BACK TO SCHOOL, FINALLY

As high schools throughout Southern California prepare for a return to the classroom, we asked students to share their experiences from the pandemic. Distance learning has no doubt been difficult for teens, but they are a resilient group. Still, they wonder: Will there be a prom? Will they be able to walk through graduation? What will the start of college be like? Here are their stories. Max Menache, 18, Beverly Hills High School

What if? That was THE question consuming most of my thoughts during the pandemic. What if football season wasn’t canceled? What if I was still physically in school? What if this virus affects my goals and dreams forever? ... Although this past year was quite unpredictable, it seems we are starting to win the fight against the pandemic. I think the worst is behind us . ... Life is slowly going back to normal. I’m headed to Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., where I will play football and track . ... I’m really excited for what the future holds.

Julio Flores, 17, Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy Being at home in distance learning while taking care of younger siblings has been a difficult challenge because things go sideways . ... I have to make split decisions to make sure me and my brothers are fully learning and not missing anything . ... It can get difficult looking toward the future — applying to college, scholarships, financial aid, etc . ... I decided to find a way to let it all out and take my mind off things. What better way to relieve stress than to work out? I invited my brothers to join me, bonding, being healthy and creating memories.

Terrell Weaver, 17, Alain Leroy Locke College Preparatory Academy

I’ve watched my older brother and sister graduate, go to prom, and all the senior activities that seniors do for the last year of high school. I feel like it isn’t fair, for not just me but all the seniors in my class. We all have waited for this moment in our lives and now it’s been taken away. We will never get a chance to experience something like this for ourselves again. The one positive thing that came out of the pandemic was that my family and I were able to stay safe and no one was exposed to COVID-19. Also through it all I was able to maintain good grades. I will be attending Cal State Northridge in the fall. I hope to be in the athletic business, doing what I love — being involved with sports.

Kaitlyn Nguyen, 18, Village Academy High School, Pomona

As a senior, one of the most daunting challenges I had to face was the college application process. Oftentimes when looking at these applications it was easy for me to get intimidated by the process, but during this time I am glad that I had the support of my family, friends and local nonprofit organization Bright Prospect . ... While going through the college process I was fortunate enough to have a personal college coach, Juan Carlos Mora . ... Not only was I given a coach, who made the college application fun, I was also given a lifelong friend.

Emily Chen, 17, San Gabriel High School

The surprise of this pandemic isolation year is finding out I am capable of being a homebody. By nature, I am very gregarious, love to perform, always very involved in everything at school, very social. My perfect day pre-COVID-19 would have been being in a crowd of friends. Now I take comfort in my room and don’t feel the urge to go out — and rarely do . ... I applied to 15 colleges and it was very hard to find the motivation in solitary confinement. I am deciding between UC Berkeley and UC San Diego. But I am persistent, maybe even stubborn, and do everything until I finish. I won’t give up.

Genaro Molina Los Angeles Times TERRELL WEAVER, from left, poses with his stepfather, Michael Beime; sister Micah Beime; and mother, Fola’sade Beime, for a photo on a smartphone. They have stayed safe during the pandemic.

Christina House Los Angeles Times BIG BROTHER Julio Flores, right, bonds with his siblings, from left, Angel, 9, and David, 15, by playing soccer outside their Los Angeles home.

Christina House Los Angeles Times STILL DECIDING on a college, Emily Chen rehearses for a school play at home.

Christina House Los Angeles Times AT HOME in Montclair, Kaitlyn Nguyen tries on her graduation cap and gown. Nguyen is grateful to have had a college coach to help her with the application process.

Genaro Molina Los Angeles Times FOOTBALL PLAYER Max Menache, left, works out with his brother Dan, 17, center, and his friend Jackson Herseu, 17, in West Hollywood.