Pros and Cons of E-Learning (+ reacting to my last day of school letter 2020)

Hey girl hey. And boy

It has been a quick minute! It’s been so long since I last posted and June has been so chaotic with ISP’s and year-end assignments, but I finally finished on June 19th so now I have so much more time to write and catch up with all of you. With the 11 weeks of online learning over, I thought I’d finally make a pros-and-cons post reflecting on how the whole experience has been since it has been the first time I ever do school online. To spice it up, I’m going to respond to a letter I wrote for my future self on the first day of school so without further ado let’s get started.

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PROS

• Flexibility

The fact that I can do online school assignments whenever I want was so cool. My schedule was so spontaneous so you’d see me working at 6 a.m. or 12 p.m. or 1 a.m. – there is no in between.😂

• Comfort

My pyjamas + hot chocolate + my couch + school work – who would have thought my school dream would come true?! 😂 Especially when I did school work early in the morning, the comfort and focus was at an all-time high.

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• Learning how to cook, clean..etc

When I had physical school, I wouldn’t have time to watch my mom cook or clean but now I can pause my school work whenever, do it early, do it late and do whatever I can around the house. Practicing housework has been such a plus of online school.

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• Less time

This can become a con because of how spontaneous the time lengths are, but usually online school assignments take less than 30 hours a week which is the average time in a physical school.

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• No exams

No studying or exam stress!!

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• Speeding up my teacher

Some teachers record themselves explaining a concept and it’s been super helpful but knowing how long the teacher is going to talk for prompt me to hit the times two speed button. That way I can cut the lesson in half but shhh don’t tell my teacher.😂

• No social stress

This is actually on my con list as well but there’s no conversations to regret or friend drama or anything that can keep you distracted mentally off of school work. It’s just been way less chaos in my mind these past couple of weeks and more focus on my own self betterment and improvement rather than others.

My sister says: Comfortable seating, I can google anything, teacher wouldn’t know if I’m staying on task or not

My little brother says: I can do it any time and it’s way shorter (it’s true, 2nd graders take like 10 minutes 😂)

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CONS

Oh boy.

My sister says: No one explaining, stress, unhelpful siblings (*ahem*), distractions

My little brother says: I like math better on paper not on a screen!

• Distraction

If I don’t stay awake after the dawn prayer (which is always the case), it is so hard to get work done because suddenly everyone wants something from you and I feel like my family forgot that I still have school because my brother is already finished in April. Not to mention that the kitchen is just a 2 metre walk away so you can definitely see where I can procrastinate. 😬

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• No immediate help

I’m the type of person who want answers immediately so when my only option is emailing the teacher and getting a 200 email thread back and forth, it interrupts my focus and takes forever to get work done.

• No time limit

At school I know that I’m there for 6 hours. Period. But at home, sometimes it’s 2 sometimes it’s 10 and I just find myself procrastinating way more because I don’t have school periods to keep me in check. I also found myself leaving school as a last priority because it started to feel optional and knowing that my grades won’t go down kind of got me like “can’t I just leave?” 😂 Very bad mentality though as education is not about grades and it’s such a big blessing.

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• No social interactions

The iconic convos that I have when my classmates was what made school more fun but with no social interactions and people around me, it just feels dry and school just isn’t something I look forward to. I only miss people from some classes but thank God history was online because I could not tolerate the boredom in that class. 😂

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• Missing cooking class

I joined cooking class to cook y’all but now it’s really random assignments to fill the time. Alhamdulillah though because I’m pretty sure I would have started a fire.

• Body aches

Y’all I don’t know about you but my back, eyes and shoulders are doneee. 😢

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Last Day of School Letter 2020

**Alhamdulillah = Thank God.

DEAR LAST DAY OF SCHOOL

Oh. my. God.  you’re going to ##th grade and what the heck is 2020?

It’s still surreal!

New school again how’d it feel? Did you feel welcome?

Yes! Hands down the most comfortable school.

Do you walk with your friend? – you better she’s a good friend to have.

This is my neighbor who I mentioned in my first day of school update and yesss we still talk! She came to my house on my birthday to give me a present despite the corona situation and ugh she really is amazing!

How is volunteering?

It’s good! But I’m doing it online now.

Is everyone in good health? Say alhamdulillah.

Alhamdulillah all the way!!

How is seerah (prophetic life) going? You better be done by now.

I started it last Ramadan (check out a post related here) and yesss I finished alhamdulillah.

What parts of Islam are you studying?

I’m a bit all over the place. Last month I did a lot of spirituality but this month I focused more on the basis, theology and proofs for Islam. I definitely want to be solid on that area because usually when someone asks me what Islam is I’m like uhhh don’t know where to start but inshAllah (god willing) I’m hoping to practise a really simple and clear way of answering questions.

What surah (chapter of Quran) are you memorizing?

I’m revising but the most recent one I memorized was Fatir.

We’re so close to 1000 followers on the blog by the way.

We hit it and omG how is it 1200 already?! I have no idea how you all stick around despite my lack of engagement nowadays. Thank you so so much! ❤

How is the MSA? Did you rescue it like you thought you would?

Nooo haha. I was very petty to be honest but I did try and inshAllah next year after the whole situation is over we can start fresh.

How is student council?

So nice! I loved it honestly!

Did you make new friends? Join new clubs?

Yesss. I joined 3 clubs and started 2 with a friend!

How are your grades? Say alhamdulillah.

Yes alhamdulillah always. The marks aren’t out yet but pre-quarantine I was content with them!

How are your siblings and the family?

GOOD alhamdulillah!! I spend way more time with them now!

How are your eyebrows lol?

Not like when I first got them done haha but good I guess. 😂

How are your old friends?

I’m going to have a zoom reunion with them soonnn. I caught up with a few but definitely lost contact with a lot ever since deleting Instagram.

What’s your biggest lesson from this year?

To not sweat the little things and to truly be aware that we plan but God is the best of planners hands down. Oh and to be professional around boys lol.

Biggest regret?

None. 🙂 A few mistakes here and there but that’s how we learn.

Greatest accomplishment?

Stepping out of my comfort zone and really beginning that journey of self care and improvement.

Most embarrassing moment? Tell me all of it!

Honestly everything about me is embarrassing but I turned the corner once, bumped into someone, screamed and then fell on my butt. An awkward time indeed. 😂

Also did they take you out of Grade # English? Girl you know you ain’t going to repeat Lord of the Flies and Romeo drama again.

Yesss they did on the first day.

Who’s your favourite teacher?

My English, indigenous and accounting teacher.

Best friend?

I’m very scattered honestly but probably my two neighbors, my cousin and mentor.

There’s so much look forward to but I got to sleep now.  I packed my backpack and outfit the night before. You better be this extra. All the best for the next school year. Love you!

Does pyjamas count as extra? 😉 Love ya too.

PS. provincial test ahhh

It got post-poned whoop whoop.

Sincerely, you.

Sincerely, I.

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Anddd that’s all for today.

How was your online school experience?

Is this your first online school experience like me or were you homeschooled/did summer school before?

Have you ever written yourself a letter for the future?

I’ll see you in my next post.

Bayyy. 💞

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