As we wrap up the semester this week with the Exhibition of Learning and final grades, it is surprising to take a look back and see how much we’ve achieved with all of the problems surrounding us. Even before school started, we were wondering  if we were going to step back onto campus or see our friends in person again. I asked students on campus to see what their input was after completing this first semester.

I asked a series of three questions to the students, aiming for them to reflect on the past four months and their feedback on it. The questions that I asked were:

1. Are there any areas that you think the school could’ve done better in handling?
2. How do you think the school is doing with the current situation with COVID?
3. How do you feel this semester went for you, with everything going on?

Asking three Sophomores and one Junior, the responses I got from students varied: some were vague, some were full of detail, some had strong opinions, others – not so much. 

After asking the first question, there were a variety of topics coming from the students’ responses. Some of the students I asked brought up the issue of lunch. They specifically brought up how they wanted a little bit more space at lunch, but also wanted more availability such as the fountain and the frozen yogurt machine. Other students brought up how they felt limited in their ability and freedom within the bounds of the school, bringing up how for those who are upperclassmen, they could easily go off campus and grab lunch on their own to help out with the lunch scheduling issue and overcrowding. In addition to that, with the masks, the schedule, strict socializing rules, certain rules like the phone policy seem redundant with everything else going on. Just overall, all of the students’ responses included some form of discomfort with the current situation. 

The students’ responses to the second question varied in rating. Some felt that the school was handling the situation pretty well in comparison to other schools, especially with the balance of in person and virtual days. A few of the respondents said that they feel like the school could do more in their capability, allowing for less restricting rules or letting students have more time outside of the classroom. Just a push for more freedom in their schedules, and trying to reason with the school in how it would benefit the schools COVID protocol. 

As a round off, the respondents reflected on their semester. Most of them said it was a positive experience, overall it went well. This was the shortest and most vague answer out of all of the answers. 

Heading into next semester, the school seems to be on track for a good one. Although everything is still up in the air, with the new presidency, rising COVID cases and changes in policy.