Netta Hakak: 6th form college student

Everybody has a story. Islington Faces’ Youth Ambassador Netta Hakak, talks about her experiences as a Year 12 during lockdown & how difficult studying for exams has been. The current Year 11s and 13s in Islington (England) will sit exams 3 weeks later than usual, to allow them to “catch up”. In Wales public exams have already been cancelled in favour of teacher assessment. Interview by Nicola Baird

Q: What have you been doing during Lockdown?
Mostly just studying. I had on-line lessons from 23 March until school finished at the end of June. Even now I still have work to do over the summer for my A levels in English literature, Politics and History at City & Islington.

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I’d been at the college for a term and a half before lockdown. I quite enjoyed lockdown learning at first as it meant I could do things in my own time and be on my own schedule. Basically I’d wake up for early register and log on, then I’d go back to sleep and do the work later. But then it got really hard teaching yourself everything. Some teachers did online face-to-face lessons and these were way more helpful, but we mostly used Google classroom. Some teachers just put up loads of resources and slide shows, and we’d have to teach ourselves from those materials: I really hated that. It felt like I was doing more work. Normally there would be classroom discussions which took most of the lesson (some are an hour long and some are three hours long) but you couldn’t do discussion on line. Doing three hours’ worth of work is quite difficult.

Before lockdown I never studied in my own room, I’d always go to the library because there were less distractions. But I bought a new desk which has been really good and I’ve got my own room.

We had mocks (exams) but they weren’t as serious as they would have been because we are at home. I got given my predicted grades recently and I’m kind of happy…

I know a lot of people thought lockdown college would be only 3 weeks, so they didn’t bother to do any of the work – now they’re 3 months in and they haven’t done anything. I’d say only a few of my friends have done all the work we were set because Google classroom and messages from your teachers are so easy to ignore. Why? I feel like it’s lack of motivation and bad mental health being cooped up in your house and there’s so much to do on the internet that isn’t work. If you don’t have a balance of socialising and studying then it is really hard to motivate yourself. And if students aren’t socialising with their family or seeing friends outside then they spiral and don’t do anything at all.

Q: Should this year’s Year 10s and Year 13s have adjusted exams for GCSEs and A levels in 2021?
I’ve done everything that I’ve been given, but the teacher hasn’t been there to shape me on to the right path so I don’t feel like I’ve done the work properly. That’s why I don’t think it would be fair to not make allowances. This summer Y13 and Y11 have had exams cancelled so they get to relax, whereas Y12 have been trying so hard to keep up with minimal teacher help, so I think exams should be modified, I’ve signed petitions for it. [Unfortunately, some have already been rejected, eg this petition].

Netta’s 5 favourite places in Islington

• Highbury Fields is such a classic place. There are so many memories there! I grew up in Islington, it’s all my childhood going there after Drayton Park primary school in summer on my little scooter; going to Oasis café, having ice cream and having water fights. And now I see my friends a lot there too.
• I really like Gillespie Nature Reserve. It’s so beautiful and I used to go on my way to school to Drayton Park through there.
• I hate studying at home so I’ve tried different libraries to go too and Central Library is my favourite one, it’s really nice to study in. I’ve tried loads in Islington and the British Library. I got tired of the Camden Library in King’s Cross as it has a fitness centre underneath: it’s a bit weird that it stinks like a swimming pool.
• My friend Belinda’s house is right next to Highbury Grove school. I feel really welcome – her family are Turkish so really similar to my Israeli culture. I love their rice wrapped in vine leaves. It’s a very Middle Eastern thing.
• The New River Walk is really beautiful. I’ve cycled up it before. I like going to it on my breaks from college and eat my lunch there sometimes. There are always interesting ducks in the water.

Q: Did you go to the Black Lives Matter rallies?
I’ve been to a lot of demonstrations before so when there were Black Lives Matter events I felt it was really important to go. I went to two in central London and one local one in Tottenham where I now live. I felt I’ve been quite vocal on social media about it, so it would be hypocritical of me if I hadn’t gone. It also feels really good to be in a group of like-minded people who all want the same thing. It gives you more hope.

Q: You study politics what would you like changed?
I feel like the things I want might seem too extreme or radical – I’m for Defund the Police to places where money is more needed, but I don’t think that will happen anytime soon.  [See info here about this written in the Guardian.] There’s been a lot of talk about changing the curriculum when it comes to teaching black history. But I feel like I’m too old for that now, but it would benefit a lot of younger generations.

Q: Do you have some good lockdown memories?
Yes! As a family we started doing online weekly Pilates sessions. And I learnt to crochet – I’m working on making a bag. Also, we took turns making dinner, so I’ve been cooking a lot more. My favourite thing is latkes – it’s a traditional Jewish grated potato dish. The last thing I made was mushroom creamy pasta with my Dad.

I’ve really enjoyed the clean air. London is so busy. It was nice that everything stopped for a little while – traffic, shops – and everyone kind of got to rest. In my area it just feels safer because the streets are quieter, there are less people and less cars. I cycled to central London which I never would have done, that was nice.

As a voluntary youth ambassador for Islington Faces, Netta Hakak has helped set up photo exhibitions, taken photos and identified potential interviewees. A huge thank you to Netta for the support she gives Islington Faces.

Over to you
If you’d like to nominate someone to be interviewed who grew up, lives or works in Islington, or suggest yourself, please let me know, via nicolabaird dot green at gmail dot com.  If you enjoyed this post you might like to look at the A-Z  index, or search by interviewee’s roles or Meet Islingtonians to find friends, neighbours and inspiration. Thanks for stopping by. Nicola