Before covid, I did gymnastics competitively for about 6 years. I decided that the season for 2019-2020 would be my last. In that year, I was still going on with my day-to-day life. I would rise before the sun would shine, get ready quickly because I always woke up late, go to my high school for long periods, have tiring gymnastics practice, and try to get my homework done. Even with this going on, I wanted to do well and end with good scores at my gymnastics meets during that season. I was going to stop doing gymnastics because it is such an intense sport that took up a lot of my energy and time. I had practice 4 days a week, taking up 20 plus hours. I had limited time to do my high school work and hang out with my friends. Gymnastics is a spring sport, so the competition season is usually from January to April. Covid conflicted with this because everything shut down in the beginning/middle of March.

My last meet was very significant for me because it was so fun. I didn’t expect it to be my last, but COVID-19 hit, and I had to end gymnastics early. I went to New Orleans with my grandpa for the weekend. I competed at my meet with my teammates and got awards and medals. During the rest of the time, I explored the city with my grandfather and teammates. It was almost Mardi Gras, so there was lots of partying. My gymnastics friends and I went shopping and walked down French Quarter. In the heart of the city was a Mardi Gras Parade that we went to. It was so crowded, and everyone was on top of each other. I can’t imagine being in a crowd like that anymore after covid happened. There were tons of floats and loud music. Everyone was cheering to the point of yelling. Beaded necklaces were flying everywhere, waiting for people to catch them. After that trip, I returned and started practicing to get ready for the summer. Summer practices were intense and even longer than the regular school year schedule. So, once it was all over, I was relieved.

The first months, maybe even up to a year after quarantine started, I was so down that I couldn’t do gymnastics anymore. This confused me because I wanted to quit so bad earlier that year, but now, I suddenly wanted to return. It made me think about starting it up again, but I remember how much energy it took out of me and that I wouldn’t be happy. Life after quitting gymnastics felt free. I didn’t have the massive commitment of going to practice every day and had more time. We were in the middle of a pandemic, so I couldn’t go out with my friends, but I could take a break. I stayed home, took my dog out on walks, and started to get into new interests. New interests like watching a lot of television. I just got into anime and was watching about one show a day. It sounds unhealthy to watch at least one show a day, but I had nothing else to do. I got into so many genres and shows that it felt like unlimited choices to choose from. I would also listen to music almost every second of every day. I discovered K-pop during this time. This type of music was just so fun because of the many sounds used and different languages. When watching the music videos, pops of vibrant colors were everywhere, and fantastic dance moves. I was able to stay entertained.

Coming to a whole 2 years since I quit gymnastics, I came to terms with it. Right now, I feel content. I joined my high school gymnastics team, and it was the fun that I needed gymnastics to be. I was still allowed to do gymnastics and compete with less pressure on me. Gymnastics will always be important to me and hold a special place in my heart. I met lots of people that I’m still friends with and amazing coaches that are my role models. Even with my last season ending early I can still remember the good things as well as the bad.

Throughout all these changes, teachers have been putting a lot of effort to help students readjust as much as possible. In the article “Modeling the Possibilities: Building the Caring, Reciprocal Relationships Needed to Nurture Powerful Learning” it states that “teachers have heroically been working to support children’s development—not just academically, but socially and emotionally too.” Even though teachers may look put together they were struggling if not just then more than students. Teachers wanted to school students that school could be entertaining as well as educational. By engaging a lot with students, teachers and students can form relationships that are “essential for children’s healthy brain and overall development—physically and socially/emotionally as well” (Falk Par. 3). These relationships could be hard to form but by just letting the children be comfortable can do a lot. When dealing with young kids in their out of place settings, you’ll have to know how to deal with them, including talking, playing, teaching, observing, or even just listening to them. When listening to students, teachers have found that some will speak “of illness, loss, sadness, fear, anxieties, and their pain about injustice; while it also expressed hope, gratitude for loved ones, longing for connection and community, and the opportunities that the pandemic has provided for personal learning and growth” (Falk par.6). With just enough effort teachers can and have made a positive change during this negative time.

In the early stages of covid, students were learning online, and teachers were teaching online. They haven’t ever had to adjust to school changes this quickly. Katie Mercadante Erdely, a teacher at a school said, “We are learning as we go, which is frustrating for both students and advisers” (Patterson par.3). She and other teachers want students to stay safe but also be able to connect with each other and form relationships (Erdely, Patterson par. 7). Students seem to have lost motivation to do their work virtually. The move to online has shaken everyone up. Another teacher, Terry D’Imperio has worked with her students to create a series of weekly activities for the whole school. They offered a virtual art gallery where students could submit their work, a virtual spirit week, and “wellness bingo” games. As well as teacher appreciation event with students contributing videos was particularly popular to show the connections made between students and teachers. These events the teachers arranged “reminded us all that we are human, and that school is about social-emotional learning as well as academic. I think even those who didn’t participate still watched the weekly videos and were satisfied knowing that at least there was an opportunity to get involved” (Paterson). From not being in school physically, these students couldn’t see their friends and were lacking these connections.

Another flaw of not being in in-person school is that not all children around the world have access to remote learning. About, “a third of the world’s schoolchildren were unable to access remote learning when COVID-19 shuttered their schools” (Fore, UNICEF). Meaning for about 463 million children online learning was not a thing. There was data to see who had access to at home technology for remote learning. Some children did have technology to do online school but “due to competing factors in the home including pressure to do chores, being forced to work, a poor environment for learning, and lack of support in using the online or broadcast curriculum” (Fore), they could not attend. Technology is a big part of Generation Zs life because they grew up with many new possibilities. Text messaging is common and is known when texting friends, they feel better connections (Valkenburg & Peter, 2007, 2009, Juvonen et al. 2022).

With less social time, children made use of other activities. Things like going on screen more. Since after school activities like going to the playground to play with other children or going on bikes or walks. There has been a study that proves that covid has caused children to be less physical and have higher screen time. Parents with children ages 10-12, that lived in Ontario, Canada, were surveyed and asked about their child’s physical activity, screen time, and demographics. The constant factor in all the scenarios is that the screen time went up while physical activity went down. Not being outdoors prevented children from talking to others. At playgrounds there are other children for kids to be active with (Ostermeier et al.). Noted that “physical activity in outdoor spaces has also been associated with various health benefits for children, such as improved social competence” (Ostermeier et al.). The data found showed that the daily goal of 60 minutes of physical activity was not achieved by 61% of children. Not only was the physical goal not met, but the max limit of 2-hour screentime was gone over by 72% of children (Ostermeier et al.).

Not only just younger children but teens have had their friendships affected by school not taking its place. In high school and right after graduation is the hardest time for teens to “fit in” with themselves and others. They are going through many changes dealing with going to college but when the pandemic hit, they had to take a pause on going to a new school. This made young adults restricted on going to make new friends as well. Baumeister & Leary in 1995 said, “Social contact is fundamental to wellbeing and particularly critical during times of stress” (Juvonen et al.). The pandemic was peak amounts of stress for many people including teens and young adults thinking about how to keep their current friendships or even how will they make more. There of expectations and social norms that should be met of forming new friendships, but it was hard to form new relationships. Time spent face-to-face started to not matter as much later into the pandemic because everyone was now connection through their phones and other technology.

The pandemic overall has caused lots of problems all around the word but more specifically problems in learning and what now are social norms. Including that some online learning is still going to stick around, that some teachers are finding more creative ways to keep students engaged in classes, and how harder it has been for children through young adults to make and keep friendships. Throughout all of the changes from schedule changes, types of school learning, including, hybrid, virtual, or in-person, to bad Wi-Fi (Dorn et al.). The 20-21 school year was challenging for students and teachers because it was fully online (for most places). From all these changes “it is important…to understand the changing needs of parents and students as we emerge from the pandemic, and to engage with them to support students to learn and to thrive” (Dorn et al.).

When we think about the COVID-19 Pandemic, some people might remember how we got to stay home and relax or chill. That we got a break from everything. Have you ever thought of the many changes students had to go through and how that affected them? Students were negatively impacted and couldn’t catch a “break”. Students couldn’t physically go to school during March 2020 to May 2020 right when the pandemic started in America. As well as the following school year from 2020-2021. Schools had to make adjustments “among virtual, hybrid, and in-person learning” (Dorn, Hancock, Sarakatsannis, and Viruleg par. 5). Students “faced multiple schedule changes…with glitchy internet connections and Zoom fatigue” (Dorn, Hancock, Sarakatsannis, and Viruleg par. 5) because they had to keep on switching back and forth. As stated above, students had many problems to worry about…

Throughout all these changes, teachers have been putting a lot of effort to help students readjust as much as possible. In the article “Modeling the Possibilities: Building the Caring, Reciprocal Relationships Needed to Nurture Powerful Learning” it states that “teachers have heroically been working to support children’s development—not just academically, but socially and emotionally too.” Even though teachers may look put together they were struggling if not just then more than students. Teachers wanted to school students that school could be entertaining as well as educational. By engaging a lot with students, teachers and students can form relationships that are “essential for children’s healthy brain and overall development—physically and socially/emotionally as well” (Falk Par. 3). These relationships could be hard to form but by just letting the children be comfortable can do a lot. When dealing with young kids in their out of place settings, you’ll have to know how to deal with them, including talking, playing, teaching, observing, or even just listening to them. When listening to students, teachers have found that some will speak “of illness, loss, sadness, fear, anxieties, and their pain about injustice; while it also expressed hope, gratitude for loved ones, longing for connection and community, and the opportunities that the pandemic has provided for personal learning and growth” (Falk par.6). With just enough effort teachers can and have made a positive change during this negative time.

Photo by Brandon Baker from PennToday

The Coronavirus Pandemic affected how everyone lived. From being able to go out in a big space with others, having to sit away from friends and family, or not being able to use public facilities. If asked how it felt living during the first part of this pandemic, a common word of loneliness or isolation would probably be used. The four images show isolation during the Covid Pandemic. From church chairs being distanced from each other to a subway ad separating essential workers from everyone else and two snaps of Times Square in NYC of before covid full of life to during when no one was there. These images show that because of covid many things in our past known lives have changed like not being able to go out in crowded groups.

The image is of chairs being separated in a church so that everyone can social distance and be apart basically. This was taken June 22, 2020, and is titled “Spaced seats in a French church during Covid-19 pandemic”. In this image the chairs are spaced in rows and windows so people can see through gaps between other chairs. Church is supposed to be a loving place where others come together but this photo looks almost the opposite. There is so much empty space that it feels isolated and lonely. The lightning of the photo is dark with lots of neutral colors. There are a few patches of sunlight peeking through that could represent hope. On the very back wall there is a cross, and it is also lit up by the sunlight. It looks heavenly and like the photographer meant for it to happen. We can feel pathos from this photo because of the dark lighting, empty space, and few patches of sunlight. It gives off a sad and cold feeling and possibly haunted with the old architecture plus empty space

 

 

The image of the subway sign displays the way essential workers and non-essential workers were treated differently during the pandemic. The sign is a bright yellow and white color that has big black bolded words. It could catch attention of commuters rushing to get on their train. The sign says “Essential worker” big at the top then follows which yes or no. If yes, then it’s okay to ride the subway but if no you shouldn’t even be there and should “go home.” The company “Safe Travels” has their logo at the very top of the message. Their goal is to “shut down the New York metropolitan area” to keep essential workers safe and they would limit how many tickets were sold for the subway. By knowing the overall goal of this company, people may want to listen and support the cause of keeping essential workers safe. This image goes deeper into the social class levels and the work expectation in America – essential workers must work and put into dangerous environments. This photo was taken about a month after the first lockdown (peak pandemic). (This also shows how different groups of people were separated in the pandemic – isolated – these people had to go work and were allowed on the subway, but non-essential workers had to just stay home and be isolated as well.)

 

 

 

 

In 2020, roughly 125,000 pedestrians entered Times Squares each day. On the busiest days, Times Square has pedestrian counts as high as 450,000.” (Timessqaurenyc.org) Looking at the empty photo we see not one person or car in times square. All the billboard signs are still on and showing ads and many colors. The photo has a gray “filter” over it and looks very gloomy. When no one is there, it gives off a sad and lonely feeling. The sign that sticks out the most says “We are all essential” – The whole movement promoted small business, which were hit hard in the pandemic. In contrast the busy photo is livelier. The colors are more vibrant; red, white, blue, yellow, blue. And they are hundreds of people. The colors are drawing people in, to go shopping or to stay longer and eat and sit down. Not only are there people walking, but there are also taxis and buses in the streets.

These four pictures come together to make us think and reflect on how covid separated everyone. Because of Covid many had to stay inside or social distance from others meaning we couldn’t hang out in groups. While some people had to stay home, essential workers could go out. This shows a level of separatism of a cultural stance in America. It was all based on what people’s needs were. Some felt theirs were religion and that they would risk their safety to feel close to God, and on a personal level, others in their church environment. This shows how several people got to a point of hopelessness that they needed to change their lonely surroundings with some hope. While some felt that they needed money and were going to work their essential jobs. Even if that meant being the most exposed to the virus. A price that comes with working an essential job means not being able to see family and friends, with the thought of them being exposed to the risk of covid. Others felt that doing public events wasn’t worth it. Including traveling to the busiest city in the U.S (New York). The bright lights and inviting signs weren’t enough to keep everyone together.

From the church chairs being distanced, the subway sign telling essential workers to ride and others to go back home, and the before and during of Times Square, all these images represent a different way of isolation during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The pandemic had been going on for some time and everyone had to wear masks. As more time went on, it was becoming more so a routine. Having to social distance was such a simple task and wearing a mask felt like nothing. New vaccines for covid came out in Decemeber of 2020. There was much controversial over these because some people felt that they were unsafe because of how fast it was made.  In 2021, places were opening and said “no mask required”. To me, not wearing a mask in public felt very odd, so no matter where I went I still wore a mask. In this new year people were basically trying to forget that covid existed but it was still really bad throughout the whole world. This whole time hasn’t been that bad for me but it aldo wasn’t the most fun time. I hated doing online school(school through zoom at home because we couldn’t go back to school)and felt like it was useless and didn’t help at all. The best part was coming back to inperson school. I got to see my friends again and actually learn in a real helpful envirolnemt. The only catch was that we had to wear a mask the whole day. I think that going into the future by a few years, covid will still be a thing. Meaning that we are going to have to live with covid forever. Maybe people will stop wearing mask as a whole and just treat covid as a common sickness. Maybe people will learn to build a tolerance so it doesn’t effect us so badly.

I first started realizing things were bad when we didn’t have school. School being canceled was a shocking (also happy) thing to happen. This was March 13, 2020. Everything past this point was different. It wasn’t good or bad, just different. Just to go to the grocery store, everyone had to wear a medical face mask. Not even just the grocery store. Going outside in public places with more than a few people, going to restaurants, or entertainment places. All of these required a mask to be worn. At first, it was very suffocating but after 2 years of wearing them, you barely notice. During the peak of the pandemic, March and April of 2020, places were starting to close down. Some of my favorite resturants and areas to hang out, like parks, just weren’t open anymore. At some point, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC) advised not to go out in groups of people. This is when quarantine happened. People couldn’t leave their house unless going to the grocery store or getting basic needs. I felt so isolated during this time. Of course, I have my mom and aunt who I lived with but I couldn’t see my friends. Socializing is a big thing I need and without seeing people I didn’t know what to do. I had recently quit gymnastics when quarantine happened, but I was regretting it deeply. My sleep schedule in the spring and summer started to get very unhealthy. I would watch tv shows all night, as last at 5 am and then wake up well into the afternoon the next day, 2 pm.

Many things during this time were depressing, but I picked up new interest since I had so much free time. I started to watch a lot of television. I just got into anime and was watching about 1 show a day. There are so many genres that I just couldn’t get bored. I would listen to music every second of every day; Hip Hop, Pop, R&B, and KPOP. I discovered Kpop during this time as well. This genre was just so fun because of the many sounds used and different languages. When watching the music videos, pops of vibrant colors were everywhere as well as amazing dance moves. I also know that some of my friends, that I texted, never went outside or got any fresh air. Unlike them, I still had a dog that I had to walk at least three times a day. Going outside during the summer was a good getaway from the boring indoors. The yellow sun burned down on my skin and felt as if it was close to the Earth. For some reason, last summer felt like the hottest summer I’ve ever experienced.

Before I realized Covid-19 was big, I went on with my same routine. Rising before the sun would shine, getting ready quickly because I always woke up late, going to high school for long periods, having tiring gymnastics practice, and trying to get my homework done in the time when I wasn’t doing anything. On March 12, 2020, I had school just like I always did, but this day DCSD told students that school would possibly be closed because of the new deadly virus. This was shocking to hear because school would close for nothing: Well that’s what it felt like. My school reminds me of a plain, dull building where you get locked up and can never escape – A prison. Time goes on and on and never seems to end. This day was more pleasant than others because we had a cheese day in French class.

We were learning about food and cheese culture in France, so everyone brought in something to have a cheese-like potluck. There were many kinds of cheese and other foods, like some blue cheese that smelled like it was decaying and very pungent; one taste of it and my senses were filled with dirt and old flavor. As known, this type of cheese has literal mold in it. To get rid of the horrid taste of the blue cheese, I tasted every other cheese, crackers, and jams that were there. My classmates and I all chatted and enjoyed this chance of trying new types of cheeses. In my last class of the day, I had an eye-opening conversation with my human geography teacher about his own opinion of this new virus. His face showed worry, and he knew that Covid-19 would escalate and become an even bigger problem. 

 

Weeks before Georgia or even the United States (as a whole) were worried about the Coronavirus, countries like China were already having deaths and going on lockdown. By Feburary 2020, borders of countries were now being closed, and no one could leave or enter. I, myself, didn’t know most of this was happening. My family mentioned Covid a little bit, but I never watch the news. It started to spread to more countries, like in Europe.

From my perspective, Italy and China had the most cases globally. Suddenly, cases in Georgia were a thing, then in Atlanta, then in Dekalb County. The United States was now leading the world in covid cases. Businesses all around had signs saying it was required to wear a mask to enter or that they were closed due to Covid.

Hi everyone! My name is Christina Hendreson. I was born in Chicago, Illinois and now live in Decatur, Georgia. I have two dogs that I love very much, Slim and Lizzy. I enjoy doing math, more specifically algebra. I also enjoy art like drawing, painting, reading books, or visiting art museums. I have enjoyed reading books in the past year and have been reading consistently. My current read is Daisy Jones and The Six by Taylor Jenkins Reid. My goal this year is to read at least three books every month. I don’t have a favorite genre of music; I will listen to whatever. I could say that I mostly listen to K-pop and RnB. My favorite music artist is probably BTS, and my favorite song by them is Save Me. I don’t do any sports right now, but I did competitive gymnastics for six years. It’s hard to think of my favorite movie because there are so many, but Howl’s Moving Castle or Divergent come to mind. My favorite genres are sci-fi and coming-of-age films.

I am a Junior in High School and am taking dual enrollment classes at Perimeter College. So far, I have no major yet, but I am interested in Sports Medicine or something with Tech or Statistics. I want to be very successful and earn lots of money. I plan to learn French and try a foreign exchange program for a French-speaking county, maybe France. I want to experience a different way of life other than in America. I also want to travel to other countries like Japan, South Korea, Egypt, Brazil, etc. In the end, I want to make sure I can have a lot of money to do the things.