3 minute read
Homeward Stuck
HOMEWARD BOUND Stuck!
Mr Andrew Berryman
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EAL Coordinator
When COVID-19 struck in 2020, it created a dilemma for TSS students; stay in Australia and face the prospect of not seeing their families for an indefinite period, or rushing home before borders closed with no timeline for their return.
Our two students from Hong Kong, Forest Wong and Hayden Au, both in Year 11, have been studying online for over 12 months while the wheels of government work out a way to allow them to return to TSS. They have similar stories to tell of their experience of studying online.
Forest began at TSS in November 2019 but had to return to Hong Kong when the COVID-19 outbreak started shutting international borders in early 2020. He has been studying online since then. He finds the biggest challenge is waking up to be ready for period 1, which starts at 7am in Hong Kong. He has found that if he sleeps in and misses the class, having to catch up on the missed work can be difficult. The time difference has also meant that he must be creative with his breaks, often eating lunch while online during a class.
As online lessons have dragged on, maintaining motivation has been problematic, as he is missing all the things that the other boys take for granted; friends, access to teachers, sport and hanging out with his Delpratt mates. He said that it has taught him a lot about himself, both strengths and weaknesses. He is looking forward to these aspects the most when he is able to return to TSS.
But it has allowed him the freedom to do things he likes at home with his friends, going out and diving.
Hayden Au started at TSS on 14 July 2020 and has done all his TSS schooling online. Despite the many challenges this causes, Hayden has made the Deans List in both semesters that he has completed, including straight A grades on his Semester One 2021 report.
“The last year has been a long and challenging year for me personally. Having studied for almost a year remotely from Hong Kong, I am glad that I did not fall too far behind in my studies. Still, one could not help but lament the loss of the human interactions and group activities that forms a considerable part of school life.”
Diving
Camping trip with mates Lunch during class!
If there was one thing that I learned last year, it is the ability to appreciate the good things in life even in the worst of times. Since entering TSS in July last year, I had to learn to acclimatize myself to everything virtually. During this period of time, it is sometimes quite distressing and anxiety-provoking. Luckily, with the help of helpful teachers and new friends, I was able to find comfort and even joviality in this “new normality.”
However as much as I am in love with the flexibility and freedom that the virtual school life provides, the challenges that it poses is still significant. Although the two-hour time difference between the two places might seem trivial, it is always easier said than done to get out of bed at precisely 6:50 am on every weekday to attend the first lesson. As a result, I sometimes struggle to keep up with the learning progress in class.
After a year-long trial of my resilience and stress-resistance, I cannot wait to visit the TSS campus for the first time to meet new friends and teachers whom I have only communicated with on the screen of my laptop and most of all, to join the choir and to play and write music with fellow musicians!”
Both boys have shown amazing resilience and determination to successfully navigate the last 12 months. This will serve them well when they are eventually allowed to return to TSS, hopefully in the not too distant future.
