Like most other students, when it was first announced that we would be off from school I was thrilled. I was relieved that I wouldn’t have to take that science test or prepare for my history DBQ. I cleaned out my locker and prepared for a week off from school. Gradually however, our leave was extended to two weeks, till April 1st, April 15th, and most recently, April 29th. 

Knowing that I probably won’t be back at Ward Melville till September, I have mixed feelings. On one hand, I’m happy that I can avoid some of my worse teachers, but on the other hand, I’m nervous about how much I will learn without formal instruction.

Being a sophomore, I am still learning skills that I will need for the rest of my life. I still need to understand the basics of math that I am learning in my Algebra-Two class in order to advance to more difficult courses later in my educational career. I still need to understand the data analytical skills that we didn’t have a chance to cover in AP Statistics. I still need to understand the fundamentals of honors chemistry in order to take AP Chemistry next year, and chemistry in college. Without classes, even though we are assigned work through google classroom, the caliber of difficulty is unmatched. I am not learning nearly as much, and it worries me, because when we resume classes next year, my classmates and I will not be up to speed. 

With the cancellations of the regents exams and the SAT/ACT’s, the shortsighted part of me is glad that I don’t have to study for more exams this year, but the more prudent side of me knows that this will result in a gap in my transcript/resume that I will have to fill later on. 

As a sophomore, I have just begun building my resume, and because of the Coronavirus, some of my aspirations are no longer possible. The countless hours I spent creating and perfecting essays to apply to summer programs were futile. I was ecstatic when I was accepted into a few of these selective programs, but I became devastated when news of their cancellation came. My summer plans have been deterred and I have no options other than staying home left. 

This was also the year I was going to dip my toe into the pool of science competitions. I have little experience with in person science fairs, and this year I was supposed to attend two low level competitions. I never had the chance to learn how to complete/ format a project, or how to present the finished product. This year was supposed to prepare me for my junior year, when I will be forced to take part in higher level competitions. I am nervous that without a solid foundation that sophomore year was intended to provide me, next year I will drown. 

Apart from my academic worries, I feel the same restlessness that the rest of the world is facing. I watch the news everyday and feel more and more helpless. The world is in crisis and there is nothing I or anyone can do to effectively combat it. I want to spend time outside with my friends, but I know that this would be selfish because it would contribute to the rising infection rates.

Albeit I am tired of seeing the same four people each day, I know that I am one of the lucky ones. I have the privilege to stay at home, while countless other American healthcare workers must risk their lives and fight the virus on the frontlines; so although I wish I was not trapped in my house, I am grateful I can be.