Lockdown lessons

​Tiffany Igharoro shares what she learned from the pandemic about learning whatever the challenges.

Last year took an unexpected turn, didn’t it?

I’ll never forget my last lesson before the lockdown. It was surreal. I had no idea of the months of remote learning and isolation the future had in store. Everyone was in a state of disbelief and joining that first Google Meet really brought the reality of the situation home. 

Seeing my classmates and teachers through a screen felt weird. There was a level of connection that had been broken. One I wasn’t aware of before. 

It seemed fun at first. I could turn my camera off and mess about or do my lessons in bed. I didn’t have to take the train or wake up early. But these were the things that made it exciting – that added depth to the day. Without them, life seemed so restrictive and boring. I found myself wanting to put my uniform on and run to catch the bus with my friends.

It was often really difficult to find the motivation to work hard. I was stuck at home and none of this mattered anyway, right? I was in year 9 and would be starting my GCSE’s that September so somewhere inside of me I knew, that it did matter. I knew I needed to put effort into my work to get the most out of my lessons. 

I think if I’d known how many students didn’t have access to a structured school day or online resources, I would have tried harder. 

Things started to get better after the first month or so, I managed to regain my focus and be more productive.


This didn’t mean that every day was perfect. 

Sometimes, I wanted to stay in bed. 

Sometimes, I did. 

But mostly I tried to do at least one thing each morning that would get me into a routine that allowed me to be more focused. 

I tried to set myself goals and challenges such as trying out a new recipe, painting and being more creative in order to keep things fun. I made sure to reward myself when I achieved them.

I watched movies while talking to my friends on zoom and I spoke to distant relatives more often. I tried to stay active and go outside for a walk in the park whenever I could. 

Since we were home together, I spent more quality time with my parents. That was the biggest highlight of my lockdown and I’m beyond grateful for the memories we created and how hard they tried to make things fun for me. 

I made sure to really listen to what was being said during those online lessons as I knew this was valuable time that I'd never be able to get back. 

Remote learning was far from easy and wasn’t always enjoyable but I had the opportunity to get a good education when so many couldn’t. I wasn’t going to waste that.



Now, being back in school it seems insane to think that I was taking lessons on a Zoom call less than six months ago and I appreciate learning alongside my friends and in the classroom more than ever. 

It's easier to get on with work now but I still use the skills I learnt from the pandemic. I take more responsibility with what I do now and I am self-motivated. 

At the same time, I enjoy being able to do projects with my friends and talk about ideas and concepts in person. 

Lockdown showed me that I am more determined than I thought, but it also showed me the importance that other people have when it comes to learning and understanding. 

I think that to truly enjoy learning and for the content to properly sink in, we need to do it in person and our peers and teachers are an integral part of that process. 

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Author

Tiffany Igharoro is a student in Y11 preparing to take her GCSE's next year. One of her favourite pastimes is writing as it helps her organise her thoughts creatively and dynamically. She has won awards and prizes for poetry, academic and scientific writing and short stories. Recently, she won a nationwide historical essay competition that opened her eyes to the importance of how things are told, and the impact ordinary people have on the world. She is studying art GCSE and believes there is something incredible about finding links between drama, art and maths.