The last year and a half of online school was, needless to say, not ideal. Classes were harder to engage with, we were all disconnected from our peers, and everything felt a little greyer than usual. We lost our sense of community.
There is nobody to blame, of course. We made it through the smoky ruins of forest fires, massive clouds of smoke, civil unrest and other generally apocalyptic events. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say that we’ve experienced something close to the end of the world. And with climate change an immediate crisis, the end of the world is likely still to come.
For many, though, the last week on campus, the first back full time in more than a year and a half, has felt like a turn for the better. Life is still far from normal, whatever the hell that is, and restrictions can make things complicated, but being back together in person makes a vital difference. As time passes and we all get back into the swing of things, we will find our connection again.
As your new Pigeon Press editors in chief, we’d like to help our community recover after many months apart. After going through such an insane, turbulent year, returning to campus will undoubtedly be an awkward process. We’re hoping to provide a space for reconnection by sharing our collective experiences and artistic projects.
The pandemic has been a lonely time for everyone. As we return to in-person learning, it is more important than ever to foster that connection. The Pigeon Press runs all kinds of content, from school news to staff editorials to interviews, but what makes it most unique to Northwest Academy is the student art. Consider this your open invitation to share anything you’d like – submissions can be made in school or on personal time, in any medium, about any topic. We look forward to hearing from you!
– Aaron Drummond and Asher Wolfsmith
Photo by Kiyosh Arun
