School Year 2020-2021

My 2020-2021 School Year 

If I could, I would describe my first year of high school in one word: chaotic. However, there were multiple times where my family was there to help me through it. I believe that pandemic showing up when it did, towards the late part of school 2020-2021 gave me and my relatives time and opportunity to adjust and adapt to the way of life that was forced upon us. For example, we got a dog. Her name is Storm, and she’s currently asleep in her crate as I’m typing this. Another thing that was given to us this year was newly painted walls, we got new furniture, the basement was completely renovated, and coming up on August 11th is when Storm turns 9 months. The point of the matter, though, is the fact that we got all of this during a worldwide pandemic. The fact is that I’m still here, alive, and well, typing this “essay” for the PTRJ Mentoring Center to see. The fact is that no matter what has happened in this past year my whole family is doing great. The fact is that God has blessed me repeatedly! All of my thanks! - Alan Reed 7/26/21 

MY VIRTUAL LEARNING EXPERIENCE: SCHOOL YEAR 2020-2021

My virtual learning experience was very pleasant, for both myself and my grades. I was able to get the help I needed from my grandmother who is a retired teacher of nearly 40 years, and a mother who is a history teacher! Another thing I loved about virtual learning Is that the environment I was in was relaxing and not as hectic as being in the building. The support of the P.T.R.J Mentoring Center was invaluable to me. They sent me and my brother fun activities like stuff for Black History Month, little games word searches, and at the end of the year they sent us gift cards for lunch to say congratulations for having a successful school year! Especially during times like this. And the BEST thing about virtual learning for me was the fact that I didn’t have to worry about just having one teacher for every class when I had everyone in my house who can help me with all my subjects. With their help and my perseverance, I got on the honor roll ALL 4 QUARTERS!!! And I finished with a 3.5 GPA, which is not bad for a 12 year old 7 th grader from Maryland. - BY ETHAN REED