Crishelle Phoebe Yu ||

No long lines at the school gates. No visible first-day school jitters. Following the Philippine Science High School System’s (PSHSS) directive to delay face-to-face classes until measures set by the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID) allow it, the PSHSS decided to shift to distance learning for this academic year. Last September 7, 2020, the school system opened classes for SY 2020-2021. With this, Batch 2026 is set to encounter distance or online learning in their first year of high school.

A student from Batch 2026 stated that one thing is certain – there are a lot of factors affecting this mode of learning.

“Personally, I can say that I’m doing fine. I have quite adapted to this new mode of learning.  Sadly, I have to say that it’s quite challenging to be on online learning with a lot of factors affecting it such as slow internet connection. Although, it would be better if we would be back to our face-to-face classes. Overall, it’s interesting yet challenging but I know I can withstand this.”

, she/they stressed.

With this, PSHSS has conducted an academic break for the students from October 30, 2020 to November 6, 2020. This is in consideration for the students’ welfare and mental health. 

Another freshman also added, “I am constantly engulfed in despair-inducing experiences that lead to my consecutive anxiety attacks and the thought of just—giving up. I hope this changes in the near future, and I also hope that this crisis will soon end.”

For Eastern Visayas Campus, the students attended mental health orientations held through Google Meet, Zoom, or Facebook Live that can help with coping. By addressing mental health, students will begin their knowledge of the various challenges they or their peers may face at the present moment or at some point throughout their careers.

“I wish I could interact a bit more with my new classmates and meet them already. I also want to enjoy the Pisay life but because of the pandemic we’re under, it’s still not possible. But all in all, it’s great and I’m happy as a freshie!”

, another student said.