School within a Pandemic By Ava Clavijo Quarantines left and right everywhere you turn, an empty table that was once filled with students. Throughout the past seven months at school, there is never a fully normal week. It is always “wow look how empty that table is”, as much as school can start to feel normal, there is always a reminder that it is not yet. This is why we need to remain diligent with masks, social distancing, and sanitation. As we can reach normality, we are not there yet, and will not be soon. The schools are consistently cleaning and contact tracing to limit the spread of the virus, but it is ultimately up to the students to prevent the spread by wearing masks and hand sanitizing. Working and learning during a pandemic has never proven easy, but we should always remember that we are all living through this, and to be kind and considerate. Through the twist and turns of going to school while COVID-19 is running rampant, we need to remain diligent in cleaning and safety along with giving ourselves and everyone else grace. Almost everyone I know has been quarantined at least once. You get the call, and the next thing you know, another two weeks before you see your friends again. As much as students may feel safer at home, there is still no way to not get behind, no matter how much online work is completed. There is no replacement for education through an in-person class. As understanding teachers are about quarantines, it is hard to maintain test integrity when some of the students are taking the test in person when others are at home, causing the quarantined students to fall behind. As much as quarantine is the appropriate response to a COVID-19 exposure, those quarantined deserve a grace period if they fall further behind. The in-school experience makes it enjoyable, being able to form a relationship with teachers and peers. The best part of the day is being able to socialize. Without that socialization that makes school enjoyable, completing the work itself seems unbearable. The more we wear masks and sanitize, the sooner we will get the normal we all long towards. But normal will not come easy. We all must take safety measures seriously. As the pandemic drags on, we begin to get lazy with masks and sanitation and start to get more comfortable with the thought of getting the virus and getting over it. I do not recommend getting the virus, it is not fun. Especially as teenagers, we take our health for granted, but it is always important to remember our elders and those with weakened immune systems. Watching my grandmother contract the virus and fight for her life in the hospital was heartbreaking even though she is now recovering, it is terrifying to think about losing a loved one as I know many have. As a community, we have lost so much. We need to work to not lose anymore by wearing our masks and social distancing. Overall, life in a pandemic is something no one could have predicted or known how to deal with, and we have made the best of it. As it is tiring for all of us, as long as we keep wearing our masks and social distance, we can soon go back to normal. We just need to remember to give ourselves and everyone grace because of the impact the virus can have on our families and mental health. 48 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME XI | ISSUE 1
49 MYFORSYTHMAG.COM VOLUME XI | ISSUE 1