One Year and a Lot of Change for BHSEC Students

Sylvie Goldner, 21’

During quarantine some of us have gone stir-crazy, become Tik Tok stars, turned into baking champions, gawked over every small detail of our Spotify playlists, or stalked every one of Jake Tapper’s Instagram posts. Regardless, as this month marks the lovely -- for some of those Stockholm syndrome types -- and horrific -- for all of the extroverts and pretty much everyone else out there -- anniversary of covid-19 and its spread into all of our lives, I thought it would be important to capture how covid has impacted the lives of BHSEC students. I hope this article sheds light on some of the very isolating and transformative changes covid has brought to the BHSEC community. Most importantly, I hope the wide range of these BHSEC student’s experiences will show you that you are not alone in whatever you are going through during this difficult time. 

How have your friendships shifted during covid? 

I feel like I’ve both strengthened relationships and let go of the people that I now realize are unnecessary in my life. With all the free time covid has given me, I’ve been able to understand which people were actually worth me putting my energy towards - Thalia C.

I’ve never been good at any form of digital communication, so keeping up with friends has been really difficult, and to be frank, very lonely. This year was also a huge wake up call for me. it became clear to me that a lot of people I thought I could trust, I really couldn’t. Friendships have been limited to an occasional walk in the park. It’s certainly not the same, and I feel like a lot of people can relate to this when i say that sometimes I feel I have no true friends at all...anyway - Sasha A. 

My friendships have shifted drastically during covid. Friends I normally spend a lot of time with outside of school I only see if we FaceTime or make a plan. I only talk to friends I used to spend a lot of time with in school via Zoom calls or text. I would say that the pandemic really polarized my social life, removing space for ‘just friends’ and making all of my friends that I talk to often my best friends, and all other people I am just friendly with my acquaintances - Luca K. 

Most of my friendships are already three, four, seven, eight, or even 17 years old, which means that we've already naturally established we don't need to see or talk to each other every day, week, or month to keep things going. Thanks to this, staying apart due to COVID hasn't been too much of a challenge. If anything, it's helped us find a more steady rhythm with our digital communication. Quarantine has also allowed me to strengthen the relationships I have with people I don't talk to regularly, so that's been nice. - Fuschia

Now I probably communicate with my friends the most by text which is a little sad but I do see them sometimes in person - Alexa L. 

What did you do in your free time before covid? What do you do now?

Before covid one of the main things I did was walk. I still walk, but I don’t do it as much because I just don’t like being around people outside because of covid. Also it’s hard to work up a sweat with a mask and glasses on so I’ve been kind of avoiding physical activity haha. I also felt like I embraced my hobbies more often while I had a routine (before covid). Now I have the time but not the energy because entertainment, work, and social interaction all require an electronic device. For example; I have a sewing machine but it’s hard for me to want to make things because if I have to look at a pattern, it will be from a YouTube video or an article, and I just want to be away from my screen as much as possible - Thalia C. 

Before covid, I might have gone to a party with my friends, had a sleepover with them or gone to the movies together in an actual movie theater (wow, feels like a dream now). When I am free now, which is most of the time, I lay around, watch a movie on my own, cook, but mostly the former. Lots of laying around and home bodying and spending time with my family -- that I can’t complain about - Sasha A.

Most people know that I'm a passionate tennis player, but quarantine has forced me to put this on pause for a bit. I have found times to play safely here and there, but it's still not back to being a regular thing. On the plus side, I've been able to spend more time enjoying my other hobbies, such as photography and music composition. I've also been more active in working towards my goals. It's easy to forget about those types of things, but quarantine has allowed me to redirect my focus without feeling guilty. - Fuschia

Before covid when I had free time I would probably go see my friends or watch tv; but now I feel pretty exhausted from school and other activities that are online so when I am free I just spend time on my phone - Alexa L.

Are you more lethargic during quarantine? 

Yes! It’s hard to be motivated to do anything virtual anymore because I’m tired of staring at a screen. I find more joy in turning all my devices off and sleeping whenever I get the chance. Something that also has been frustrating me is my teachers’ constant use of senioritis this semester. As a Year 2, I am obviously experiencing burnout and stress given the current circumstances, but I am far from disinterested in my classes. But it’s hard to discuss the impact of the pandemic on my motivation without the administration attributing it to senioritis, dimming down the bigger issue - Thalia C. 

Yes -- a 100%. I struggle with getting out of bed most days. I hate it, but doing nothing all day has become pretty frequent. I used to be busy all the time. Now, being busy means staring at a screen for longer. It sucks - Sasha A. 

My energy level goes up and down a lot throughout the day, but on the whole, I am more chill; whether this is due to quarantine, senioritis, or both, who knows. - Fuschia 

I definitely feel more lethargic from Zoom fatigue - Alexa L. 

How has your relationship to school changed since it became all virtual?

I have always loved school because it’s been my escape from my situation at home. Now, I’m starting to fall out of love with it because while I do love learning, Zoom High School Early College is not in the environment in which I would like to be learning in. Being in the building at school has had such a positive impact on my mental health and now that I can’t be there anymore, it’s hard to focus with everything going on around me - Thalia C. 

School is less exciting now and feels more like a chore. Though I love my classes, it’s so difficult to keep paying attention, especially since it’s second semester senior year. It just feels like everyday is filled with assignments, which is not something I enjoy. I miss liking school - Sasha A.

My relationship with school has always been somewhat complicated, but I'll save you from that story. The bottom line is that I've realized how important outside hobbies and creative projects are for me. I definitely think I've gained a better understanding of what my values and priorities are. - Fuschia

I have also been a little more resentful towards school because the days feel very long and it’s tiring staring at a screen all day - Alexa L.

Do you think your personality has changed during covid?

I’ve always been an ambivert and I’ve used in person social interaction as my time to express the outgoing and extroverted parts of myself. When I was alone and at home I would use that time to recharge and take time for myself; I never really texted people. However, now that everything is virtual, it’s been hard for me to keep up friendships virtually because in the past I’ve used in person interaction to do that. Now that all social interaction requires an electronic device, I often get exhausted and have no energy to try to uphold a conversation through text - Thalia C. 

I am soooo much more introverted. I’ve become quite awkward around people and enjoy being alone. I think this is partly because I’m alone all the time. I used to be much more social but I guess I struggle with human interaction now. My social anxiety has also been exacerbated by covid so I struggle with talking and being who I used to be - Sasha A. 

I think introverts have been thriving in quarantine, which is a funny twist because we (hi, yes, introvert speaking!) are so used to living in a world that favors extroverts. Although it's not really about introverts versus extroverts to me, we're all just trying to get through this mess. But to answer the question, no, I don't think I've seen a change in my personality. I'm still the same sarcastic introvert I was before the world turned upside down, perhaps just a little more sassy. - Fuschia

I am more hesitant now to go out especially because it’s winter so I feel like I’ve become more introverted - Alexa L.

How optimistic are you that society will be able to rebound?

I definitely think society will rebound eventually, I just don’t think it’s going to be that quick. I’m thinking maybe six years minimum before society is fully repaired from the fears, discomfort, and uncertainty around the virus. In terms of masks, if the CDC announced that covid was over tomorrow, I would not stop wearing my mask until maybe six months in. So to cut it short, no I’m not optimistic about the length that it will take to rebound, but I’m optimistic about the aftermath - Thalia C. 

Not very. At least not for a long time. I’m hopeful for this summer though, maybe things will be better. Nevertheless, I can't help but remain a little pessimistic - Sasha A.

That's a pretty broad question. There are a lot of areas to "rebound" in, but I know that New York will be fine. It'll take time, but we'll get back to where we were if that's even the goal. I'm such a New Yorker, though. You can't talk to me about anything New York-related and expect me to be impartial! - Fuschia

I’m not super optimistic, but it’s good that there’s a vaccine. I am just less optimistic about the other factors like people not having to wear masks or becoming comfortable with social interaction again - Alexa L.

In terms of if I think society will ever be able to rebound, the answer is of course. There are countries around the world that were barely hit by covid and do not even have mask mandates so it is just a matter of time and vaccines until the US gets to that position - Luca K.