The month of March became a time many people have coined "uncertain" The year of 2020 has since played out a plot that one might only expect on the silver screen. Seven months of isolation, and it still feels like living in a movie. A movie where the main plot has for some reason grown stagnant near the climax. With the popularity of coming of age films and shows about the lives of teenagers becoming more clear amongst a demographic of its subjects, it seems somewhat fitting to compare this seemingly outlandish experience to the narrative from a writer's imagination.
It is difficult to process, surely. Many students believed at first that this would just be an extended spring break, until months began to pile onto that distant deadline of when things would return to “normal;" and eventually they were looking into the unknown. Of course, life can’t be expected to be put on pause. While people had been living in what seemed like a world holding its breath, time would not stop with it.
Fall approached, and with it a school year buried in the unknown; many students wondered what their education would look like. There were no hard answers up until it was playing out in front of students everywhere, and the makeshift situation seemed to be distance learning: a picturesque version of last semester. Even as school is in session, everything still exists in a state of fluidity, of uncertainty. A which is not entirely beneficial to the quickly developing minds of high school students. Many teenagers who had never experienced mental health problems before felt alone and fearful, and those with pre-existing problems only saw their symptoms worsen. Though this presents itself in many ways, the way to get through feelings of loneliness is to reinforce community. We have all heard the tired phrase “We’re all in this together,” far too many times, and are likely sick of being told how “uncertain” these months are. There is nothing uncertain about the way people feel; students everywhere are in need of something more than reassurance that things will look up, because by now, they are not sure what to believe.
It is now necessary more than ever to make connections with people we have drifted from, both socially and physically. Detailed here is the testimony of one freshman student, Hayley Winalski, as interviewed about her experience with distance learning. Talking about what’s going on right now is the best way to deal with all this doom and gloom that seems to be everywhere.
First of all, what’s it like having your first high school experience be online?
Honestly, not that weird. I’m not upset, I’m not feeling any particular way about it.
How has distance learning affected your mental health? Honestly, in a positive way. Because I’m not socially exhausted after school.
Has it improved over time? Yeah, definitely, i’ve adjusted to my schedule and what I need to do.
What is it like for you living in the pandemic? Maybe a little boring at times, but I got used to it. It was kinda bad for a while but it’s getting better. I’m excited for theatre to come back, that’s one thing I’m excited for.
How have things changed for you throughout distance learning? At the beginning it was very stressful, I wasn’t sure if I was gonna be motivated, but I started taking notes in class. I started doing the homework the day before instead of the day of.
Is there anything you miss from in person learning? Let me think. The activities, like theatre and clubs, and my friends. (My three friends)
Do you wish it were different? No. I really don’t, I think this happened for a reason. I’m glad this happened-not glad that people died of course- but I changed a lot. I kinda learned who my real friends were. A lot happened and I’m glad it did.
If talking to your friends says anything, it should be that things don’t have to suck that bad. In reality, we’re all experiencing a common thing, and whether we’re dealing with it by feeling like the world is on fire and the apocalypse is nigh, or just sitting through it, we’re not alone. Try prompting yourself to be open with your friends when you feel like you're stagnant or drowning in messiness. We can't force people to feel comfortable with the situation, only better.
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