It’s been four years since the world felt like it was put on hold because of quarantine.
From schools shutting down, and people wearing masks everywhere. Many changes were happening fast. It was a hard time for individuals everywhere and still affects them today.
Struggles of online school
When quarantine first started, it was a shocking time for everyone, especially students and teachers. Some thought it was exciting to have school off, while others worried about what would happen. Many students realized how much they missed their classmates and how lonely it was without that in-person bond.
“We were about to go on tour and then got shut down. I just hated seeing the kids so shocked,” said chorus teacher Leah Tarrant who missed her choir tour because of the lockdown. Many events including prom, graduation, and other school events were canceled due to quarantine.
Going from in-person to online school was a difficult change for students and teachers. It was a chaotic time for students and kids around the world who were struggling to learn online. As well as teachers, who were trying their best to teach through a computer screen. School districts also struggled with how to help out their teachers and students with such a big change that was happening.
“It was very difficult to learn online because I didn’t know much about computers, I mean I was only in fifth grade at the time,” said sophomore Trever Winward.
Students struggled to do their online school and it affected them academically. It was hard for teachers also, to reach out and help their students online. Sure, Zoom and Google Classroom helped, but it wasn’t the same as learning face-to-face. Some students thought it was okay not to do their assignments. This led to them falling behind and affected their academic performance. “The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the use of distance learning, which may hinder academic success,” The National Health Institute article posted June 12th, 2022 states.
Effects on mental health
Quarantine was an impactful time for everyone. For some though, it still influences them today. The Lockdown sparked mental issues for lots of people. According to the World Health Organization, in 2022, anxiety and depression increased over 25% because of the lockdown. Quarantine was a stressful time for individuals and caused lots of damage to people’s lives.
“Anxiety, depression, distress, and post-traumatic symptoms are frequently experienced during the COVID-19 quarantine” states The National Health Institute. The article also shows that teens and children who experience quarantine have common feelings of fear and hopelessness.
Not only was it impactful to the populations’ health and daily life but it converted a lot of people’s views on life. With everything happening worldwide, people didn’t know what to believe or think. It gave people doubts and changed people’s beliefs or perspectives on things.
“I think it taught me that not everything is a given, like your whole school career you think you’ll get a graduation, but I guess you don’t always get a graduation,” said 2020 graduate Taylor Simons, who didn’t get a traditional graduation because of COVID-19.
During this time people missed out on different events in their lives. Events include sports games, prom, graduation, birthdays, reunions, funerals, and many others. People felt lonely and helpless because of all the things they had to put on pause because of COVID-19.
Moving forward
It isn’t easy to move on from such a big event that happened, even if it was four years ago. It transformed people’s lives and continues to impact them.
“Some of the world’s greatest creations came from a forced state of isolation, and regrowth is often healthier after a state of disruption,” says the You Aren’t Alone Project.
Moving on from this experience might seem hard to some and easier for others. The only thing to remember is that we, as a society, are tougher now because of this experience. “We got through it and I think that’s one positive thing, just to know how strong we are,” said Tarrant.
Everyone can learn something from this experience. Even if it was a difficult time in people’s lives. This experience helped us grow and become stronger as a community. That’s one thing everyone can remember and learn from quarantine.
