School: a six-letter word that can send anyone’s anxiety skyrocketing. For those already battling anxiety, the prospect of school takes stress to a whole new level.

In the post-pandemic era, anxiety among high school students has surged, jumping from 24.3% to 28.4%, as reported by the National Library of Medicine. During the pandemic, students mainly attended online classes. All they had to do was show up for Zoom meetings, and they received full credit. Teachers couldn’t enforce participation in lessons, so students had the freedom to do as they pleased, resulting in minimal stress.

However, life after the pandemic was an entirely different story.

Post-pandemic, students faced challenges in adapting to in-person classes and the return to traditional homework submission. No longer could they simply attend Zoom meetings and walk away from their laptop; instead, they had to sit down and focus on their assignments.

Junior Brylea Borbonus expressed, “During the pandemic, I experienced a sense of depression due to the lack of social interaction.”

This is a genuine mental struggle.

Before the lockdown of 2020, 8% of teens aged 13 already had diagnosable anxiety disorders. This percentage has since increased by 4.3%. By the time they reach 18, 15% of teenagers have a clinical anxiety disorder.

Anxiety disorders can be inherited through genetics or develop over time. Unfortunately, school doesn’t alleviate anxiety but instead intensifies it. During the COVID era, students could easily log into their laptops and walk away. Camera use wasn’t enforced, and teachers couldn’t effectively instruct students. Cheating and plagiarism became more prevalent. Now, with full-time, in-person schooling, students find themselves grappling with heightened anxiety.

They are now faced with subjects that build upon knowledge gained during the COVID period. However, they may not remember what they learned as they weren’t physically present in front of the teacher. Some students excelled during virtual learning in the COVID era, while others struggled or have difficulty recollecting what they learned.

COVID has undoubtedly amplified anxiety and stress for both students and teachers. The question remains: how long will it take to recover from the anxiety caused by COVID in schools?

There is no definitive answer.