Excited? Students’ anxiety despite the Face-to-face they longed for.

There will always be two sides to a coin.

After two years of distance learning, students slowly return to the old-normal class setting. The class setting they used to grow up in and the traditional setup they were familiar with is now back. Many students have been waiting for this moment to arrive. Online learners missed the four-cornered room, the campus, and their classmates. They make sure they have every material needed; school supplies, uniforms, shoes, and socks, but then suddenly, now that the chance for the face-to-face setup, students are hesitant to come back to the moment they longed for.

President Bongbong Marcos announced that face-to-face learning is possible for the academic year 2022-2023. It raised eyebrows and popped different reactions and opinions. Some parents were worried for their children’s safety. They choose online learning rather than sacrifice their children’s sake. Parents’ decisions are in two, as long as there are still cases of the Coronavirus. It is better to be safe in the comfort of their homes. Some even felt that the reopening of schools was too sudden and that the country was unprepared. However, others were encouraged by the idea that their kids’ return to the old normal is okay than being inside for two years stuck with screens and with fewer social interactions. They are willing to let their kids experience the joy they once felt as long as everyone follows the proper health protocols. Not only do parents have their opinions in this situation, but students also have dilemmas. Many make fun of the situation as a coping mechanism, while others take it as a challenge. Memes scattered on Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, but behind those memes were others’ silent cries and worries.

There are a lot of risks and problems with the return of physical classes; the spread of the virus, fees for school materials, travel fare, allowance, and the well-being of students. Young children who might have started school during distance learning might have a higher chance of having separation anxiety (Miller & Louie, 2021). Teens and young adults