Recently, due to COVID-19, students at AE/MS have started an online learning system. When the epidemic reached the point where we were sent home, I felt nervous and excited to be doing the work at home. I was mainly excited because of the idea of being able to work at my own pace, but I soon found out it was very easy to fall behind.

After the first week, everything became more comfortable and I started to form a schedule. When I found out our 8th grade New York City trip was cancelled, I was devastated, but what brought me out of the sadness I felt for losing our trip was starting up mentoring again with my little buddy and I sending emails back and forth.

I think the best thing that came out of remote learning is the ability to control the speed that you work at. I believe this because it gives kids an opportunity to take things at their own speed, and have more time to talk with their teachers about their classes.

COVID-19 has affected all of our lives, and has left me upset, happy to be home, and tired, but hopefully our community, state, country, and world as a whole can get through this.

When I learned we would not be returning for the remainder of the school year, all I could think was, “This was not how my classmates and I planned to end our time at AE/MS.” However, the best we can do is keep ourselves in a good mindset and look forward to a COVID-19 free future, our graduation, and to the time we can see our Andover family once again.