Last year COVID-19 changed everything. Masks were required indoors, people had to stay 6 feet apart, and schools had to create accommodations for the virus. Many students opted to switch to online schooling when the pandemic hit. Not only did students have to take responsibility for their own schooling, but they also had to stay motivated. But this year many students returned to school. 

Emma Mulherin is a junior here at Liberty, and she returned from virtual for this school year. She described the transition from virtual to in-person. 

“From virtual to in-person was more of a physical change than a mental one,” Mulherin said. “I have to put on actual clothes instead of just pajamas, drive to school instead of just rolling out of bed, and I have to do all my classes right away instead of having my choice of timing.” 

Many students have gone through the same change as Mulherin. She mentioned that while she was taking virtual classes it was harder to stay motivated. 

“It would be super easy too, like I said, fall asleep or just mindlessly scroll through Tik Tok,” Mulherin said. “Rather than school being the main priority, it became more of a background thing.” 

Even though she was technically “at school”, Mulherin still had the same problem as many in-person students, motivation. When asked what she missed most about Liberty, she said she missed “the social aspect. I lost a lot of my acquaintances due to just not being able to keep in touch. I also couldn’t really make new friends because all I saw were profile pictures on a Google Meet.”

Paige Packingham, also a junior, said she struggled with staying motivated while being virtual. 

“I had less motivation because you didn’t have to see the teacher,” Packingham said. “They couldn’t talk to you so there was no point in doing the work.” Packingham also mentioned that she finds “in person easier to concentrate and do work and get help from teachers.” She missed spirit days and being able to connect with teachers. 

According to pyschologytoday.com, you can persevere through the hard times by following some of these simple steps. First, try and focus on the positive outcomes of the goal. For instance, studying for an hour will help you to pass the exam. Next, try and track your progress so you know when you’ve reached a milestone. Finally, try and make the task more enjoyable, like listening to music while doing your homework.