Growing Up in Santa Cruz

August 2021

By Mikayla Shults

Oasis

I only got a few months of regular, in person high school. A lot of these students missed their first year of middle and high school. Like most people, I struggled with online school and the isolation from the outside world. At some point, after I had stopped participating in school almost completely, I realized I need a different way to learn. So I joined Oasis, an independent studies school on the Cabrillo campus. I haven’t been in any classes there and the only students I know are the people I got to transfer there. While most of the people I interviewed said they will be happy to see their friends, I will be entering a whole new environment. Although being sick with covid was horrible, I’m actually thankful for this time when I got to figure out what I want.

Tanner Shults

SLVHS

“I’m excited to see all of my friends again, but not ready to actually go back to school.”

Sissy Shults

SLVMS

“I would rather stay home, because I enjoyed online school much more.”

Lucy Lilienthal Wynn

SLVHS

“I’m excited to be able to see faces I haven’t seen in about a year and a half. And I’m happy to be able to ask questions directly and speak with my teacher face to face. It’ll be easier to learn this year.”

Elie Colby

SLVMS

“I am a little nervous about middle school drama, but I will try to stay out of it. I can’t wait to meet people and see friends from other schools!”

Ava Barret

SLVHS

“I think going back to school is going to increase my motivation… at least I hope it does. I signed up for AP English, so I’m unsure how I feel about going back to school yet. At least I’ll be busy. The busy that is beneficial to me and does not stress me out. This summer felt shorter than the others. I thought I would be doing something every day and be almost too busy now that I have a car. But with all my friends getting jobs, the reality is I still need to find ways to entertain myself. So I’m almost excited to be stressed out again? If that even makes sense. I feel that I’ve been dormant so long that I’m just bursting at the seams for any brain activity. But I can’t do it myself; I need the pressure of getting good grades to force me to educate myself. So all that being said, I’m excited to be going back to school in person.”

Zach Livingston

SLVMS

“I’m not old enough to get vaccinated, so I hope that people will wear their masks and physically distance themselves to keep everyone safe.”

Lillian Ramirez

SLVMS

“I would consider going back in person a good idea, but I’m worried about safety issues. This is great news for students who are careful and also got the vaccine.”

Kiera Hulsey

Oasis

“Not exactly, I think there will be arguments about masks and vaccinations. Students and teachers who choose to wear masks won’t agree with the people who choose not to wear one.”

Elie Colby

SVHS

“My only concerns about covid are more about time. I personally have tried to stay on top of my school work during the quarantine and at home school period, but I still missed things that I need to know. I would hate to struggle in more advanced classes because I missed key building blocks during online school.”

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