Has Your Relationship to School Attendance Changed Since the Pandemic?
The COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot of things in our lives, including how we learn, act, and hang out with friends. A lot of people can relate to these changes, but many students might especially feel that the way they go to school has changed since the pandemic started. An article from the New York Times said that last school year, 26 percent of students didn’t go to school a lot, which is up from 15 percent before the pandemic. When I read the article, I realized that my own school attendance has changed too.
Ever since elementary school, I was the type of student who aimed for perfect attendance, thinking it made me seem cooler and was the main point of school. However, after reading an article, I started to reflect on how my attitude towards class attendance shifted during COVID. I found myself paying less attention in class and often napping during free periods. This change affected my learning because I wasn’t as focused on my classes and started to care less about missing them for reasons I considered important. I used to be very strict about attendance because my high school and parents were strict about it. But when I got to college, my approach changed. I don’t just skip classes for no reason, but now if something comes up and I can’t make it, I don’t stress over it. For instance, there was an eclipse during one of my psychology classes, right before a major test. I chose to skip class to watch the eclipse, thinking, “The eclipse won’t happen again for another twenty years, but I have psychology class again on Tuesday.”
I agree that the COVID-19 pandemic changed a lot in how we behave in our everyday lives. Though not from experience, I’ve seen several of my peers in High School who were over the top in attending, not showing up to school that often after the pandemic.