With the global death toll of coronavirus approaching 135,000 and the number of confirmed cases in the U.S. growing rapidly, states around the country have taken further precautions to mitigate damage. In California, Governor Gavin Newsom issued statewide shelter-in-place order until May 3, resulting in the cancellation or modification of almost all major events.
These cancellations slowed the pace of life significantly for many students, who no longer have events to attend or prepare for during the last few months of the school year. Although school continues through its new online incarnation, the pace at which classes run has also changed dramatically. With the cutting down of the AP curriculum, classes like AP Statistics, Calculus BC and US History have all transitioned to reviewing previous lessons rather than delving into new material.
As I write this, at least 28,000 Amerians have lost their lives to COVID-19 (and the numbers have been growing by the thousands every day). The economy is on the verge of the worst slump since the 1930s. Unemployment is skyrocketing and some food items are becoming scarce. So is there anything positive occurring for teens like us?
Arguably, a silver lining to this horror story is that we get to step back from our usual pressure-cooker lives and reflect on what matters most.
Especially in a place like Saratoga, academic competitiveness can lead to a keep-swimming-or-drown environment: Students taking heavy workloads have to study for test after test with little reprieve, and those participating in many extracurriculars have to juggle sports practices with club events and homework. Taken up in an endless stream of commitments, students have little to no time for self-reflection.
The coronavirus has undoubtedly ruined many students’ routines and left others completely confused, but it is exactly this disruption of routine that is a hidden blessing. Plodding along one foot after the other, many students monotonously grind through an endless cycle of homework and tests, and never take the time to wonder about the meaning of what they’re doing or any other of life’s big questions.
Everything that mattered before COVID-19 is canceled, modified or postponed: CCS playoffs, speech and debate tournaments, and many STEM Olympiads, the music department’s summer trip to Europe, proms, graduation ceremonies and, for seniors, perhaps even the simple pleasure of saying goodbye to friends and teachers in person.
The life stoppage of the quarantine allows students to think about what they truly want to do, not what they can do or should do because of colleges, parents, or peer pressure. Students who still want to participate in these events can continue preparing for next year, while others can finally take the time to see the other options available to them.
Now is also the perfect opportunity for students to try new hobbies or work on new skills. Instruments that were gathering dust can be re-tuned and re-played, unfinished to-dos can finally be crossed off. Students can even learn how to code or even start a blog to organize their thoughts.
We should all be responsible for getting each other to use the time we have to improve ourselves. Teachers can make lists of hobbies that students can pursue or life skills that students should learn, or encourage trying new things. For example, AP Chemistry teacher Janny Cahatol made a 10-point assignment asking her students to do chores and English 11H teacher Natasha Ritchie gave various optional assignments for students to explore poetry in their free time. Similar assignments involving trying new hobbies could help encourage students to take up something new.
Students can do projects with their friends, or keep each other accountable for their goals. Keep daily logs of workouts, chores, or skills learned with your friends to stay motivated. Most important of all, tell your friends what you’ve been doing: Maybe they will be interested as well, or maybe they’ll expose you to something new that you enjoy.
Although many have regrettably become accustomed to a keep-swimming-or-drown environment, we have a rare chance to take a breather. The seas of life have finally calmed down. We should take the opportunity to dive and delve further into the treasures hidden below the stormy surface.