"I will always carry how hard teachers worked to give us the education we deserve during a global pandemic. Not all heroes wear capes. A red pen and a clipboard? Maybe."

June 30, 2020

Since my last post, my biggest challenge has been virtual graduation.

I had June 26 marked on my planner and calendar since the first day of school. I was practicing how I was going to walk across the stage and what I was going to do when I had that diploma in my hands. But now I have to practice how to type the meeting ID and password for our virtual graduation. It hurt that we worked so hard to not be able to graduate in an auditorium but in our living room. If you are a senior, high school or college, congratulations. I am so proud of you and wish you the best of luck in what the future holds for you.

I was able to spend Father's Day at my aunt's house with all my uncles and aunts. As we walked into the house, we turned our phones off and connected as a family. I grew up without my father, so knowing that I couldn't spend the day with him, I surprised my uncle, who has been like a father to me since I was born. I didn't know how to bake, so I ordered a Dominican cake and surprised him with a coffee mug cake (he drinks coffee as if his life depends on it).

I was having trouble adapting to online classes to the point where I would sleep in on purpose. The truth is, online courses have taught something all students should keep in mind. Do not take teachers for granted. Teachers deserve the world right now. Take advantage of the education you are getting. You will be surprised when you're applying for college and see that everything comes with a price.

Now that I've been home for months, I realize how much I appreciate the corner deli around my BLAII and the Dominican restaurant that serves the best chinola juice in the Bronx. I miss walking home with my friends and hearing Ms. Williams' laugh (best teacher ever!) during lunch. And telling her, "I hate it here," before and after going to my computer science class. I realize now that I love it there!

Once things go back to normal, I will not miss hearing my cousins argue, or how google classroom notifications appear on my phone every five minutes. I honestly cannot wait until the outside opens up again. Moreover, I will always carry how hard teachers worked to give us the education we deserve during a global pandemic. Not all heroes wear capes. A red pen and a clipboard? Maybe.

"Bottom Line helped me stay one step ahead. They helped me pick the college that is right for me. Bottom Line gave me the support I needed."

June 1, 2020

Hey! Before introducing myself, I would like to tell you that I am tall in-person. Oh, and don’t be fooled, my hair is actually really big. 

I’m Priscila Gonzalez, I’m from the Bronx, and I am in the Access Program in Bottom Line. After debating whether I should stay in the city with my family or follow my dreams and go away, I decided that I will be spending the next four at SUNY Geneseo. I am majoring in Psychology, and I might go for a minor in biology. After college, I plan on being a psychologist in the forensic science field. 

School has changed for me in multiple ways. I am no longer learning in a school environment, which is difficult for me because I am a visual learner. One positive outcome from remote learning is that the work is much easier, but still, learning through google meets and zoom is definitely not the same. 

When remote learning first started, I was excited to hear my teacher’s voices again. Still, soon google meets, and google classroom became my worst enemy. Sometimes I’d miss the meets on purpose; other times, I slept in. The biggest challenge since the change has been getting up in the morning. I turned to another student struggling with this, and I was told to get ready as if I was actually going to school. I mean seriously, what the point of getting up in the morning just to open a laptop in your living room is? She quickly said, “so you have something to look forward to in the morning.” Although I don’t wake up at 9 a.m., I still get ready and open a laptop in my living room. One big win is that I don’t have to spend an hour on my hair every morning.

Before everything closed, I had an interview at McDonald’s. A few hours later, I got an email saying I made it to the second interview. I was excited. I thought I was going to save up for prom and graduation. I thought I was finally going to be able to help my grandmother and aunt with their bills. When I got to the second interview, an employee told me I was going to receive an email or a call for rescheduling. I went home and waited. I never got the email or the call. 

Before getting my senior year ripped from my arms, I had plans to save as much money as possible and visit five colleges during spring break. I was going to make my final college decision with my friends. Instead of actually going to visit a college, I made appointments for virtual tours. I spoke with students already enrolled in college and turned to my Bottom Line Advisor. Bottom Line helped me stay one step ahead. They helped me pick the college that is right for me. Bottom Line gave me the support I needed. Although no face-to-face appointments were made, my Advisor was there whenever I had a question or needed help. My advice for other high school students is to make the most out of high school because it can be your last day in school without you even realizing it.