The Impact of COVID-19 on High School Students
Maddie King is one of our teenage staff members at young & free press. She is currently a grade twelve student at Parkside Collegiate Institute in St. Thomas.
The past few weeks have been very confusing for students. One of the hardest parts of the COVID-19 outbreak has been the overwhelming sense of uncertainty. There are many questions: Will we be returning to school this year? Will we be starting online classes? For high school seniors, the biggest question is obvious: will we be graduating this year? If not, what happens to our post-secondary plans? We have been given no answers, and that is scary.
A lot of students are also struggling from a social standpoint. Social distancing is completely unfamiliar for students. As we break the routine of being in close quarters with friends every day, anxiety and restlessness rise. The fear of missing out on significant high school memories is increasing, particularly for high school seniors. On social media, many have expressed the feeling of being cheated out of memories and experiences that we have been anticipating our whole lives. Prom is a notable example. Senior students have spent the past seven months fundraising, buying suits and dresses, collecting decorations, and booking appointments. Thousands of dollars have been put into a prom that may not happen now. This may seem like a small thing considering the whole pandemic situation, but still this matters to students.
Thanks to cell phones and social media, friends can stay connected, but using this resource too much has been leading some students to feel upset or even depressed. Removed from the routine of school, which includes time to be active, students need to structure daily life to include exercise or time in nature. We are adjusting to this new reality.
Though this is a very challenging time for students, there is the opportunity to learn in new ways. With no strict time constraints, or specific assignments, there is more creative flexibility. Take this opportunity to focus on developing skills that you may not have considered before, or were outside of your comfort zone. Look at external options, like making a film for the Forest City Youth Film Festival to document the pandemic experience (this is an option open to all students in southwestern Ontario, and could lead to some interesting short films). Go online to research topics that you’ve always wanted to know about, or plan a trip for when travel restrictions are lifted. Unlimited knowledge is at your fingertips, if you take advantage of the opportunity.
Right now, the most important question is really for our school boards and provincial government. While we recognize that there are countless things to address right now, students hope that you can provide more information soon. High school seniors especially need a clear answer to this question: will we have the ability to graduate this year?
