15 year old Conway High School student, Isabel Ruckle, recently transferred from on-site learning to virtual. Although she didn’t particularly enjoy school in the first place, she prefers virtual learning. Aside from Covid-19 related reasons, Ruckle is learning new skills that could be useful in her future by doing virtual learning, as well as improving her mental health without the burden of a 6+ hour school day. 

      Isabel got quarantined from going to school twice, each two week periods she was sent home. Both times she was directly exposed to Covid-19, whether it be in class or other places. Going back and forth was obviously not the most convenient thing, as her day and sleep schedule changed for each. It also interfered with her social life, as she couldn’t see friends or family that she didn’t live with. 

    “I like online school because I can pace myself and I’m learning better time management,” says Ruckle. Doing virtual learning gives students like Isabel a chance to do their own scheduling and pace themselves as needed. 

     Mental health is a battle that a lot of students battle. Ruckle prefers to stay at home and manage her own time as it gives her a chance to work in a way that doesn’t interfere with her mental health. Working from home means a more comfortable work space, a more relaxed sleep schedule, more freedom to take breaks from her work, and several other factors that effect her mental health. 

     School is important, and it’s really good that virtual learning is an option for students like Ruckle. In a scary time like now, general health, grades, and mental health can be something high school students might worry about. Although it’s not always easy to make decisions that change things you’re used to, sometimes they can be a lot more helpful than you would imagine.