Kira Glass has committed to Rowan University fall 2026 term, majoring in Inclusive Education & Elementary Education. This year, she kicks off The Chomps college essay features with her essay discussing the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The Covid 19 Pandemic was a terrible experience for most people, but wasn’t for me. When Covid happened I was in 6th grade. I can remember it like it was just yesterday. It was the Saint Patrick’s Day dance, March 13th, 2020, at my elementary school. We were told that there would be no school and obviously 12 year old me was so excited. But when school shut down fully, I didn’t realize the sudden quiet in my house would shape the rest of my life. I was overwhelmed by the isolation and the abrupt change of learning. Although the Covid 19 pandemic was filled with uncertainty it gave me the space to slow down and reflect on who I am and gain a clearer sense of the person I want to become.
At first, the days blended together with blank docs, and the soft hum of Wi-Fi routers filling the spaces where laughter used to be. My older sisters sat at the dining room table, pencils rolling to the floor as they tried to get used to the computer as well. My younger cousin who was in Pre-k 3 was learning numbers and letters, but the wifi one day wasn’t working and she said, “Kira me need help.” I said, “Harlee, I’ll help let me see.” So when we were bored we would play school in the living or on the porch if it was nice out. We’d line up stuffed animals in a row, stack notebooks. What began as a way to pass the time during lockdown became something deeper. I found myself explaining and inventing new ways to teach stuff to her. I’d scribble fake assignments on an old white board while my cousin pretended to raise her hand with questions.
As online learning dragged on, I started to recognize how patient my teachers were when technology failed and how creative they were in finding ways to keep us engaged. Returning to school in person was both familiar and new. I began to reflect on how much I had changed since the pandemic began. I wasn’t the same person when I first stopped school. I was a 12 year old who once measured success only by grades. Now, I valued patience, communication, and resilience, the very traits great teachers need. Looking back I can infer that the pandemic didn’t just disrupt my education. It forced me to adapt, to help, and to see the power of learning in a whole new light. Covid stripped away routines and comfort, but in that space I grew. I learned how to lead, how to listen, and how to find meaning in helping others.
Although the Covid 19 pandemic was filled with uncertainty, it gave me the space to slow down and reflect on who I am and gain a clearer sense of the person I want to become. My goal as a future teacher is to create a classroom where every student feels seen, heard, and capable of success. I want to inspire curiosity, build confidence, and remind students that mistakes are part of learning. To me teaching isn’t just about lessons or grades its about building relationships that last far beyond the classroom walls.
