Chronicle feature: Back to school during a pandemic
Sukhroop Singh '24
is a boarding student from Easton, Pennsylvania. He is a member of the Creative Writing Club and TEDx Club, and is a BookTuber.
By late October, Sukhroop Singh felt like he was starting to get into the swing of things. But only weeks earlier, the freshman book enthusiast found it challenging to gain a foothold at Peddie.
“Adjusting from the academics of my middle school to Peddie and adjusting to living away from home ... Yeah, it’s been hard,” he revealed. “I haven’t been able to do as well as I would like to. But I’m starting to adjust, and I’m starting to get in the groove of things.”
At times when he spoke, Singh seemed overwhelmed as a first-year student trying to adjust to a new school during a pandemic that has brought severe social restrictions to campus. But he talked enthusiastically about several topics.
“English and history are my favorite subjects, so obviously, humanities was going to be my favorite class, and I love the teacher, Ms. Munch,” he said.
I haven't been able to do as well as I would like to. But I'm starting to adjust, and I'm starting to get in the groove of things.”
Singh is a member of Peddie’s Creative Writing Club and volunteers with Writer’s Ink to help elementary students learn the fundamentals of writing. He plans to submit poetry to the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards and reached out to a Peddie upperclassman who won a silver medal in the competition last year. “He responded in, like, a day and gave me a whole page of feedback,” he said, amazed.
Singh started a new venture during quarantine earlier this year: BookTubing.
“A BookTuber is a YouTuber that talks about books online,” he explained. “Seeing people subscribe and commenting on my videos and starting book clubs and having so many people participate has been so much fun.”
While settling on being a boarding or remote student this fall was tough for Singh, he felt confident that he made the right choice. “In the beginning, I might have regretted my decision, but now, I like that I decided to come here,” he said.