The stress surrounding typical high school drama has quickly moved backstage as COVID19 takes the spotlight for many secondary school students. Over the past summer, The Park City School District announced that Park City students have the option to resume their primary and secondary education full-time, and in person. 

While many students were prepared for the loss of pep rallies and school dances, they were shocked at how quickly they would return to online learning. If your classroom in the 140’s hallway morphs into a queen-size bed, no need to fret, welcome to PCHS’s Ultimate Survival Guide for Online Learning.

Nutrition

While there is debate surrounding the popular statement, “Breakfast is the most important meal of the day”, some sort of priority needs to be placed on the first meal of the day, as well as the other two that follow. Optimal productivity is rarely achieved with the echoes of a growling stomach. Get creative with your meals. What is the hype surrounding whipped coffee? Teenagers are especially susceptible to the dangers of diet culture and “2-week challenges”, so always remember to listen to your body. 

Set a Schedule

As tempting as a 10:00 alarm may sound to students, waking up at 7:35 and following the 4-period block schedule as closely as possible is the best choice in the end. Find a spot in your house dedicated to completing schoolwork in a vertical fashion. In March, many of the students who struggled the most typically rolled over in bed to join their Zooms. After class, the world is your oyster, but in order to earn a 3.5 and above, schoolwork comes first!

Fashion First 

Did you know, working in your pajamas often tricks your brain into believing that is time to sleep? Changing clothes is a simple yet effective way to maximize productivity throughout your day. Look good, feel good, right?

Communicate With Your Teachers

Many students have come to learn that an hour and a half Zoom sessions do not leave much leeway for one-on-one conversations with teachers. Scheduling times to talk, as well as communication via email, not only shows engagement but also lays a solid foundation for online success. 

You Time

Between mounds of schoolwork and adolescence, quarantine and online learning can get lonely and difficult. Making sure that your schedule isn’t just “all work, and no play” is priority #1. Don’t let your parents fool you, it is ok to scroll mindlessly through Tik Tok, maybe just not hours on end. Enjoy the beautiful scenery that Park City has to offer, or take an art break. Reach out to your friends, and family. Find time to feed your soul. 

Exercise 

According to the UVA Health System, “Regular exercise may reduce the risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, a major cause of death in patients with the COVID-19 virus, a top exercise researcher reports. He (Zhen Yan) is urging people to exercise based on his findings, which also suggests a potential treatment approach.” If you are a COVID positive student, listen to your body and rest up, but for the rest of us, find a way to get a few thousand steps in and raise your heart rate a little. Maybe even try the Chloe Ting ab challenge. Teenage girls swear by it.

Quarantine is certainly not the best part of any student’s high school experience, however, that does not mean it should go to waste. There are countless activities to do from home, and in the age of technology, it has never been easier to reach out to those you care about.