School has been rough for all of us, especially during quarantine. Many students in HISD and all across the nation are going through hardships. At Westside, many students are working virtually this school year since HISD put out COVID-19 restrictions. Some including Westside juniors have been going virtual. One Westside junior, Summer Petrie, is doing virtually for the 2020-2021 school year. Her experience virtually school has led her life very differently than before.

Summer Petrie has been working on all of her assignments, which she claims is a challenge sometimes. “I was so used to doing classwork in an actual classroom and only some homework online, but now that everything is online, its super challenging now”. Summer has also claimed her daily schedule changed since she is home. She wakes up for school, attends from 8:30 am till 11 am then goes to work. Then she comes home at 6 pm and does homework, She likes that factor of time on online school because it gives her the opportunity to attend work early and come home early as well. She claims she now has more time than she ever had for school. Completing work isn’t a hassle for Summer, but sometimes she recieves too much work. “One problem that I have with online school is the amount of work teachers think they can give their students because they are at home. Im pretty sure majority of us have to do chores and have a life to live outside of school and I feel like they need to understand “too much” work stresses us as much as they do too”. 

Summer also understands how COVID-19 also plays a big role on why she chose virtual schooling. She agrees that her choice will potentially help her family and herself from risk, and also thinks it will help others around her too. She also understands its a challenge, but she is willing to take it up!