This school year has been full of ups and downs, with many unexpected challenges. Most students have faced the challenges of the hybrid learning model, but what about the students who have been completely remote?

Many freshmen have faced the adversity of full remote learning for the majority of this school year. Social awkwardness and lack of instruction are two challenges that remote learning students have faced throughout this year. 

Freshman Mackenzie Adam has a unique perspective because she was hybrid at the beginning the year, then switched to being fully remote shortly after. Adam, being a remote student, faces some of the challenges as well as benefits of being fully remote everyday.

“I believe remote learning can allow more flexibility and more digital work,” Adam said. 

According to Adam, students who might not feel as comfortable in a classroom setting or students who work better digitally have benefitted in certain ways from being fully remote by working more on a computer and being able to be more flexible.

“It was definitely a change,”Adam said. “I switched to fully remote and it got a bit easier. I had to adjust and in the beginning I wasn’t doing great, but I got a little bit of extra help, [and] seeking that extra help made it a lot easier.”

Adam is an example of someone who while missing normalcy, likes the overall remote learning style and feels that in certain ways it has helped her manage through this school year. 

This unique perspective really demonstrates that although there are several challenges that come with being RLA, at times it can be beneficial.

Freshman Amita Vellal also has a unique perspective because she began the year fully remote, then returned to school full time later on in the year.

“Since I came back to school, I now feel better about going into next year.” Vellal said. “I know my way around [Westford Academy] and what the expectations are in my classes.”

Vellal also said she feels more focused and engaged now that she is in school full time, which the majority of students also agree with.

When asked whether she feels like she has gotten the full high school experience, Vellal thinks that she still is not completely sure what the full high school experience is. She has come to realize is how much she actually enjoys going to school. Vellal said she has realized how much she enjoys even just talking with her friends in the hall and experiencing some social normality. 

This school year has been unpredictable, involving many unexpected turns that everyone has had to adjust to in very little time. Mackenzie Adam and Amita Vellal are two students who have very unique insights on the different learning models that have been a part of Westford Academy for about the last year. 

“Remote learning taught me that even though it can be tough sometimes to go to school everyday, and I realised that I was understanding more and having more fun by being in school,” Vellal said.