For most of us, the year of remote school was almost a “freebie” year. There were open note tests, snacks, and extra sleep. The other half of us dealt with missing assignments piling up, absences, and getting our work finished right before that 11:59 P.M due date.

   I was somewhere in the middle. It wasn’t as stupidly easy as I figured it would be, or as easy as it was my sophomore year, where we merely logged onto Google Classroom with no Zoom calls.

   Last year, I decided to switch to the in-person hybrid schedule so I could focus better and raise my grades. There was barely anyone in the school! It was excruciatingly boring, but luckily we got out early. With that being said, I am relieved to be back in school with all of my friends. That is definitely the best part about returning to (almost) normal school.

   I say “almost” because we have not yet reached complete normalcy. The new lunch schedule is surely taking some time to get used to. I find it annoying because I have to scramble to find out whether my friends have Lunch A or B, which can be hectic. Given the fact that we are unable to leave our lunch room, I can’t wander the school to see other friends either.

   Absolute chaos is ensuing in the hallways this year. Usually the halls would already be clogged by freshmen navigating through the school, but this year, we have freshmen and sophomores who are unfamiliar with Eastern’s halls. Even some juniors are unsure of their way around due to only having seven months of prior experience!

   All of this hallway traffic often ends up causing me to be late to class. However, I think the teachers understand to a certain degree, which is a relief. Even though this year has its downsides, I think that I can potentially make a good year out of this mess!