CHULA VISTA, Calif. (KGTV) -- A South Bay teen was recently published in The New York Times, sharing a very personal account of what distance learning is like for him during the pandemic.
Isaac Lozano is a senior at Bonita Vista High School, a school in the Sweetwater Union High School District. Lozano praises the district for starting the school year virtually because of COVID-19.
Lozano told ABC 10News that sharing his reality wasn’t easy, but he now feels proud that he can be a voice for other students like him.
The op-ed titled “Remote Learning Is Hard. Losing Family Members is Worse" was published on Aug. 13.
In the article Lozano, a straight-A student, details his struggles with distance learning at home. He lives in a two-bedroom apartment, shares a room with his two brothers, and both parents are essential workers. Lozano also lives in the South Bay, one of the areas most impacted by COVID-19 in San Diego County.
Lozano writes about not having a designated place to study, moving from room to room in his family’s apartment. He also highlights internet connectivity issues, but insists he has concerns about going back to school before it is safe to do so.
Lozano gets personal in the article, sharing that COVID-19 hits close to home. His uncle died of the virus.
Since the article was published, Lozano says he’s heard from people offering to help. He’s also heard from a publishing company, a literary magazine and even received an internship offer from a congressional candidate.
Lozano will be applying to colleges in the fall and is interested in applying to Stanford, Yale, and UCLA. He’s hoping to take the SATs in September, if the pandemic allows.
To read the full op-ed click here.
