High school is an important time for everyone. It’s a period of change, where people go from little naive kids to young responsible adults. In East Brunswick, sophomore year is one of the most important years in a high schooler’s student life. The switch from Grade 9 to 10 is made harder by the fact that all students are dealing with a global pandemic. The movement from Churchill to the High School is not an easy one. Some like the new high school experience, as they find that they have more time, and others find it difficult to adjust to new rigorous courses.

Some students are feeling more and more inspired to complete their work and put in the effort. “The workload is a little bit harder but I feel the responsibilities kicking in, so I give it my best” states Jacob Aalampour, 10, in an interview. Aalampour feels very happy about the high school environment as he hasn’t noticed much change in his academic life. However, one area he has noticed change is in the engagement in school activities. This year, he joined two clubs as he felt that the catalog was diverse enough for him. Jacob amount of free time has gone up since coming to the high school. The sophomore appreciates that his teachers are being considerate of the current situation. With the global pandemic, students are experiencing lots of tech issues, and teachers are being understanding with the work. Aalampour is elated that his instructors are being empathetic to their students, and admires their determination to make classes just as insightful as pre-pandemic.

Other 10th graders believe that the hardest part in going from Churchill to the high school is the increase in work and rigor. Churchill classes still feel like middle school, so going from that to the high school is difficult as students are thrown right into the deep end. COVID-19 has also impacted the amount of work teachers must give. Hanna Lee stated that during virtual learning, “it’s less work but it’s more taxing because you feel like you’re not learning as much as you would be in school.” Students may experience difficulties understanding through a Teams call, and teachers have accounted for that. Lee commented that the work is “harder but there is less of it.” However, she still feels that there have been massive improvements within virtual learning.

Overall, sophomores have been having very different experiences in their adjustments to the school. Some are experiencing difficulties, while others felt that virtual learning is a blessing. EBHS can seem overwhelming at first to oncoming students, but it offers many opportunities to excel in academics, while maintaining a fun and engaging learning. While COVID-19 has changed the way students are learning, and put a riddle in teaching methods, the way students and teachers alike are adapting to overcome this challenge is admirable.