The Catalyst / Photo courtesy of Isabel MacGinley
Isabel MacGinley, junior at Sacred Heart Preparatory
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 Isabel MacGinley, a junior at Sacred Heart Preparatory, about her experiences going to school online.
The Catalyst (TC): What is a typical day of school like for you?
Isabel MacGinley (IM): On a typical school day, I wake up at 8:35 a.m. and log into Zoom at 8:30 a.m. I finish around 3:oo p.m. still in my bed. After my classes, I usually do homework for about four hours and then watch TV, shower, and hashtag repeat.
TC: How are you coping with social distancing and keeping in touch with your friends?
IM: Social distancing is awful. I miss my friends, and I took partying for granted. I can only keep in touch over social media, texting, or calling.
TC: How do you feel about your school year ending like this?
IM: I am stressed because it’s my junior year, and I need to take my ACT again, and I am worried about my AP exams and final exams.