Struggles with online learning

We often hear the motto “No student left behind” as we shift to online classes. We label students under two categories: those who are capable and those who are not. But, we forget another face: those we think are capable but are not.

Living in a dormitory away from my family has been the most challenging part of my life. Living alone taught me how to manage my time, money, and energy. Baguio is such a good place to study when your parents can provide you what you need. Just one request and it will be given, with the hope that you are studying more comfortably and not thinking of any financial needs.

This shifted when I went home. I saw for myself what happened to our business. Losing money because of the pandemic saddened me. As we strove to survive, another challenge came, the online classes. Things changed, and my materially supportive parents became stingy, which is totally understandable at this time. I got rejected when I asked for an upgraded RAM for my father’s old laptop so I could use it for online classes.

The main point is, not all students can handle the demands of online learning just because you think their families can afford it. Family struggles are within, and judging them will not help. So, if you know someone asking for help, whatever their station, help as much as you can.

Jan Orville Garcia
Saint Louis University-Baguio
[email protected]