The Awkward, Exciting, and Uncertain Transitions to Middle School, High School, and College
Student Well-Being & Movement Video

The Awkward, Exciting, and Uncertain Transitions to Middle School, High School, and College

By Jaclyn Borowski, Eric Harkleroad & Brooke Saias — May 25, 2021 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print
Email Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Copy URL

From 5th graders in California, to 8th graders in Hawaii, and high school seniors in Florida and Alabama, students at key transition points in their education are facing change with the conclusion of the school year.

In this three-part video series, students reflect on their experiences during this pandemic school year, on what they’ve learned about themselves and others through the challenges, and on what they’re hoping the next level of their education will look like.

5th Grade | California

Fifth graders from Montclair Elementary in Oakland, Calif., reflect on their lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.

8th Grade | Hawaii

Honolulu’s Punahou School 8th graders have experienced a mix of remote, hybrid, and in-person learning over the past 14 months of COVID-19.

12th Grade | Alabama & Florida

Graduating seniors look back on their senior year and look ahead at what's to come for each of them as they pursue a college education.

Jaclyn Borowski
Director of Photography & Videography,  Education Week
Jaclyn Borowski is the Director of Photography and Videography for Education Week.
Eric Harkleroad
Eric Harkleroad is Education Week’s visuals intern for the spring and summer of 2021.
Brooke Saias
Video Producer,  Education Week
Brooke Saias is a video producer for Education Week, working to tell stories about the impact of education on communities.
Related Tags:
Middle School High School College Readiness Remote/Virtual Learning California Hawaii Alabama

Events

Tue., August 18, 2026, 2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. ET
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Webinar Closing the Practice Gap: Essential Insights for Leaders
Three instructional experts will share strategies for making students’ reading and math practice more engaging and impactful this year.
Content provided by Renaissance
Register
See More Events

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs
Create Your Own Job Search

Read Next

Student Well-Being & Movement ‘It Turns the School Community Around’: Teachers Reflect on Phone-Free Campuses
Teachers in states with cellphone bans say implementation means more than policy.
Sarah D. Sparks
•
4 min read
Students use phones and other electronic devices in school on May 8, 2026. The school cellphone ban is one of the few policy agreements between Republicans and Democrats, and principals and teachers are big supporters.
Students use phones in school on May 8, 2026. The school cell phone ban is one of the few policy agreements between Republicans and Democrats, and principals and teachers are big supporters.
Lincoln Beddoe/Dreamstime via TNS
Student Well-Being & Movement Yes, Computer Science Can Teach Social-Emotional Skills. Here's How
Though seemingly disparate, computer science and student mindfulness can mutually reinforce one another.
Arianna Prothero
•
2 min read
Education Teacher Appreciation Morale 24126158566435
Students work on computers at A.D. Henderson School in Boca Raton, Fla., on April 16, 2024. Strategies used in computer science can also help teach students social-emotional skills.
Rebecca Blackwell/AP Photo
Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion How We Can End the Chicken-and-Egg Problem at the Heart of Student Misbehavior
As teachers manage classrooms filled with anxiety and impulsivity, this is how leaders can help.
Marc Brackett
•
5 min read
A teacher and students try to untangle complex emotional strings.
Chiara Vercesi for Education Week
Student Well-Being & Movement Can AI Help Students Learn Social-Emotional Skills?
Teachers are experimenting with ways to leverage the technology.
Arianna Prothero
•
5 min read
Empathy02
Chris Cromwell, an instructional technology coordinator for the West Chester Area School District in Pennsylvania, speaks to attendees during his presentation at the ISTELive 26 + ASCD Annual Conference in Orlando, Fla., on July 1, 2026. Cromwell is one of a small but growing number of educators using AI to teach students social and emotional skills.
Marvin Joseph/Education Week