Michaela Palsmeier, senior, worked at the Paola Free Library which closed down during the stay-at-home order until April 23. Even though this is not how she wanted to end her senior year, Palsmeier said that online school is going to be easier with fewer assignments and no finals.
On the other hand, Cara Folsom, senior, has called being online for school a blessing in disguise because she would not have time to balance working at her family’s restaurant and going to school.
Folsom’s family has owned Emery’s Steakhouse for four years. It has been running the restaurant from Wednesdays to Saturday noon to 7 p.m. with COVID-19. They are running their restaurant completely different than they have in the past years, cutting back on staff and finding new ways to make income, such as offering curbside pick-up and nightly family meal specials.
Like Palsmeier, Folsom said going to online schooling will be easier because she knows what her schedule is going to look like by 10 a.m. on Monday. Although the classes might be easier, Folsom said she will still miss graduation and prom.
“It really sucks for the senior class because we worked so hard these past 13 and a half years and we don’t get to walk across the stage. Everything we have worked for has kind of been for nothing,” Folsom said.