COVID-19 Shuts down schools, Students React

With the new COVID-19 virus quickly spreading, it was only a matter of time before schools, in the county, were forced to take action, postponing school and resorting to Flexible Instruction Days.

Junior Gabby Cartier was unbothered by the news.

“I didn’t really care in all honesty; it wasn’t that big of a deal at first,” said Cartier.

When it was officially decided that students would no longer be returning to campus for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year, there were many mixed reactions.

Some students saw this as a positive opportunity.

Junior Embla Due recalls feeling optimistic.

“I was kind of happy just because I was tired, and it was the end of the year, but right now all I can really do is say that I’m very excited for next year,” said Due.

While others were understandably disappointed.

Freshman Herny Kopp shared how this news impacted him.

“I was initially upset, for the sole reason of not being able to see my friends,” said Kopp. “Then I realized a lot of my other friends are seniors, and I am never going to see them again.”

While freshman, sophomores, and juniors have the ability to come back for the 2020-2021 school year, it is important to remember the seniors who never fully finished out their final year at Susquehannock.

Senior Jonathan Collins remembers feeling torn.

“On one hand, I wasn’t able to see my friends again or do the things that you can only do as a senior, like graduation, but then again I did like all the free time I got,” said Collins. “I could use the day how I wanted to. That was nice, instead of going to school for 8 hours and only having three classes.”

It was a common theme that most seniors were disheartened they couldn’t participate in events like prom, graduation, and their final season of spring sports. Despite the disappointment, they found themselves trying to remain positive.

When asked about online schooling some students found the new program difficult, while others thought it wasn’t teaching them enough.

Sophomore Rebecca Lynch admits it was a difficult transition.

“It was really frustrating and stressful because everything you got used to and that learning style was completely changed,” said Lynch. “Learning in a classroom and then doing online felt completely different and very sudden.”

Many other students described their process in transition similarly.

Sophomore Maddie Johnson missed having a teacher lead each lesson in person.

“It’s hard not having a clear plan coming directly from the teacher,” said Johnson. ‘I’m still getting used to having nobody guide me with the work that is assigned to me. I’m kind of on my own.”

Other students feel as though they have found a good routine with online schooling but miss seeing their peers along with the education physically going to school brings.

While many students feel as if they were robbed of some part of the school year, almost all are optimistic about what the future holds for them.