Sophomore Wendy Miedema said, “During this year of isolation, I have learned how to focus on myself and do things with a goal in mind. I have developed a skill of time management and a positive attitude when things don’t go as planned. My priorities have also changed as I start to look towards the future and plan ahead rather than dwell on the past.”
Sophomore Andrea Medina said, “Isolation has changed me a lot. At first it was easy because I was the type of person that didn’t really talk at school, but it started to hit in September when we started school online. I had just lost an aunt during the summer. I lost other relatives due to COVID and a friend due to suicide.
“And on top of that we had school online. It was very stressful for me because this is so different and the amount of homework that they leave is so stressful. I had no one to talk to because it is hard for me to talk about my real emotions to my parents because I don’t want them to worry for me. So not being able to see my friends at school was hard because they were the only people that I actually talk to about how I feel.
“Now, in March, I have learned how to deal with it myself and how to talk to my parents about it even though I don’t really tell them everything. Also, I turn to k-dramas to escape from my emotions and it has really helped me.”
Sophomore Jaydon Kelley said, “Quarantine has led students through the reality of growing up, having to set up a professional work environment on your own and being independent to get yourself to class sessions on time.
“Throughout quarantine I wouldn’t doubt that students have gone through the self-realization of acknowledging themselves as a person and their needs as they grow older.
“Throughout quarantine we have seen our world in crisis. We realize what we have to change in the world as we grow older.
“Even though we have lost many friends, family, time and memories to be made, we must move forward as people in this world. You get one life.
“If anything has changed someone’s quarantine, it’s to realize the world isn’t handed to you on a silver platter. Throughout much uncertainty life is only what you make it.”
Junior Faye Thomas said, “This year of isolation has been extremely hard on my mental health. My mom has been a frontline worker, working with Kalamazoo COVID cases in the ICU since the beginning of COVID. I have lived with the threat of losing my mom to COVID for over a year. We have had to sit down and talk as a family about what will happen if she was to get sick.
“Isolation has been a time where I’ve come to appreciate my family in a new light but also realize how those around me do not care about the people who are being affected by this virus. My mom risks her life every time she walks into work, and my peers feel it is a smart responsible choice to go to parties or be in close contact with multiple people with no respect for CDC guidelines.
“I have changed in a lot of ways besides fearing for my mother’s life. I have realized that I am more outgoing than I thought previously. School is a great place for social interaction, and I miss being able to see the people I care about everyday. This past year has been terribly hard for everyone, but that doesn’t give any of us the right to be selfish and risk the lives of those around us.”
Sophomore Wyatt Grinwis (on the right) said, “I have changed because I can’t see anyone, but the people that I do see I get even closer than I would in normal times. I focus on myself and I find new things I like to do.”
Sophomore Henry Fields (on the left) continued, “During this past year in isolation, I have noticed many things that have changed, such as my perspective towards others as well as myself. This time away from my friends and everyone else has made me cherish the smallest interactions with the people around me. Then when I started seeing my friends I noticed that I wasn’t taking their company for granted. This was one positive about lame COVID.”
Junior Mayte Lopez said, “This year of isolation made me change in so many ways. Not only did I isolate myself physically but even through social media. I focused more on my mental health and school. Being isolated from many things and people made me realize the worth of the things we do: people, friends and family. Don’t take the time you spend with anyone for granted because you never know what will happen.”
Credits:
Created with an image by TimKvonEnd - "home office corona virus depression"