By Evelin Cabrera

With the Coronavirus going around and everyone being locked down to stop the spread, we do not know how long all this craziness will continue. It is scary how fast it spread in a matter of just days, and thinking about the future only gets scarier. Remember when we were in class in March and did not think this was a big deal, and then it was? The best thing for us to continue to do now is to practice social distancing and that includes the schools being closed.

However, students still need to get their education, so on-line school has saved us. It is allowing us to finish school as planned, and as normal as possible. Getting education and staying on track to finish the year is very important, but there is another aspect of schoolwork that is helping PHS students. Schoolwork is also helping us stay busy and not get into the habit of becoming unhealthy. As a junior, the last thing I would want is to spend one of my last summers in school because of this virus. I have never been to summer school, and I am not about to start now. Online schooling is a huge help and benefit to us.

So while many students are grumbling about APEX and needing to do work online that is not nearly as good as being face to face with our friends and teachers, we are able to get through this tough time as normally as possible. We will eventually get back to class, saying hi to each other face to face, but for now, this is the best that can happen. Distance learning is useful because we can still communicate with our teachers and we are able to retake quizzes and tests so we do not end up failing. Do not be afraid to ask teachers for help either. They want to help and they miss their students as much as we miss being around our friends and teachers.

Although many of us miss school, and fear that we might not be going back, online school is definitely making us productive while we are home. It is better to be doing work than really not doing anything. There are downsides about it, like waking up at 8:30 and having to sign in to all your classes as if it was a regular day in school. But we would have to be getting up and dressed and out the door going all the way to school every day. So look on the bright side. This is easier.

The best thing to keep in mind doing your online work is that by completing work online, the school year will not be extended. We are still getting credit for the days. So do not get down about being in school while you are at home, look at it like you are just in school anyway and that you can eat your breakfast while you are doing your work. We even still had our spring break, and seniors will still be able to graduate on time.

Not knowing when we come back is scary, especially for seniors since we do not know when we will be able to go back to school. At least we can stay positive knowing that we still can get our credits without the fear of having to makeup credits or having our summer ruined. Hopefully, after all of this blows over, we can go back to school and everything will go back to normal.

We have teachers and staff members who are trying to do everything possible to help us. I am thankful of the staff that is so helpful to the students. With all the ups and downs of online school, at least we still continuing to be educated, not as good as in class, but the best that we can right now. So while you are home, stay productive, practice social distancing, do your lessons, ask for help when you need it, and let us all do our part so that we can all be back together soon!