During the COVID-19 pandemic, people have found some optimism to salvage from all the surrounding chaos in their house and around the world by seeing things in a more positive perspective.
Leaving your busy schedule behind and staying home can be a vast change. On the other hand, it’s helped other people dive into new positives they couldn’t see before with their previous way of living. The daily stress of school in the past created dismay and complaints every day from students. Without the daunting schedule, it’s made connecting with friends much easier.
“I just started building a better bond with them,” said Zamiyah, a student at Linden High School.
From this quarantine, kids could also see their parents, who they may have not seen daily because of their jobs.
Time to try out something new
This constant stay at home for teens sparked an interest in other hobbies. Through social media, teens have become more motivated to try out new things. Some popularly known platforms such as Tiktok, Instagram, and Snapchat have helped to spread new challenges. For example, people embarrassed to dance can feel comfortable in trying it out at home. Teens who were never interested in singing found comfort in making their homes into a concert. On the more essential side, they’ve also taken a liking to cooking. It helps teens get a good grasp around the basics of what to do. It gets the entire family involved and making meals together and enjoying one another. In a survey, 2 of out 4 people said that during this time, they tried to do something new. Overall, it encourages kids to be more creative as they stay home during uncertain times.
Advantage for upperclassmen in high school
Now, with juniors and seniors looking and getting into colleges, staying home proves to be beneficial. With staying at home and having a new school schedule to keep track with, it forces student to make responsible decisions on their own terms.
“It absolutely helps them,” said Mrs. Dinicola, a counselor at Colonia High School. “Because of more of the independent thinking and way of doing things that you’re learning, that is college. You’re on your own.”
It’s a way for teens in that position to be mentally prepared for college. If someone were to go to college, it’s a similar atmosphere and need for independence on one’s own responsibilities, like an adult. Being thrown into an alternative way of living for a long amount of time, is very overwhelming. Now with this tone of staying home, it acclimates the students when they go to college or live on their own.
