What 2020 taught us
2020. The whirlwind year that nobody anticipated. It has brought with it many pros and cons, where one positive is just how adaptable schools, universities, and places of education are. At the drop of a hat, students from all over the country were at home, and remote learning commenced. Overnight, online programs and schooling schedules were designed, and just like that, education was transformed. Education is just one of a multitude of things that has changed since the start of the pandemic.
Here are 5 things 2020 has taught us about education and ourselves:
1) Never stop learning: whether it is school-related, or a passion, the lockdown has given us all extra time to learn things we’ve never really had time to do, such as a new language, sport, or learning how to cut hair.
2) The importance of teachers: Although many schools at the start of the pandemic went online, 6 hours of teaching online is almost impossible to pull off. Enter homeschooling! Parents took on the role of teachers and suddenly found themselves wanting to do anything but teach! I believe this has taught everyone to appreciate the hard work and dedication that goes into being a teacher.
3) Mental health and well-being are crucial: If we are to take anything from the last year, it’s that mental health is just as important as physical health, and needs to be addressed with the same amount of care. Anxiety levels have sky-rocketed, with people not being able to see family, friends, go to school/work, or go out as often. It’s definitely been a topic of discussion, and I believe the pandemic has opened many previously closed minds to the importance of mental health.
4) Focusing on the small things: We all enjoy spending money on clothes, holidays, and materialistic items that make us happy. With so many jobs lost, salaries cut, and being indoors, we’ve not been able to do any of the above. What we have been able to do, is far more rewarding. Being able to spend time with family, focusing on well-being, learning a new skill, are all much more valuable and it’s going to be something we will carry forward.
5) Prioritizing family and friends: Many people have been forced to spend more time with their families since March. Although it hasn’t been easy for many families, it is a chance to reconnect and make new memories. However, not being one of those people has been extremely tough, to say the least, and has made me more appreciative of the time I spend with them. Let’s take a minute to thank the technology gods, because, without video calls, we would have all been lost!
We would love to know what 2020 has taught you, and what you’re most looking forward to it 2021.
