Bailey Polaski

ENG 111

Professor Williams

3 October 2023

Navigating the Education Rollercoaster

It was March 2020 when the world came to a screeching halt. The COVID-19 pandemic

had arrived, forcing schools to close their doors indefinitely. Students and teachers alike were

thrown into a new era of education, one that relied heavily on technology and adaptability. The

ups and downs of education during this time were unlike anything anyone had experienced

before. This world-wide issue had not only effected me in many ways, but everyone around me.

Because of the little knowledge that we had on this virus, nobody knew what to do or even think.

As a result of the unknown, my education was effected tremendously when we had to learn in a

secluded environment.

In the early days of the pandemic, students were thrown right into a virtual classroom.

Some thrived, relishing the flexibility and independence it offered. Others struggled, missing the

structure and face-to-face interaction. It became clear that the quality of education was now

heavily reliant on the skill and dedication of teachers. I was one of those students that struggled

with the online classroom because I did not have the motivation to turn in my work. Personally, I

get distracted extremely easily when I am at home and working online. It was then that I

understood the importance of teachers that really cared about their students, rather than the

teachers that did not take extra time to help me so that I could succeed in their class.

In the middle of the uncertainty, good teachers surface as a beam of hope. They adapted

swiftly, learning new technologies and finding innovative ways to engage their students. The
good teachers would make the online classes intriguing so that their students would be attentive.

These educators poured their hearts into their virtual classrooms, providing not only knowledge

but emotional support too. Some students really struggled with this change in their way of

learning and looked towards the teachers for emotional support. Many of the educators held

virtual office hours, sent encouraging emails, and made their students feel seen and heard. I am

very appreciative of these teachers because they would take kids lkik,e me into consideration,

who struggle to learn online and stay focused at home.

On the other hand, not all teachers rose to the challenge. Some teachers struggled with

technology, leading to frustrating and unproductive online classes. There were many times where

my classmates, along with myself, were extremely confused on what we were learning and how

to navigate the specific teachers online page. Other educators seemed to detach, providing

minimal feedback and guidance to their students. These bad teachers left their students feeling

isolated and abandoned, exacerbating the already challenging situation. Along these feelings

would be students who felt forgotten, which therefor encouraged them to give up and become

careless of their grades and classes. Why would a student put all of their effort into a class that

their teacher refuses to help them develop? As a student, I feel that if your teacher is not putting

in effort to help students grow and learn, then they should not expect the respect of turning in

work and assignmens from students.

As students navigated this new way of school, they faced their own ups and downs. Some

thrived in the online environment, learning to manage their time effectively and take ownership

of their education. Many others struggled with the lack of structure and the distractions of home,

finding it difficult to stay motivated. The ones that thrived have now been successful in the rest of
school but the students who struggled during online learning are now struggling back in normal

school because they are having to play catch up with the materials that they missed.

The ups and downs of education during COVID-19 taught us valuable lessons. We

realized the importance of adaptability and resilience, both for teachers and students. Good

students shone brightly, demonstrating the power of dedication and perserverance to push

through difficult times. Students that struggled exposed the need for ongoing help from teachers

and supporting crew as in parents. Parents played a big role in helping students get through the

online learning environment by pushing their kids and students to get their grades up and turn in

their work, having to be the “at home teachers”.

The return to in-person learning was a mix of relief and anxiety. Some students and

teachers were eager to reunite in the physical classroom, while others were hesitant, having

grown accustomed to the online format. The ups and downs of education during COVID-19

taught us valuable lessons. We realized the importance of adaptability and resilience, both for

teachers and students. Good teachers shone brightly, demonstrating the power of dedication and

innovation. Bad teachers exposed the need for ongoing professional development and support.

I also had the experience of having to move schools. I had to move schools after freshman

year then also after sophomore year. Moving schools can affect a teenager because then they go

into a whole new environment. Moving schools really affected me because I felt isolated and that

I didn’t have any new friends. Moving schools can be a really stressful experience because you

feel as if you are in a new environment and you have to adapt to it. Moving especially right after

COVID put me into a weird spot because I already felt behind from my work because I didn’t

succeed in online learning and I also was put into a new space.
 As we emerge from the pandemic, the future of education remains uncertain. But we have

a newfound appreciation for the role of teachers in our lives. The best educators showed us that

even in the darkest times, the light of knowledge can still shine brightly.

In the end, the ups and downs of education during COVID-19 were a testament to the

students and teachers ability adapt and persevere, and a reminder of the vital role that education

and teachers play in shaping our lives.

In conclusion, the COVID-19 pandemic tested the strength of our education system,

illuminating the distinct contrast between good and bad teachers while pushing students to adapt

and grow in unexpected ways. It was a time of disruption, but also a period of resilience and

innovation. As we move forward, let us carry forward the lessons learned during this unstable

chapter in education. The COVID pandemic has basically made my school experience because it

made me lose focus in the key years of middle school and some kids thrived but I was not one of

them. When you have good teachers that help you get through tough times it really makes your

experience better.