Juan had never been late for school. But that morning was different from all the mornings he had seen before. He didn’t feel like his usual self; instead, he felt sluggish. The excitement to see his friends at school was not there. He did not even think about talking and playing with them.

Question

He was slow to finish his breakfast. It was as if he didn’t want it to end. He took the last sip of milk from his glass and reached for his lunch box. It was much lighter than usual. Juan realized his mistake and immediately put it down. He felt embarrassed and looked around to see if anyone saw him. His father’s eyes remained fixed on the TV screen, and his mother was not in the kitchen. Juan was relieved.

He picked up his orange backpack and strolled toward the living room. Vera had already set up a corner for his school. His otherwise confident steps hesitated a little. Vera smiled and nodded as he approached his study corner. What a weird chair for school, he thought, shrugging his shoulders. He could see a computer, a pencil holder, and a stack of books on his desk, ready for him to start learning.

“There you go,” Vera spoke reassuringly. “You are all set to begin your day.”

It was a new morning, a new awareness, and a new routine to get used to in the pandemic.

“Thanks, Mom,” Juan uttered in an unsure tone.

“Have fun,” Vera kissed his head and left the room.

In that instant, Juan felt he had grown by many years.

Answer 1

He took a deep breath and settled into the chair, which felt oddly comfortable despite its unfamiliarity. As he turned on the computer, the blue light illuminated his face, casting a glow that felt both inviting and intimidating. The screen flickered to life, and he was greeted by an array of icons, each representing a window to a world he had yet to explore in this new virtual landscape.

Juan took a moment to gather his thoughts. What would school be like now? He had heard stories from friends about online classes—some said it was easy, while others claimed it was confusing. He felt a wave of uncertainty wash over him again. But this time, he reminded himself that he wasn’t alone; everyone was navigating this new way of learning together.

He clicked on the icon for his first class and waited impatiently as it loaded. The moment he entered the virtual classroom, he was met with a grid of familiar faces—his friends! There was Miguel, with his bright smile, and Sofia, who always raised her hand first with eager questions. Seeing them brought a flicker of excitement back to Juan’s chest.

“Good morning, everyone!” the teacher, Mrs. Rodriguez, greeted them with warmth. “I hope you’re all ready to have some fun learning today!” Her enthusiasm was infectious, and Juan found himself smiling as she began to explain the day’s activities.

As they dived into their lesson, Juan felt his initial doubts start to fade. He participated more than he thought he would, answering questions and even cracking a joke that made Sofia laugh. The class felt alive, despite the screens separating them.

Hours passed in a blur of learning and laughter. Juan discovered that online school had its perks. He could snack while learning, pause the video to take notes, and even wear his favorite pajama pants beneath his shirt. By the time lunch rolled around, he was amazed at how quickly the day had flown by.

As he closed his laptop for the break, a sense of accomplishment washed over him. Maybe this new normal wasn’t so bad after all. He could still connect with his friends, learn new things, and even feel a sense of camaraderie through the screen.

With renewed energy, Juan grabbed the lunch box he had nearly forgotten earlier, feeling proud of his resilience. As he sat down to eat, thoughts of fun projects and games with his friends filled his mind. Perhaps, he mused, this was just another chapter in his adventure, one where he could learn about himself and adapt to whatever challenges lay ahead.

And for the first time that morning, he truly felt like himself again.