Turning on your television, you may have noticed how many schools in the city of Chicago have accepted remote learning as a result of recent outbreaks of coronavirus, as well as the increased risk of the Omicron variant. Seeing the concern displayed on the faces of those being interviewed ultimately begs the question: Should Warren remain in-person, or should our school switch over to online learning again?

When considering the possibility of going back to remote learning, I, like so many others, am overcome by mixed feelings. While I proved to be successful amid last year’s circumstances, I was lucky enough to have a parent that was home with me and a decent workspace, for countless students didn’t even have a quiet area where they could get their work done. Although my grades were as high as they could get, behind the screen, I fought burnout from being on a computer for so long. Even worse, my optimistic self slowly became hopeless since everyone was isolated in their homes for what seemed like forever. I desperately wished to see my friends and extended family without the threat of catching a deadly virus. So when my parents received the news that students would attend high school in person for the 2021-2022 school year, I immediately rejoiced, though I knew COVID-19 was still going to be present in our daily lives.

Having the opportunity to be in person for the first semester provided me with the real high school experience by allowing me to join clubs, meet people who share the same values as me, and make a difference in our community. On top of all this, I felt much more productive, taking on a busy schedule and being truly motivated to do my best.

Comparing in-person versus online learning, I now prefer in-person learning for the very reason that students and teachers can create stronger bonds with one another. Not to mention that students are more likely to grow mentally and academically by being in a proper classroom setting, preparing for what college will bring by learning to work better with others, and becoming more comfortable sharing their ideas. Most importantly, however, is how teachers and students can make lasting memories that can’t otherwise be made through a computer.

Despite this, COVID still poses a greater threat than ever to our school, especially from returning to a sense of normalcy. Every day, we are notified of the rising positive cases among both campuses, which always seems to remind me of how close we might be to shutting down. Each time I receive that email bearing the news of another student getting sick, I think about how much we have all undergone over the past two years, and just how much still lies ahead.

Sometimes COVID-19 affects those who are respecting our school’s policies, but other times it is those who are breaking the common rules of safety. This is why we, as loyal students, must all try to get the message out because wearing our masks, maintaining social distance (although difficult at times), and following the rules established are critical on behalf of everyone at Warren Township High School.