To think four years ago was the start of a global pandemic that shut down the world is…wild. It’s been so long yet it’s almost impossible to think it didn’t happen. COVID-19 has yet to leave for sure, but its major impact is long gone. 

Things have returned to normal, which is good, but what even was abnormal? In 2020, we couldn’t go outside without a mask, which caused a massive amount of crazy behavior from those who either were shut in too long or hated to wear. Many people came up with crazy ideas or bizarre things about the virus, down to the outright insane. But let’s not focus on that. Let’s focus on how school was and is.

School for the most part takes place at the school itself, but during the pandemic, it occurred instead at home. The results of this were mixed, as while some learned just fine, others either ignored, got distracted from, or outright just sidelined the lesson as they did things at their own leisure instead. People would just refuse to work, and grades began hitting the floor

Fast forward to the first genuine year of school since COVID. Social Interactions and general education are lower than before. Though, people wouldn’t stop to try their best (mostly) to learn. With a few exceptions, the years past 2020 have pushed education along substantially.

Now to the present. School is still in buildings, but the remnants of COVID regulations have been burnt away, for the most part. Masks have become less common and have become a tool for those who are sick, instead of a stupid protesting walk-out point. And honestly? I’m glad to be able to genuinely experience high school, safe from having to do constant chores in between breaks in class, and having to hope my Wifi or parent’s sanity about an unclean kitchen doesn’t give way.