Different World

Part 7 : Schools during Pandemic

The pandemic hit when Glory was fourteen, forcing her to attend school from home for two years during ninth and tenth grade. Glory actually loved online school—she could sleep in a bit longer, and she enjoyed playing with her gadgets while listening to her teachers' lessons.

Glory would wear the top half of her school uniform for online classes, but she didn't see the point in wearing the bottom half. Since the Google Classroom camera only showed her face and upper body, she figured there was no need. So every day, she paired her uniform top with casual pants and didn't even bother with school shoes. Sometimes, she'd prop her feet up on the bench next to her and use her right hand to play games on her phone while still paying attention to the lesson.

Did the teachers have trouble managing Glory during the pandemic? Not at all. Glory was a very orderly student and always made sure to be on time for class. Even while playing with her gadgets, she could easily answer the teacher's questions. However, if the teacher's instructions were unclear or confusing, they sometimes had to send a direct message to Glory's father to help her understand what to do.

Glory never bothered her mother during this time, knowing she was already busy helping her younger sibling with online kindergarten classes. Her little brother had a habit of falling asleep if he wasn't accompanied. Occasionally, Glory would even pop into her brother's room for a quick check during her own lessons.

Thankfully, the pandemic eventually passed, allowing Glory to complete eleventh and twelfth grades back at school. During tenth grade, she earned two awards: Best Mathematics Score and Best Chemistry Score. Her parents were so proud as they watched Glory walk up to the stage to receive her two medals. It was a moment that made all their hard work feel worthwhile, a reminder that their efforts had truly paid off.

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