Damon Lewis, senior at Serra High School

Since many schools have closed due to the coronavirus pandemic, many high school students are going to school online in what is called distance learning. Some of them communicate with their teachers via email or websites, like gClassroom and Schoology. Others participate in online classrooms via video conferencing apps, like Google Hangouts and Zoom. The Catalyst interviewed Damon Lewis, a senior at Serra High School in San Mateo, about their experiences going to school online.

Zoe Spencer, Staff Writer

The Catalyst (TC): What is a typical day of school like for you?

Damon Lewis (DL): Through the Zoom meetings, I find it gives time to catch up with school work with teachers. But, they also are aware of the lack of the social aspect, so they do invite us to talk with our peers in the meetings to just stay and touch with each other, especially in a time of such uncertainty and high levels of stress.

TC: How are you coping with social distancing and keeping in touch with your friends?

DL: I’m staying in touch with my friends through social media, mostly. As well, I’m not really a video game person usually, but I have found myself playing games with friends and talking to them through the headset to keep that interaction present and get the sense that I’m not alone. And, FaceTime calls help give you the impression that you’re with that person, even though it is through a screen.

TC: Do you want to go back to school or do you like distance learning? Why?

DL: I would much rather go to school. The schedule of the school day – I am more accustomed to, rather than online, and I feel more stressed having to get all my assignments electronically, not always knowing when they are going to get assigned to me.