Under different circumstances, Johan would have walked across the brown and gray-tiled, brightly lit gymnasium of that 700-student elementary school in the rural outskirts of Houston to receive his two awards: the Honor Roll and Bulldog Achievement Award.
Maybe, had times been normal, the third grader would have flashed a quick smile, dressed in his Sunday’s best. Maybe his friends would have teased him as we all did back then when we were nine years old and some of our concerns were limited to what cookies were being served that day or who would get the nicer soccer ball at recess.
The morning of May 27, 2020 Year One of Quarantine, Johan received his two awards via a Zoom ceremony prepared by his two teachers. A Spotify “clap” soundtrack and a virtual certificate followed after each of the 34 students’ name were announced. There was no walking from one end of the gym to the other but from their own little Zoom-space, classmates applauded each other.
At heart this was a celebration for the future Class of 2029, con o sin covid.
Though he usually appears on video, Johan’s name in white letters was the only thing visible from his black screen that morning.
It wasn’t until the end of the awards ceremony that his face resurfaced on video. He was clutching his teddy bear, boxed in virtually with his two dozen classmates all of them faces within little personalized squares, some accompanied by their parents, their dogs, their tías and tíos, their customized backgrounds (these are, after all, experts with technology).
A faulty wireless connection forced one student and his family out from the Zoom ceremony halfway through.
“Lo siento mucho maestra. I’m so sorry, teacher,” one of the parents later said over the phone a few moments later. “Se nos fue el internet.” We lost service.
It hasn’t been easy for anyone and the sudden, upending changes from the past months have weighed heavily on parents, children, students, educators, future graduates.
Of the 34 students in these two third-grade classes 10 were not able to tune in. A strong internet connection, let alone wireless, in Waller County, Texas is still not available to everyone even as the school has provided the students with laptops. Everyone would get their certificates via mail service and those who hadn’t been able to follow the online celebration would receive a call from their teachers later in the day.
“I’m so proud of each and every one of you,” one of the teachers said once the students had been recognized. “Felicidades a todos ustedes.”
Talks about a possible return to campus for the 20-21 school year are still underway. Plans still seem to change on a weekly basis. Long-term planning is composed of several short-term options and variables.
But for this small group of bilingual students, this was their morning, their day.
Two dozen little, jovial, smiling faces spread across two screens smiled back. Some waved. One embraced his teddy bear tighter.