With the news that all public schools in Missouri will be shut down for the remainder of the school year, Rolla High School students now must adapt to learning online for the rest of the semester. Online classes, while unfamiliar, come with their own benefits. To students, a main aspect is that they gain excess time—a luxury that isn’t available during the school year because of the strict schedule and homework piled up on extracurriculars.

   “Almost every night this week I have watched a movie with my family. When I had a set schedule of getting up, going to school, coming home, doing homework, taking a shower, and going to bed, I would have never had time to fit in a movie. I also get to take a break when I need it, and there is not a set time on waking up, so if I need that extra hour of sleep, I can have it,” freshman Cayla Wonder said.

   Because teachers are limited with how much schoolwork they are allowed to assign, students can take more time to thoroughly understand material and work at their own tempo. Moving classes online also forces students and teachers to talk to each other one on one and communicate what they need.

   “In school, homework is usually due the next day. But with online classes, due dates are pushed back a little and that stress of turning my assignments in on time is lifted off my shoulders. Personally, one of my favorite freedoms of quarantine is being able to work at my own pace. I love learning at my own time because some things I understand easier and get done faster, but others I would like to spend extra time on, and I can do that with online classes,” Wonder said.

   Boredom can push people to do activities they would not have considered before, but the extra time could also just be used to do things that students lacked the time to do, such as nurturing hobbies.

   “Most people complain about being bored during quarantine, but there’s always new things for me to do. There’s always something to do with the family, something to bake, or maybe finally get the bedroom cleaned. I also get to fit things into my schedule I couldn’t before,” Wonder said.

   Lastly, with no one but themselves to enforce a schedule, students are exposed to the independence that growing up brings. They are in charge of their own time and can choose their own priorities. This could encourage them to put worth and value into what they do with their time. Giving students this control can increase their confidence and self-esteem because they are aware that their actions are driven from their own self-motivation.

   “I feel happier with online classes rather than going to school. I think this is because I feel independent with my life. I control how I spend my time and it makes me feel very good about myself when I make sure to make time to work on my assignments, yet still make time for my family, dogs, and myself,” Wonder said.