Remote Learners Navigate Challenges

By Coco Chen ‘24

With the closing of Window 1, students have completed their assessments and group projects, received their grades for each course, and reflected upon their learning experiences. The remote students are especially faced with challenges due to geographical, technological, and social obstacles. They have become more accustomed to using Zoom throughout these two months of remote learning, but remote learning could still not fully replace in-person learning.

With the end of daylight savings time, there is now even a greater time difference for remote students who live in different time zones. Although not required, Many remote students attend classes after 11:30 pm at night and before 7:45 am. Remote students who attend the late-night classes experience irregular sleeping patterns and unhealthy lifestyles. Brandon Tang, a junior connecting from Shanghai, China, says he “wakes up really early in the morning for ‘evening’ classes when [he] went to bed at 4 am the night before.” Yolanda Zhou, a freshman from Beijing, China, has been trying her best to adjust to school life, but this has become “even more difficult for [her] by [attending] classes at night.” Olivia, a Junior from Singapore, is disappointed that she has to miss several synchronous classes every week and can only attend classes at night. She shares that the evening blocks made her forget what it feels like to have classes in the morning with her classmates. 

Remote students also feel disconnected from the community. They stay at home, stare at their computer screens, and do all the extra-curricular activities alone. In particular, upperclassmen find it hard to fulfill their leadership duties, such as Olivia, the dorm prefect of Pine/Oak this year. She cannot physically meet and talk with the girls in the dorm as she wants to, and Zoom meetings are an unsatisfying alternative. She also misses hanging out with her friends in the dorm. Yolanda also shared that she cannot connect with the teachers as well due to the time differences, which sometimes result in delayed feedback for her assignments. 

Despite these conflicts in the schedule, remote students try to make the best of this experience and stay optimistic. Yolanda has learned some “valuable and essential skills like time management and not procrastinating during this time” to be more efficient. She has also realized the importance of centering herself amid a busy life, and she “[squeezes] out some time for sports to relax.” Olivia is grateful for her teachers, who offer to meet with her individually outside of the normal synchronous blocks she cannot attend. She reflects that the experience has “really taught [her] how to appreciate everything that [she] used to take for granted.” If anything, the pandemic taught the remote students to stay optimistic and be grateful for the support from their teachers, advisors, and parents. 

A Sacrifice for Safety: One Student’s perspective on SM’s COVID-19 Social Contract

Yoonjeong Yang’24

While St. Mark’s has been imposing strict guidelines on campus to ensure the safety of the community, they ironically give rise to some overlooked “side effects.” Many students have expressed that due to the rigid enforcement of new policies, they feel quite pressured, apprehensive, isolated, and overly restricted by the strict rules. Some go so far as to say that they are disappointed by school life because it is starkly different from what they had looked forward to. While students do recognize the importance of taking responsibility in fostering a safe community, such emotions are equally valid and worth of discussion.  

One major policy at St. Mark’s that has emerged from the pandemic is the mask mandate. All students are expected to have, at least, a seven-day supply of masks. Further, there are specific “expectations” for these masks– they must be machine-washable, be dryable without damage to the shape of the mask, fit snugly on the wearer’s face, and the list goes on. Students are required to wear masks (covering the entire nose and mouth) at all times on campus with a few exceptions of spaces like dorm rooms. The next policy is that of social distancing. In classrooms, students must sit at designated– again, the list goes on. Many more guidelines and routines are to be found on the school homepage, not to mention the Boardingware temperature and symptom checks which in-person students have to fill out every single morning. These routines can surely be exhausting, even if we all know that they are necessary. 

I recently felt the harshness of the new policies first-hand, when I was forced to quarantine at the Annex Health Center due to a headache I had. Even though the only symptom I was displaying was a headache, which was probably caused by the recent cold weather, the nurse isolated me in a single room for the entire day while I waited for the result of my COVID test. To be honest, I was not pleased with being stuck inside this room with nearly nothing but a couple of items received from the nurses. At the same time, I understood that the staff was deeply concerned about my well-being. As I spent the day quarantined at health services, I came to understand the importance of the school’s strict guidelines, appreciating their role in keeping every member of our community safe and also realizing how much danger I could expose others to if these guidelines did not exist.

The rules may seem like a lot. Keeping up with academics and sports at school is already a lot, and to have all these added guidelines can surely be stressful. However, when students recognize that the safety of our community depends on our hands, these guidelines may not necessarily feel easier but rather come as more meaningful. 

After all, living in a community means looking out for the welfare of others. St. Mark’s is a small community, and that also means that the actions of each individual matter much more. There are still students who do not follow the new rules as much as they should. I have witnessed students who wear their masks only halfway or do not bother to social distance. Not only can this impose danger on others, but is also extremely unfair to those who are following the rules despite the discomfort. “It bothers me seeing people not wearing masks properly,” Anaya Strong ’24 expressed. Anaya is not alone in thinking this way. We all understand how difficult it is to have to adhere to these strict guidelines. We all want to enjoy school life and socialize with our friends. However, this pandemic has presented our community with a new reality, and we have come to know that safety and socializing are both possible under the school’s guidelines.         

These are difficult times, but we must remember that the entire world is dealing with this pandemic. Compared to countless others around the world, we are fortunate to live in a community that is safe and cares about its members. Even though the new rules may initially seem strict, they really are not that unreasonable when we consider the alternative of fighting against the deadly virus. As a community, it is our responsibility to make sure that our community is safe and secure. If that means wearing a mask, then so be it. If that means socially distancing, fine. As St. Markers explore the feelings of frustration and loneliness that are natural to emerge during the year of pandemic, hopefully they too will come to understand the significance of their actions even more, just as I did.  

The lunch Shift

By Judy Xie ‘23

Lunch has always been one of the busiest and most chaotic parts of St. Mark’s experience. That 35-minute block of the day had students racing down the stem-building stairs and pushing past one another in the hallways to get to lunch before the line grew too long. Everyone would hurry through the server and into the dining hall, filling up their plates and possibly engaging in some small talk along the way as well. Every day, we crammed hundreds of people into a space where we ate and caught up with our friends without worrying about social distancing or being able to hear their voices through a plexiglass safety barrier. 

With the new introduction of a rampant and easily transmittable virus into all of our daily lives, the St. Mark's lunch block needed to be completely reimagined to allow us a safe return to campus this fall. It would be impossible for all students and faculty to eat in the dining hall while still following safety guidelines with our original lunch schedule. Now, lunchtime is instead split into three separate periods between 11:10 and 1:25, with time allocated in between for disinfection. Every day, Lunch B hosts the most amount of students by far because only students who have free blocks during the other lunch periods are assigned to them. Due to my schedule, I have Lunch A on Tuesdays and Fridays and Lunch B on Mondays and Thursdays.

Personally, I prefer Lunch A. The lines are nonexistent, the buzz of the dining halls is quiet enough to have conversations through the plexiglass dividers, and the atmosphere is much less hectic. Since there is a much smaller number of students assigned to Lunches A and C, I am able to see many more of my friends on days that I have Lunch B. It is quite loud in the dining halls during Lunch B, though, so conversation is minimal or less satisfying. Waiting in line for the second lunch is one experience that is very similar to past years. Especially with the added need to remain 6-feet apart under social distancing guidelines, the line always extends far down the hallway. I’m sure that many would agree with me in saying that long lines are always a pain and seem to move along even slower when you have a rumbling stomach. It does, however, offer a small semblance of normalcy during these times where all of our lives feel unfamiliar and chaotic. It’s funny how I now find myself looking at annoyances in my life with a feeling almost akin to fondness and nostalgia. 

There are certainly some aspects of the COVID-friendly lunch schedule that I like, but also others that aren’t as favorable. Overall, I feel that it is the best option that we have at the moment since it allows us the ability to remain safe while still eating inside the dining hall and having a semi-normal lunch experience. 

What the world needs now is Civil Disagreement

By Sophie Chiang ‘23

Trump’s contentious beliefs and wrongful acts certainly make it easy to want to dismiss the Conservative party as a whole. His narcissism, xenophobia, and blatant disrespect have truly painted his party in a negative light, especially in the eyes of our St. Markers. But does that mean Republicans and Democrats should live in constant division?

In a recent chapel, it was mentioned that the Young Republicans club did not yet have a leader this year. However, the SM mock election revealed that there are, in fact, at least 63 Republicans on campus. Though they make up the minority, any of them are eligible to step up as leader of the club. Nobody has. This got me thinking, why is that? In a community where leadership positions are so sought after, why has nobody stepped up? Perhaps, it’s because of the controversy in sporting a conservative stance in today’s divisive political climate.

Dealing with controversial topics and controversial stances can be difficult. In a school of vastly liberal students (with 79% voting for Biden in the mock election), St Mark’s conservatives may be reluctant to lead a Republican club. Each party has differing positions on topics ranging from basic human rights to economic policies, leading to an increasingly polarized world. But we are a school under one roof, and so we must learn how to handle different viewpoints with clarification, reflection, and compromise. 

When controversy arises, we need to clarify the nature of the conflict by setting forth all the information needed. Each side should explain clearly why they stand behind their conviction and offer any relevant evidence, being impartial and using reason wisely. Then, each side should reflect on what the other person has to say. Using prudence and poise, each side should think deeply about the others’ stance, taking it in completely. This requires an open mind, without prejudice or assumptions.

Not every Democrat is an easily offended hippie and not every Republican is a heartless Trump-worshipper. Not every person has as extreme a view as you might assume. We mustn't demonize any one side. You might even come to find out that you have more common ground than you thought on certain issues with a member of the opposite party. But what if you don’t? If you come to disagree strongly with the other person, be sure to do it with maturity. Civil disagreement demands poise, empathy, and compromise. Both sides should be willing to accept that there may not necessarily be a “right answer” or a way to get the other person to agree completely. But of course, use your judgement. If you are disagreeing on something as basic as women’s rights or gay marriage, it is okay to simply walk away from the conversation.

We should keep in mind our differences but not let them prevent us from respecting other groups’ beliefs. We shouldn’t silence someone’s opinion, but instead hear them out. If you don’t believe it is right, give them food for thought to let them change their own mind. Democrats and Republicans have a lot to learn from each other, and by hearing each other out, we might realize that the other actually has some valuable points to present. 

Unexpected learning outcomes

By Amber Lee ‘24

We can all agree that remote learning has brought drastic changes in our lives. It is a method that is new to everyone, and it has thrown us into a different classroom environment. In the process of adapting, we find ourselves experiencing things that would never have occurred in normal situations. Many of us realized the importance and preciousness of interacting with each other. Also, some developed new hobbies, new interests, and even progressed to complete activities that they always wished to do but never had the chance. Although the pandemic and the online classes were situations that were unexpectedly thrust upon us, making the best out of it and using the disaster as an opportunity and to our advantage definitely helped improve the confusion.

When I first started online classes, I thought it would be much easier and much more comfortable. All that was required was a computer, and I did not have to go all the way to school in order to participate in my classes. However, as time passed and I went through months of zoom lessons, I realized the value of in person learning. I missed the time when I could ask questions without fear of technical difficulties and the opportunity to learn with my classmates. It also made me value my teachers and peers. Staying at home all the time allowed me to appreciate my family as well. My parents made sure my learning environment was quiet and appropriate for studying, and they tried their best to make me comfortable and focused. Aside from studying, we also spent a lot of time together, which bonded us even better than before quarantine. We became even closer and learned to understand each other better, even though it was not an optional opportunity. My family tried to make the best out of the situation, so it was nice to be able to be around them and communicate more often.

Another aspect that I appreciated about remote learning was the fact that I could pursue my interests and passions. Although I love books, I did not have the time to read as much as I wanted to. However, I ended up reading at least five books as so much time was saved during the online classes period. I eventually learned how to use the free periods such as time that was previously used for transportation to my advantage, and I completed so many things during them. I also learned to do the splits and learned to cook from my parents. It was nice to be able to get good use out of those times and make it useful.

Although quarantine and social distancing is a difficult and unprecedented situation for everyone, it made us appreciate the opportunities that we usually take for granted. Also, taking advantage of our free time helped make the period richer and fuller.

The Loneliness of online Learning

By Mandy Hui ‘23

Being intentionally small has always been a part of St. Mark’s philosophy since the day it was founded in 1865. Every year, students have sought comfort in the small community and believed it was one of the key factors in differentiating our school from others. This year, however, the pandemic has presented a great barrier to students around the globe studying in different time zones. Many of us have one question in mind: am I the only one feeling lonely?

The feeling of loneliness is ubiquitous and is probably not foreign to any of us, but it poses a number of threats to us, as humans. Loneliness can lead to a higher risk of both physical and mental problems - including anxiety and depression. Since the pandemic, victims of these mental states have surged throughout the world because of the necessity of social distancing, which ultimately forced schools to shut down in-person classes. Students adapted to the new remote environment, learning from a computer screen at home all day, away from real-life interactions.

Everyone has different takes on learning remotely. Some may be exasperated, some may be content, and others may simply be indifferent. There are a number of options to help alleviate loneliness. One may be video-chatting. We are privileged to be in a position where we are able to easily reach out to people via mobile devices. During this pandemic, facetime/skype/zoom can be a bridge for people who crave social interaction as it allows us to view our facial expressions and actions on screen. Compared to texting, video-calling a friend or family is the way to go. Allot a certain time during your day to just call someone; it’ll definitely make your day. Another solution may be exercising - take time out of your day to be active (at home or outdoors) because being active benefits both physically and mentally. Other activities may include any hobbies that are fitting for a home environment. 

Ultimately, coming in terms with the fact that you are not the only one feeling lonely is the best way to combat this feeling. You might try activities other people are doing to mitigate their situation, and since we have so much time in our hands, it’s also important to reflect on yourself as a person. You can discover things you never knew about yourself before this pandemic: your habits, moods, and what you should start prioritizing in life. Reflecting on your needs and learning how to be independent are essential in life. You may enjoy reading, someone may enjoy drawing, and another may enjoy writing to help them handle these circumstances; so at the end of the day, we all cope with this pandemic differently. There is no single answer that will cure this feeling, but if you are in need of help, always talk to someone as they can support you through these difficult times because, in my opinion, that’s when you’ll slowly start to feel better again. 

Look for the Silver Linings

By Katie Park ‘21

On the night before our spring break, Ms. Finnerty came to my room to check-in with me and told me that I should bring some of my textbooks with me because classes might be online after spring break. At the time, I simply thought that was not a possibility. There was an outbreak in European and Asian countries, which was probably the sign that I should be alarmed, but for some reason, I just was not. Then, after about two weeks, I found out that school would be remote until late May. I did not know how to process this news, but at the time, little did I know that Coronavirus would last way longer than late May. 

As soon as I heard back from school, I flew back home, which is in South Korea. I was not able to go back to my dorm to pack my room, so I basically left everything behind and hopped on a plane. When I went back home, I was in quarantine for 14 days while I took classes remotely. There is a 13 hour time difference, so I could not attend some of my classes, and all my classes were at night, which felt very different. Keeping in touch with my close friends was also difficult because of the time difference. I would meet up with my friends from home, but I still felt a bit isolated. I could not help but think about everything that was being taken away from us. 

When I came to the realization that things are not going to get drastically better any time soon, I decided to change my mindset. As cliche as it sounds, positivity is what has helped me go through these trying times. Instead of being frustrated about what was being taken away, I started feeling grateful for what I took for granted. Things that once seemed insignificant, like spending time with my friends in the dining hall complaining about our long days, all of a sudden felt special. While being grateful for the little things, on some days, I couldn’t help acknowledge how unnormal this “new normal” felt and complained about everything. I have discovered the important thing is to find the balance between being grateful and feeling frustrated, and that is how I have tried to cope with the situation. 

Every generation faces hardships, be it a war, depression, or anything else, and the biggest hardship that our generation is facing at the moment is fighting the Coronavirus. They say every cloud has a silver lining. As we go through these remarkable times together, we will be stronger and be prepared to fight any hardships that are yet to come, even if they might be more challenging than the one we are currently fighting.

St. Markers in different time zones face unique learning challenges

By Madison Hoang ‘23

The beginning of the 2020-2021 academic year at St. Mark's has been anything but ordinary: faculty and students alike have found themselves either picking up from the remote learning battle once again - having just ended just 3 months ago - or only just stepping into the chaos and confusion for the first time this fall. While remote learning may have only imposed a slight shift towards the standard 8-4 schedule for most domestic St. Markers, it is an unusually different experience for those who've opted to attend their studies from as far as halfway across the world, where distant time zones can mean as great as an 11, 12 or 13 hour difference. On top of the social and technological challenges presented by remote learning itself, international students face even more obscure, less obvious boundaries, which, for many, have caused a huge shift in their overall lifestyle, including their ability to perform in school and maintain their well-being.

For many international remote learners, classes begin in the evenings, and students are excused after 11:30pm. This year, St. Mark's has implemented ‘evening blocks' to its schedule, in order to better accommodate international students for missed afternoon classes. These blocks usually begin from 7:30am and onwards in Eastern Asia. Lily Luo, a 6th former connecting 1 hour ahead of St. Mark’s time, describes her usual work day:  “I wake up around 9 to catch my morning class, do homework  . . . I sleep around 1 or 2am.” In China, which is 12 hours ahead, Coco Xia a III former experiences a drastically different schedule: “I sometimes get up early to ask questions during evening blocks in the US, and then in the morning I finish the assignments that are due by noon, and I watch the recording videos of some of my classes. My afternoons are mostly free, so I spend time more flexibly. I have remote learning on Zoom starting at 8 p.m. and ending at 1:30 a.m. or 3 a.m. I’m considering getting more sleep during the day.” Due to inverse time zones, students work during the day and attend classes at night. The regular sleep schedule of most international students seems to consist of waking up early in the morning and staying up late for classes.

When asked about their thoughts on the current schedule and its effects on their lifestyle, students expressed mixed reactions. Coco pointed out that it has given her more time in the afternoons to catch up on leisurely activities. But she, along with students like Mandy Hui from the 4th form, express that maintaining a sleep schedule is hard because of the restrictive nature of the dismissal times and evening blocks. According to school guidelines, dismissal for all begins as late as 11:30pm, and ends as early as 7:30am. But evening block times vary according to respective time zones, putting some international students at an advantage over others. For many in Asia, these ‘evening blocks’ can begin as early as  7:30am. Therefore, distant remote learners have to wake up early in the mornings to attend missed classes, resulting in as few as 6 or 7 hours of sleep on some nights. Though this schedule was designed with the intentions to ease communications between teachers and students, this has also imposed negative effects on international learners' sleeping habits and overall well-being. 

So how can teachers better accommodate students in distant time zones, and how can distant learners overcome their remote learning challenges? Unfortunately, there is no easy solution, due to the wide variety of time zones where international students reside. But for many, late bedtimes and early classes are an ill-suited combination, so teachers are encouraged to try their best in facilitating more effective communication with their international students  - keeping in mind that many remote learners may often shy away from being the first to reach out. On the other hand, students should also reciprocate these efforts and communicate with their teachers, by being transparent about any challenges they face with early wake up times and late classes, while also trying their best to go to sleep before 12am and getting at least 8 hours of rest each night. But until daylight savings goes into effect on November 1st - which pushes international students' morning classes back by an hour - the best that learners and teachers can do is try their best to take charge with their own communication and time-management abilities.

Get back in the Groove: Tips for making the best of a sequestered semester

By Fiona Tran ‘23

After the long and well deserved summer break, I am sure that we are all ready to head back to school. But wait, something seems different. Instead of coming to school everyday and having fun with our peers, many of us are at home, and our classes are all held online for the time being. While the novelty might be interesting for the first few days  now that we all are moving up to a new grade and course materials are unfamiliar, things have the potential to get boring very quickly around here. 

As a remote student, I really dislike the fact that I am missing out on the things that any normal high school student is supposed to be experiencing right now. I know that for the time being, or, at least until the spring semester, I will be at home, back in Vietnam. Though, things have gotten better for me, because I have found a way to enjoy the remote experience as much as I possibly can.  Here is how I do it, and I hope that these tips will help you out as well, remote or not.

1. Find a study buddy

Though this might seem like an obvious tip, I don’t think people utilize our amazing social circle enough. Having someone who is also remote like you will definitely make the experience of studying online a little easier. I would highly recommend reaching out to a friend that you know who’s also studying remote, and set up a time where you can study together. If you know that your peer is also staying in the same country as you, reach out and set up a date to have socially distanced hang out. Studying online does not necessarily mean that your social interaction is limited to just online. 

2. Learn to communicate effectively with your advisor/teachers

Reaching out to my advisor about the different problems that I was struggling with proved really effective while I navigated my way through the school year for the first two weeks. I learned that by not sharing your problems with someone who will clearly have the ability to fix it will not fix your problems for you. If you’re struggling with a class, ask your advisor to communicate with your teacher to give you extensions and lower the workload for the first few weeks as you get back. If time zones are too difficult, reach out to your advisor to also talk to your teachers to make adjustments accordingly. No teachers and no advisors will refuse to help you out. In fact they are always willing to accommodate in order to make your learning experience the most effective. 

3. Take a timeout from electronics

No one wants to be sitting behind a computer screen nine hours in a row, and I would assume that you would not like that too. Zooming a lot can be very exhausting. Mentally and physically. Find a slot of time in the day, or in between classes to take a break and stay away from your computer and phone. This will give your eyes a break and will make you feel like your life is not just surrounded by technology. Personally, I find that taking my pet for a walk and playing with him takes my mind off of technology. This is also another thing that people might find weird, but reading also helps a lot as well. 

I hope that all of these tips will help you all thrive and navigate your way through the virtual school year a little bit better, and please please remember that taking breaks for yourself is healthy, and you should always prioritize your emotions before anything else!