2020 has been quite the interesting experience.

As a world we have been faced with many challenges and changes, some more difficult to accept and cope with than others. This 2020-2021 school year has been faced with a new obstacle – virtual learning. Now, during this uncertain time it is easy to look at all the bad and be blinded by the hidden treasures in all the mess.

I reached out to a few students (Eliza Weiner, Reese Petrie, Tyson Utesch and Michael Judge) to talk about what they enjoy about online learning – instead of what they dislike about it.

It’s time to look at things through an optimistic lens while hoping for things to return to “normal.” Positivity will make this challenging situation more easy and enjoyable to live through. No more negativity!

Personally, I enjoy the flexibility the online schedule offers. I have adequate time to study, work, spend some time working on music and rest.

Judge agrees. “I’m enjoying the individuality that the asynchronous curriculum is giving us. I’ve been able to explore my interests and spend more time on important things outside of school that I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to do if classes were still in session,” Judge said.

Weiner and Petrie enjoy more simplistic aspects of virtual learning. “I enjoy being able to sleep in and go through my work at my own pace,” Weiner said. Petrie enjoys getting to do, “real learning even if it is from home, and we still get to do some of the things we do in the classroom like reading books as a class, writing essays and having a school schedule.”

Online learning has its challenges such as managing workload and learning – more like mastering – time management. However, these students have learned to manage while appreciating how this schedule pushes them to grow.

Utesch notes the new schedule, “makes it harder to procrastinate. Even though I like procrastinating, it makes me feel better cause I’m not doing it as much.” Weiner, who is preparing for college next year adds, “Honestly, it’s probably a good thing that I’m learning to manage my workload outside of scheduled classes, since in college next year I will only have classes 2-3 times a week but will need to complete most of my work outside of class and schedule homework and studying time myself.”

It is said you never grow if you’re comfortable. With this new virtual learning students and staff are being stretched to adapt in this new environment. Some are able to find the beauty in that.

Lastly, many feel like they’re missing out on their freshmen, sophomore, junior or senior year of high school. Judge has an interesting take on this. “I feel like I’m missing out on a lot, but I feel as if it’s just an unconventional way to go about life so we still need some time to find a new enjoyable normal. We’re missing out on what we’re used to, but there’s so much more to experience than just that.”

Quite frankly, I feel like this is a beautiful way to look at change in life; why focus on what you don’t have or what you’re missing out on and focus on what is right in front of you. Find the beauty.

Judge chooses to focus on the gift of the present while Weiner is grateful Salisbury is prioritizing safety, even though she is not having a “normal” senior year. She says, “I do feel like I’m definitely not having a ‘normal’ senior year, but I’ve actually had a lot more free time to have socially distant park hangouts with friends, and most of all, I’m happy that we are prioritizing safety, since I would much rather be inconvenienced by an online senior fall than be the cause of someone catching COVID-19 or accidentally get more at-risk people sick, like my grandparents.”

It’s important to remember why we are in online school in the first place: to ensure the health and safety of the students, staff and community.

I encourage you to take a look at your situation this week and find the good in it all. Life is too short to dwell on negativity. That’s all for this week; stay tuned for more student news!