Relatability is a tool in storytelling. A lot of relatability, in my opinion, is simply having the experience of being a person in common. Another factor branching off of this is how easy it is to imagine ourselves in another scenario or situation, such as ones described in stories.

A huge factor that contributed to making virtual school feel so uncomfortable was the choice that everyone had to turn their cameras off. Given the choice between showing their face and staying hidden, most people chose the ladder due to the fear of being judged or watched by others behind a screen. In-person school forces us to be present and, as Haven said, offers a lot of socialization that a lot of people take for granted (including me). Forcing students to interact with each other is better than nobody having that interaction.