Five years ago, the world shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic. School drastically changed for students who had to adjust to online classes, and school wasn’t the only aspect of their lives that was impacted. Sports were also drastically altered..
“I was competing as a gymnast at the time, and a lot of rules changed due to COVID,” said senior Margaret Adolphe. “At practice, we had to provide our own equipment, and we had to stay six feet apart at all times. It made it difficult to interact socially with all of my childhood friends and coaches.”
From being able to compete normally to not being allowed near other teammates, it proved to be difficult mentally as well as physically. Many students report being more outgoing after feeling the loneliness of COVID.
“One of the biggest differences is how I interact with people,” said Adolphe. “I used to be so scared to talk to people at school, but I have definitely grown out of that and I really enjoy speaking to other classmates now!”
The changes were difficult for coaches as well.
“So many rules in gymnastics on the events changed. They couldn’t interact with each other very much,” said English teacher and gymnastics coach Robin Lusk-Stancil. “They had to sanitize everything in the events, including the gymnasts, and it was bad for the equipment to be sanitized so often because it would ruin it.”
Stancil’s English classes were also impacted.
“It was weird, mostly because English is interactive, but no one participated and they had their screens off,” said Stancil. “When we’re back to being in class, students like participating and enjoy being in class.”
Some students say their looks benefited from COVID because they had time to learn new makeup and hairstyles.
“I would say I changed a lot when it came to my personality and looks. I’m a lot more confident to try new things and do the things I love,” said sophomore Hannah Santiago. “As for looks, I would say my outfits changed, and my hair. I learned how to take care of my curls and do fun hairstyles.”
COVID also affected friendships.
“I’m happier when it comes to in-person teaching rather than virtual,” said Santiago, “During COVID I didn’t get to talk to my friends as much. Yes, we had FaceTime, but it wasn’t the same as being face to face with each other.”
COVID-19 is now a part of our history, impacting and changing our lives then and now, within school, sports, relations with each other, and homelives.
