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Self-paced learning during Covid

By Margaret Hudson, age 18 | May 24, 2021

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IT WORKED FOR HER Margaret Hudson, a new graduate from Lamar High School, says she transitioned well to online learning for her senior year of high school. (Photo: Margaret Rotan)

There is no doubt that the past year has been a challenging transition for most. For many children and teens, coronavirus has introduced obstacles that have hampered self-paced learning and enrichment. For me, coronavirus has added a layer to my learning, and I have fully embraced it.

Online education has allowed me to put into practice the self-sufficiency and self-discipline that is required for successful self-paced learning, not to mention a successful life. Intrinsic motivation is not something that is easily taught, so I’m grateful for this opportunity to fine-tune this most essential skill.

As humans, we are creatures of adaptation. The world is constantly changing, and we change with it to survive. I think that the pandemic has opened a new door for mankind and has jump-started a new age of technology, where much more will be managed virtually rather than in person.

Personally, the thought of going back to high school in its traditional form seems foreign to me. My routine has changed, and with it, the way I learn. I have adapted. It almost seems wrong to backtrack by attending school as I was last March. Instead, I am getting acquainted with what is to come. I have begun to prepare myself for collegiate learning.

Something I admire and applaud is Lamar High School’s continued efforts to support its students through these difficult times by meeting us where we are. Though I have found that I thrive in a self-paced environment, others excel in a more traditional classroom environment. Lamar has made the transition back to campus efficient and safe for its students, whether virtual or in-person. There is something to be said for the school’s ability to adapt to best serve all its students. After all, the goal for any high school is to turn out students prepared for life beyond its four years, and Lamar, along with the changes that coronavirus brought, has done just that for me.

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