Vox Populi: Expectations as classes resume

“A lot of writing about the typhoon, our experiences, mainly that as topics. I am excited to come back to class because it has been boring at home. I am looking forward to going home.”
— Mariah Aldan, Marianas, High School junior

“We are going to talk about the typhoon and our experiences. I am pretty much excited for my first day, and looking forward to doing more [school]work. Of course, I miss my friends.”
— Junior Dhongram, MHS freshman

“I am looking forward to coming back to class and learning to get our school started because we basically missed a lot of stuff because of the typhoon. I just want to get back to learning. I didn’t really miss my friends because we were just hanging out during the break—it just the school I miss. I really missed the school.”
—Andre Reyes, MHS senior

“I am looking forward to how the classes are going to continue, especially since we stopped in the middle of the quarter. It has been almost two months that we have been out of school and I know that a lot of our [school]work were unfinished, so I am kind of looking forward to continuing our work.”
— Bernadette Javier, MHS senior

“Being back to school feels like just any other day. I am looking forward to all the assignments and the unfinished work. …I am really looking forward continuing my classes.”
— Abel Deleon Guerrero, MHS junior

“I expect a lot of work. But I heard we won’t be doing much [today]. I am looking forward to meeting with my classmates and friends because I also want to catch up with and ask if they are doing well and that. I only have second and third period since I am a faculty assistant today.”
— Andrei Manalo, MHS senior

“I am honestly not expecting anything because, after a disaster like this, the teachers want students to have closure and have them express what they are feeling after the typhoon because it has been a traumatizing experience. I am looking forward to meeting my classmates and friends because everybody was worried about each other and we haven’t had time to check on each other because we all had to clean our houses and make sure we had food and water. I am kind of excited for the first day of classes.”
— Ainah T. Chargualaf, MHS junior

“We are excited to bring back the children and we are super excited to welcome them back. …Students were greeted with warm smiles and big hugs; it was very nice.”
— Education Commissioner, Glenn Muña

“I’m not expecting much today. I feel like we are just going to talk about our typhoon experience; see how everyone is doing; see what to look forward to here in school; and how to adjust to everything. I don’t expect to get back to where we were last year or earlier in the year. It’s something that can’t be ignored—it was a big typhoon. I am kind of glad to be back at school because there isn’t much to do at home but work and we don’t have power.”
—Halle Kenty, MHS senior

“I am looking forward to graduating because I really want to go to college. I am looking forward to passing classes so that I could fulfill my goals. I was looking forward to Hawaii or Seattle [for college]. I want to take up nursing. I am honestly happy to see my classmates, and I kind of like home. It’s different here [in school] than at home. I feel more relaxed at home and more comfortable [at school].”
— Reigina T. Niro, MHS senior