When schools shut down on March 13, 2020, not very many people predicted the ongoing pandemic that upended almost every facet of life. The two weeks off school turned into a month, into two, until school was moved online for the next school year as well. The past two years were characterized by masks, discussions of ‘flattening the curve’, and exasperating Zoom calls that never seemed to end – all of which tested our patience as individuals and as a society. These bizarre months took away typical school experiences for people in all grades of high school leading to feelings of frustration and sadness, but also to the discovery of newfound hobbies and self-growth during the time of extreme isolation. 

Originally, the two weeks off school were a welcome break. “At first it was great because I was an introvert and I didn’t really like going to school,” expressed one McCaskey sophomore, and similarly, one senior, being a sophomore when COVID began, was happy for the respite from the stress of 10th grade. However, as the pandemic progressed, there were common feelings of hopelessness and irritation. “It was really tiring,” commented the sophomore, who said that as their 9th grade year came to a close it was especially draining because they had been online all year long and it wasn’t getting better. A McCaskey junior reflected “It was very concerning if we were ever going to live a normal life again.” “I felt morally conflicted,” commented a McCaskey senior. “I wanted to do my part as a person in our community,” while fighting the need to socialize and be with peers. 

While there are common sentiments about how long COVID has been going on and how it’s affected mental health, it affected each grade level’s high school experience differently. For seniors, freshman year has been the only ‘normal’ year of high school. One senior explained how their grade missed out on a lot of typical high school experiences. “I’m leaving high school and I’ve only had two musicals and two fall plays and most people get four of those.” Not only are there musicals that seniors missed out on, but also sports and other activities like Minithon. “We missed out on a crucial year,” the senior commented, mentioning also the SAT exams and preparing for higher level IB classes during junior year – the year that the class of 2022 was completely online. 

Because everyone was separated by screens, it was hard for students to get help, and it was hard to stay focused, expressed both a junior and a freshman. “It was extremely difficult and I struggled to get the concepts I need for this year’s learning,” the freshman said about math class. “It was very stressful because you would get distracted all the time,” commented the junior. Studying at home had many challenges, from fatigue to feelings of restlessness that came from being cooped up in the house all day long. Some days would be days filled with long naps and others would be days of hyper activity that were only compounded upon by hours of sitting on zoom calls. 

Through these challenges however, McCaskey students found ways to rise and grow. “I started working out”, reflected one student, and another said, “I got back into reading.” Others found refuge in watercolor painting and expanding their computer programming knowledge. And from these tough years, we learned lessons about ourselves and the world we live in. “Enjoy all the moments you have,” noted one student, expressing the importance of not taking anything for granted, now that we know how fast it can all be taken away. “Keep exercising,” “Get your work done,” and keep intentional contact with your friends were other lessons students discovered through the pandemic and continue to carry into their lives today. Perhaps all of our experiences are all summed up well by one McCaskey sophomore: “You get through it.” 

They were not the easiest years, but students found creative ways to express themselves and grow during an unprecedented time, allowing them and all of us to progress as individuals, a school, and as a society in our -hopefully- post pandemic world.