Help Yourself so You can Help Your Teachers

By: Anna Makaryan '22

(Image courtesy of blogs.stjude.org)

Have you found online school dreary? Well, before you blame your teachers there are some changes you can make to benefit both you and them. Even if the changes you make to better your daily experiences are small, it can help you become more successful and productive. For example, having good hygiene, organized planners, proper equipment for online class, and a positive mindset can help you get through your Zoom classes in a more easy and effective way. By changing your lifestyle and perspective, you are not only helping yourself, but also your teachers and the people around you.

One way that helping yourself can be beneficial for you and your teachers is looking presentable and participating in class. During the current pandemic, it can be very challenging to focus on self care and quality of life. You may not have motivation to get up, plan your day, look presentable, or socialize in classes, but doing so can change your outlook and result in an easier daily routine. By looking presentable, you mentally prepare yourself to start the day off on a good note. It can give you energy and a sense of liveliness. As a result of this, you will also most likely be more involved in classes and not shy away from participating and turning on your camera in class. This makes it a more fun and enjoyable experience for you and your teachers have an easier time teaching when students are interested and paying attention to the lesson.

Another way to help yourself and your teachers is to have a proper learning space, good equipment, and be organized. For example, having a planner of all the assignments you have due, buying a nice microphone, and having a section in your room dedicated for learning without any distractions can be helpful for the both of you. By doing these things, you are more capable of concentrating, more likely to get assignments done, and have an easier time communicating with others during Zoom calls. Your teachers will be able to understand you better with your new microphone, and it will be easier for them to know how you’re doing in the class and what things you need help with if you're involved and they see that you are willing to learn.

Mariam Aharonian, who’s a junior at El Camino High School, said that she started the semester with a very unmotivated attitude, but has tried bettering her life in the past month.

“I used to wake up 10 minutes before class and go through my entire schedule in my pajamas and with messy hair. I never really felt like participating or paying attention in class, especially in classes where I had to turn my camera on. After I started to wake up early to get dressed and look nice, I have so much more motivation to get things done. I actually turn on my camera and socialize with people in my classes way more. The classes are way easier to get through and overall I have a way better experience.”

She also described the importance of staying organized and keeping track of her assignments, saying, “I keep a planner now where I write everything I have due the day before. It really helps me stay organized and it’s such a good feeling to cross out assignments when I’m done so I know I’m not falling behind. Also, I have a desk in the corner of my room and I keep my books, folders, notebooks, and computer. You should really try having an area just for school. It helps me stay focused and feel like I’m in a classroom environment.”

Taking this advice can change your entire virtual learning experience. During the pandemic, we need to adjust our lives to where we can still be productive and get things done. If you get lazy and let quarantine take a toll on your mental state, it will be harder to bounce back to your regular life once everything goes back to normal. Even little steps like looking nice, getting out of bed, having proper equipment for online school, being organized, and staying focused can bring positive changes to your day, while simultaneously creating a nicer environment for your teachers and fellow students in class.