With the school year unexpectedly cut short, many students at Herndon, particularly seniors, feel as though they’ve missed out on an important part of their high school experience. Despite an attempt at virtual social contact through online classes, social isolation has majorly affected students’ lives, in mostly negative ways. In addition to stunted academic growth, students have experienced high amounts of stress concerning what their futures will look like. Yasha Barth, 12, described the situation as “Not the way I could have imagined senior year would end.” The pandemic has affected different families in different ways, but an unfortunate common trend has been feeling bored or hopeless, as a result of little social contact and less motivation to work hard. Having to work from within the comfort of one’s own home can be even more tiresome than having to spend all day at work or school.
With the cancellation of nearly every major sports organization, and the discouragement of leaving the house, students are forcibly cooped up indoors with little to keep themselves productively occupied. Some families have lost all of their major sources of income, putting them in financial jeopardy that adds a whole new level of stress to the situation. For students, particularly seniors, the situation has prevented them from getting to have the same experiences as years of the past. The most important way to stay sane in these strange times is to maintain a sense of routine and community, to the best we’re able. Whether that be through hobbies or just enjoying the time with family, taking advantage of the positives in this situation is the only way to get past the negatives.
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