The Impact of COVID-19 and Online Learning on Urban High School Students' Post-Secondary Planning

Abstract

The pandemic has expanded already-existing achievement and opportunity inequities, especially harming historically underprivileged students. This qualitative study aims to explore the impacts of the pandemic and online learning on urban high school students' schooling experiences and post-secondary life planning process. It has been found that pandemic and online learning experiences have impacted urban high school students in terms of academic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, extracurricular, and resources dimensions. The researcher also investigated what students have learnt from this experience and what their major support systems have been in this process. Significant others' support, physical activity, self-motivation, and envisioning prospective good times are found to be contributing factors to their well-being. The implications and recommendations for educators, particularly counselors, are also discussed.