In the weeks leading up to going to school five days a week, there were many mixed emotions on the topic. For nearly two and a half quarters of the school year, we have been on what we call ‘The Hybrid Plan.’ In this plan, the days were split from A day and B day: half of the alphabetical last names on one day and the other half going the next day. 

This schedule was good for some, but there are some issues with it. One thing that I think the hybrid plan has that the five days a week plan won’t is space. 

For starters, all classrooms are going to double in population, some possibly tripling. The five days a week plan is going to be crowded, but in my personal opinion, it is worth it. Going back five days a week is going to give me the chance to remember some of the people with whom I have lost touch nearly an entire year ago. I will also get the chance to make a routine and prepare myself for my senior year of high school. 

Not only this, but going five days a week, as we have seen from our full week of snow days, is going to be filled with virtual learning on any days we are forced to miss due to weather. This way it will be a smoother school year without having to make up days at the end of the year. 

Other issues that upperclassmen face are their jobs. In my case, I had been working more hours than I normally would because I had the chance to while doing hybrid learning. Although the hybrid plan was difficult to explain to my employer, they were very easygoing and helpful. When going back to school five days a week, it will be easier to communicate with my employer about my school schedule, but I will also have to face the stress of going full-time to school and work.

After having experience and starting to come five days a week, I think that this was definitely a good decision. Prior to the decision made, I have to admit, I was skeptical. I am happy that we have the opportunity to finally get to see the people from what seems like forever ago. I think we are in an environment where we needed to be all along. It’s fun, safe and crowded. Nearly all back to normal.

While I can’t say that I am glad to have lived through this pandemic and encountered the ways it impacted my sophomore and junior years, I am happy to say that we all made it through to see what we have been hoping for this entire time. Finally being able to come home from school every day, whether you had a good day or a bad one, it may seem hard now, but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.