Campus of memories

Campus of memories Marking the slow readjustment to an ever-changing ‘normal’

By: Mina Jung, Features Editor

It’s hard to believe that a year has passed since students, teachers and faculty were first sent home as the COVID-19 virus spread across the globe. Yet as many have become accustomed to staying at home all day, avoiding close contact with other people and turning digital for work and communication, a new ‘normal’ way of life was created — so much so that to think about the ‘normal’ way of life before the pandemic may seem jarring or unimaginable.

Students once walking across campus to get from classroom to classroom are now replaced by changing tabs and inputting different codes enter class Google Meets. The campus, however, may look like its former state as OPHS reopens in hybrid learning format. (Photo courtesy of Mina Jung/Talon)

However, when I walked on campus on that warm sunny afternoon in late February, all the way from the library to the field, I recalled traces of the pre-pandemic ‘normal.’ Students conversing by the lockers during breaks. Sports teams sharing various parts of the track and field. Teachers’ classrooms filled with students chatting and eating lunch on rainy days. These memories seemed to emanate from the very structures on our campus, even though in reality the school was comparatively empty.

In February 2020, students celebrated Chinese New Year on the Great Lawn. Activities included arts and crafts, traditional food and a group dance performed by Chinese language students. (Photo courtesy of Sawyer Nicoll and Mina Jung/Talon)

Soon the campus will be filled with (although not as much as before) people coming back for hybrid learning. Teachers will see some students face-to-face, students will actually walk to different classrooms alongside peers who continue to use Google Meets, and the campus will no longer be a silent slab of concrete.

By the end of the 2019-2020 season, the OPHS Varsity Girls' Soccer team finished third place in the Coastal Canyon League. The team continued to the first round of CIF playoffs in early February 2020. During lockdown, some students practice their sports on the field which is open for certain hours. (Photo courtesy of Lauren Battin and Mina Jung/Talon)

The future is uncertain, yet we can all look at our campus and feel some sense of unity. Seniors can hope for a sense of normalcy in their final year, freshmen can hope for an actual taste of high school and years in between can hope for a continuation of years prior. While more than 365 days have passed since we went to a ‘normal’ day of school, one thing is for sure — the campus will always embody the highs and lows of Oak Park High School, and will be waiting for our return.

In November 2019, students from all OPUSD schools joined administrators and district leaders in planting trees of gratitude throughout the community. Some trees were planted next to the pathway by the Great Lawn. (Photo courtesy of OPUSD and Mina Jung/Talon)

OPHS alumnus JD Slajchert sold copies of his book "Moonflower" and talked to students during lunch on Sept. 13, 2019. Senior Shoshana Medved and OPHS alumna Leonie Humig interviewed Slajchert about his debut novel in front of the front entrance to the gym. (Photo courtesy of Blake Hanlon and Mina Jung/Talon)

Oak Park High School joined the #FridaysforFuture movements with signs and chants next to Kanan Road. These photos were taken at the end of fourth period in October 2019. (Photo courtesy of Atmika Iyer and Mina Jung/Talon)

In celebration of the Hindu festival of lights Diwali in December 2019, OPHS students came to school wearing chudidhars, kurtas and other pieces of Indian clothing. This commemoration photo was taken by the G-buildings. (Photo courtesy of Sai Bhargavi, Lakshmi Narasimhan and Mina Jung/Talon)

Bleachers filled with student and parent spectators, band members and others, along with cheerleaders on the field and snack vendors by the lunch tables, were a common sight at OPHS football games. While those bleachers have remained empty for over a year, OPHS's football team has continued to practice. (Photo courtesy of Mina Jung/Talon)

As OPUSD hosted a parent meeting regarding new gender diversity grade school lessons on Sept.10, 2019, news trucks parked behind the B-buildings to report. The parking lot remains mostly empty as most school events are now held virtually. (Photo courtesy of Lucy-Heine Van Fossen and Mina Jung/Talon)

The aftermath of rally days often involved colored banners littered across the floor, such as after the rally in September 2019. While school rallies may not be possible in the near future, ASB has organized various events including virtual homecoming. (Photo courtesy of Sam-Barney Gibbs and Mina Jung/Talon)

Appreciate