How does COVID-19 affect students?
By: Reva Joshi
Tags: Distance Learning, Quarantine, Schools, Covid 19, Pandemic

More than 317,000 Americans have died so far from COVID-19 and there have been over 18 million cases in the US. This virus is serious business and has affected Americans of all ages. It’s truly like they say, “the virus doesn’t discriminate.” Personally, I have learned and grown a lot through these long months in quarantine. But many other students are suffering because of the effects of this virus. Many things in our ordinary life have changed. For example, schools have shut down forcing distance learning on students leading them to feel isolated from the world. Other students have seen the virus up front and are dealing with other personal matters. No matter who you are, your voice is heard. Today, I am here to explore the effects of COVID-19 on students.

Students are currently engaging in remote learning. In a recent anonymous survey I conducted, 60% of High School students reported that online school has not helped them academically. When asked to explain their choice, one student said that “it has been very hard to learn especially since classwork and homework have been mixed.” Another student said that they “find it harder to learn” online. Based on the results of the survey, we can conclude that the sudden shift to online school has negatively affected students. Distance learning is an uncharted territory and right now we do not have a choice when it comes to schooling. In my school, teachers are trying their best to uplift students while still educating them but there is still a long way to go.

Remote learning is a rocky road that’s still developing. The Washington Post reported that more students than ever got F’s in the first term of the 2020–2021 school year (Strauss 2020). This sour report shows that students aren’t understanding and processing the material they’re supposed to learn in online school. A recent research from The NASFAA showed that 76% of all undergraduates surveyed identified the lack of motivation for online learning as the biggest obstacle and 56% of graduate and professional students felt the same way (Daugherty 2020). Lack of motivation is another rationale responsible for the drop of grades in American students.

It’s a major issue and I believe that the only way to move past this predicament is for schools to offer support to students. If school’s really want students to succeed they should consider their student’s feedback and cries for help. Schools should also provide lenience to students because every student is going through something. In my survey, I asked teenagers to explain how COVID-19 affected them personally. Nonetheless, all the answers were of a vast range. Some students opened up about loneliness. This makes perfect sense, talking to a computer screen all day can definitely have consequences. The same teen expressed how “everyday is the same and there’s nothing to look forward to.” At this time we are not able to see our friends and are obligated to a certain space. Due to that matter, it is common for time to feel repetitive. In fact, COVID-19 has had a psychological toll on students. A survey from JMIR proved that 71% of students indicated increased stress and anxiety due to the COVID-19 outbreak (Sasangohar 2020). The students involved in the survey explained that they felt fear and anxiety due to worries about their health and of a loved one. Many others reported difficulty concentrating, disruptions in sleep patterns, academic performance, and the absence of social interaction. The students in my survey felt the same way regarding the pandemic. This productive survey opened up my eyes to the harsh truths of the world. Since the majority of students feel this way, schools are partially responsible. Many schools lack tolerance and don’t cater to all teenagers’ personalized experiences. This explains why so many students are struggling in school.

The first step is to communicate our concerns and lead a movement. Schools are here to help us fellow students, not to suppress our voices. I’m sure that thorough communication with the school district can help us students achieve a reasonable agreement concerning remote learning.

Works cited:

Strauss, Valerie. “Analysis | More Students than Ever Got F’s in First Term of 2020–21 School Year — but Are A-F Grades Fair in a Pandemic?” The Washington Post, WP Company, 6 Dec. 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/12/06/more-students-than-ever-got-fs-first-term-2020- 21- school-year-are-a-f-grades-fair-pandemic/.

NASFAA, www.nasfaa.org/news- item/22637/Students_Face_Obstacles_Lack_of_Motivation_in_Transition_to_Remote_Learning_Ami d _Pandemic_Report_Finds

Son1, Changwon, et al. “Effects of COVID-19 on College Students’ Mental Health in the United States: Interview Survey Study.” Journal of Medical Internet Research, JMIR Publications Inc., Toronto, Canada, www.jmir.org/2020/9/e21279/.