I found that my self-discipline has improved quite a bit, and according to Crimson White, face-to-face learning actually lends a hand in organizing students and their studies as well. My grades aren’t that bad, and I actually like the teacher being in front of me, answering my questions, and engaging with me so I can learn the material efficiently in class.

While this may not apply to everybody, I found that learning around people is a lot easier sometimes than just sitting in an empty room – I’d much rather work on a tough project with my friends than on my couch.

Many students less fortunate than me struggled during e-learning not because of their preferences, but because of their circumstances. Online learning was a bad experience for many students who had limited access to technology and resources. ABC7 Eyewitness News Los Angeles ran a segment on September 1, 2020, that depicted students resorting to using the Taco Bell wifi in the Chicagoland area because their own connection couldn’t support the school’s online work platforms. –

Additionally, according to the American Psychiatric Association, thousands of these students across the country are lacking much-needed psychological support for their online learning woes.

The debate between in-person and online learning is polarizing the country. Admission Sly stated that students are split (52% to 48%) on whether they prefer in-person or online learning. Online learning was a convenient way to learn without getting sick – but at the same time, has been proven to increase isolation and depression in young adults.

Whatever way you feel about going back to school in person, there’s one thing we can all agree on – it’s nice to have the paninis again.