Aditri Misra

I still remember the first time I heard about Covid. I was in Class 5, and we were enjoying the last few days of the semester, after our finals were over. The teachers wanted to keep us quiet, and so they told us to write about ‘Covid’ and what precautions to take against it. After travelling from friend group to friend group, I found out that it was some weird cough-virus or something that was in China. Eh, who cares? It’s not in India anyway – can’t be that serious. Hah…

And here I am, more than two years later, now in Class 8. The two years of sleep that were online classes whizzed by before I realised what it even was that zoomed past me. Probably, one of those virus drawing stock images that sanitizer companies use. Metaphorically speaking.

See I didn’t, not pay attention, on purpose. But I have a strange incapability to understand anything during online classes.

Also, the entire internet was at my fingertips! DURING class!!

Of course, at that time, it felt like I was stuck in some very monotonous, never-ending time loop. Wake up five minutes before class starts, sleep through the entire thing while never doing ANY classwork or homework whatsoever (because what are the teachers going to do, send me home?) And then not stepping out for the rest of the day and spending time on the Internet, doing nothing worthwhile.

This led to a few, err, habits that have been bugging me from the sudden jump from Class 5 to 8. So, this leads to a very basic list of things that have changed in this time period, other than my appearance (I looked like a toddler in Class 5). This is also a letter of sorts, to parents and teachers, so they can just generally keep these points in mind.

1. I had no social life in online classes

What do you expect? Others can’t leave you on ‘read’ in real life. When I came back to school, I felt like I’d forgotten how to speak to others and I sadly couldn’t just go offline with the click of a mouse. Thankfully, I’ve made my share of friends who feel the same, and they make this whole adjustment thing a lot less annoying.

2. Study gaps

Since I paid no attention in online classes at all, it left me with a lot of gaps in what I’m learning in Class 8. I can’t do x without the basic knowledge of y, but y was taught in Class 6! How embarrassing it would be, to ask ma’am to explain y in front of the whole class. How even more embarrassing would it be to not be able to do x when some of the others can.

3. Being lazy

This was a last resort … I think.

Dramatic flashback to point 2 begins

Study gaps…

Dramatic gasp

Dramatic flashback ends

I can explain!! See I didn’t, not pay attention, on purpose. But I have a strange incapability to understand anything during online classes.

Also, the entire internet was at my fingertips! DURING class!! I refuse to believe there was a single student who sat diligently at their table and chair, taking notes and speaking in class while the YouTube application shortcut stared at them. It’s something that many of us are guilty of, even the ones who understood what the teacher was talking about. And all this led to point 4 … (drum roll).

4. Low attention span!

Speaks for itself. I have to get used to sitting through history class all over again, with added difficulty and syllabus. Pshh.

5. Syllabus

Pick up a Class 5 math book and go through it. Now do the same with a Class 8 one. I had it SO EASY??!!

What I’m trying to say is, Class 5 was for babies. I’m officially a big kid now, learning about the periodic table, and protons, neutrons, electrons, quarks, and what not. No more photosynthesis for this teen! (We still have to learn about that, actually…)

I did very little writing work for two years, give me a break! Same goes for exams. I’m always rushing to squeeze in some extra points in the questions after the bell has rung, and we’re asked to put our pens down. This is going to take a while getting used to.

Unfortunately, discovering the not-so-secret-secrets of the universe comes at a price. Lots of homework and classwork, and projects. Lots of them.

And my disintegrating hands cannot keep up with the pace of this!! I did very little writing work for two years, give me a break! Same goes for exams. I’m always rushing to squeeze in some extra points in the questions after the bell has rung, and we’re asked to put our pens down. This is going to take a while getting used to.

In English, we learnt about the different purposes of writing. I think they were writing to describe, present a point of view, inform, advise, entertain and a few more. This essay was all of them, I think.

Describing what has changed, presenting our point of view in this debate, informing teachers and parents what it’s like for us, and (highly) advising teachers to please, please, please give us more Free Periods.

And lastly, I hope I have entertained you. Thank you!