The Informal Time of 2020 by Aubrey

The Informal Time of 2020 by Aubrey - June 2024 Scholarship Essay

I remember back in 2020 when the whole world shut down due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The pandemic itself was seen as the worst thing in the world that brought nothing but discord and unhappiness. Even though this may have been true for some people it was not for me. Being on a lockdown forced everyone in school to learn informally and for many they languished, but not me, I thrived learning informally.

Even though I wasn’t learning any structured curriculum doesn’t mean I wasn’t learning anything at all. Without the classroom setting and rules I was able to creatively explore the world around me without any restraints. This enabled me to use my real-world problem-solving skills while uncovering the world around me. My mind was as open and ready for adventure as it could possibly be.

Some of my favorite things to do during the pandemic was digging outside, making crystals, and reading books. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was learning valuable lessons the whole time. While outside for most of the day digging in my backyard, I was exposed to the local ecosystems that co-exists with me, my family, and the community around me. I was specifically looking for different rocks, but it didn’t specifically limit my exposure to an outside setting.

An inside activity that I did was making crystals. My mom ordered a few different lab experiments but one stole my interest, crystal growing. The materials that I needed came in a box with a few instructions and when done correctly you would have an entire crystal in about a week. This experience is better than any chemistry class that anyone could take. I was able to learn how to handle chemicals, hot water, and follow precise instructions all at the same time. I didn’t just sit and read about how an experiment is conducted, I was conducting the experiments. This taught me safety, responsibility and attention to details.

Another one of my favorite and most memorable inside activity during the pandemic was reading. I did a lot of reading with all of the downtime I had which was amazing. I was able to read books that interested me, and I was able to read them on my own time instead of reading a random book that I have to read for a grade. This made reading a lot more enjoyable and not just a chore. Reading so much enhanced my critical thinking skills because there was no teacher telling me what happened in the book. I had to think for myself to come up with a solution.

None of these experiences would have been possible if I was learning in a traditional setting. I wouldn’t have the life skills and experiences that I have now and because of the pandemic a lot changed with how me and my family see the world. We often take lots of vacations to different states in the U.S. which is even more opportunity to learn about the world. I have always loved to learn, and I will always continue to learn because learning informally has taught me more things than a traditional school setting ever will.