After a year of quarantine, stepping into the school building and seeing all your friends and teachers in person almost seems normal. Yes, precautions like masks and social distancing give the whole situation a touch of surreality, but seeing classmates instead of black boxes, talking freely instead of having to unmute in Zoom, and navigating the ever-tricky hallways of PHS have all been reminders of how much progress has been made in the past year. However, these same “mundanities” are also reminders of what we’ve taken for granted, and if we want to stay in-person, we need to continue being cautious. We also need to recognize that being in person comes with new challenges, both academic and social, that will take time to adjust to. As such, the administration, teachers, and students should all recognize that when things are disorganized or messy, many are due to a result of our adjustment that is slow but steady.

In the past year, many teachers did away with the idea of late work. Of course, there were still deadlines for assignments, but teachers were generally much more lenient and understanding when or if homework was turned in at a later date. Now, however, things are starting to change, with many teachers slowly putting back more expectations on turning in assignments on time (many of us probably got an explanation of late work policies on the very first day.)  is change, though with positive intention and many positive benefits, can be disorienting for many who are more used to getting extensions. Similarly, participating in class may be a different experience for those who are used to not speaking as much on Zoom because of technical issues or other extenuating circumstances. Without the privacy of a screen, it can be more stressful to volunteer ideas, but in-person discussions can also lead to less awkward and more in-depth conversations about the topic at hand.

And in general, it can be difficult to  find the motivation to do work a er a year of staring at computers and sitting in our own rooms. Building up our work ethic again will happen gradually, but it will prepare us better for the future. While there have been several academic changes with the new in-person format, they are largely for the better: We just need to learn how to learn again.

Socially, having spent what seemed like forever on FaceTime, iMessage, and Instagram, talking to friends in person can feel like more of a challenge than it has to be. What used to be fully charged social batteries are now drained power sources, unable to support the demands of in-person interaction. Many students’ once-thriving social groups have dwindled down to merely a few, a number easier to stay connected to online. Simply put, talking to people is hard now, even for the most exuberant extroverts. Dealing with this social fatigue on top of an already grueling high school schedule seems like a daunting feat.  is upcoming year will undoubtedly be characterized by the jarring, yet necessary, transition back to in-person life — both socially and academically. While academic burnout is more commonly discussed, social burnout is an equally real and devastating issue that many students will inevitably face over the next few months. Expecting students to seamlessly ease back into in-person school would be extremely destructive to student wellbeing.

Yet burnout doesn’t just affect students’ lives within school, it also impacts students’ lives as a whole. Emerging from a pandemic, many students have experienced grief, loss, and suffering. Almost everyone knows someone who has been personally impacted by COVID-19. Whether that be a friend quarantining for 2 weeks or witnessing a grandparent in a hospital bed, every student is coming into the school year with baggage, regardless of the size, magnitude, or capacity. Overcoming this hurdle is already a lot for so many students, even before they have to confront the transition back to in-person school.

Saying that this year will be different is an understatement — this year will bring back memories for some of us while being completely new to others. Yet everyone will be facing an adjustment period regardless, and we should recognize that as we navigate the academic and social obstacles and surprises that are to come. Forcing ourselves to adapt suddenly won't happen. Instead, we need to slowly change with the world, and, more importantly, be kind to ourselves.