By Alexander Manzanares
As COVID-19 continues outside, everyone is still forced to stay home and not come out of their house in order to stop the spread of the virus. It seems like everyone is doing the best they can because they do not want to get the disease and also to make the quarantine end as soon as possible.
Another important aspect to staying at home is keeping up on your own mental state. While you may not get the virus, it is boring to stay home all day and not be able to go outside to have fun, go to places or hang out with friends. Remaining healthy is important, so following the Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines for handwashing for twenty seconds minimum, with lots of soap and water, and staying away from others is important. Doesn’t it feel like we are always washing our hands?
Being locked down in quarantine, things have been different and more difficult for everyone, because ever since the government ordered us to stay home, closing stores and other non-essential businesses, we aren’t able to see family members or friends. No one wants to be responsible for getting someone else sick or getting sick themselves, so we have to stay far from everyone, in order not to contaminate or be contaminated by them. This can have a negative affect on one’s mental health, so stay busy.
Another thing that has been more difficult is buying food, water or any other supplies that people need because most of the stores are out of stock of most things that people need all the time. Many are buying more than they need. Hopefully, everyone will just buy what they need to get by and not force shortages. A big concern is that stores will run out and then mark up the prices of things. It is important to let the stores restock and get the things in that we need, so when going out only get what is needed. Leave items for others too.
Another stress that many, especially students who like to go out, is that they are talking about a curfew. It is being considered that being out after eight will result in a fine or arrest. It is something that people in America are not used to thinking about. So, please just do what is needed so that the government does not need to lock down further.
The biggest stress by far is the fact that many are out of work. The need to pay the bills is important, and also to buy the supplies needed to shelter in place. Right now many are not able to earn the money to pay for the things needed by families, and not being able to provide is a stress for anyone. Many are furloughed and others laid off, and that is an obvious stress for anyone. The people in and around Passaic are pulling together to help those that are still in need. Meals are still being provided at the school.
Many are still working though, especially if they are in the food or other essential supply industry. They may have to work into the evening or even into the early morning to get it all done. However, that can also be a stress because they are coming home after the curfew. So not wanting to be stopped by police they worry about coming home after curfew. They will have to worry about the time and also by being out in the world they are more at risk of contracting the virus. It is important not to come into contact with people, as much as humanly possible.
Even through the difficulties of working, people are finding new and interesting ways to get the job done. For students, just asking for a ride to work is not really possible anymore. This virus quarantine is making everything that people took for granted more difficult every single day.
Just being at home can be boring. Boredom is a stress, just staying inside all day everyday can be stressful for those who like going outside. Even though teenagers sometimes have the reputation for locking themselves in their room, they actually do like having contact with others, and this virus is making that impossible. Speaking with friends,they are concerned that they cannot go outside and cannot visit with each other. Who would have thought that just hanging out would be illegal? That is definitely a stress.
Many students are keeping in touch in any way they can, mostly through texting. It is important to stay in contact with friends and family that we cannot see right now by any means possible. Even if you hate texting, do it to check in on others, give them a call and make sure you can brighten up someone’s day. You can be the brightness in someone’s day. It is easy to just ask them how they are and see if everything is ok. Friends need to know you care, and that can releive stress for both of you.
PHS students are working in classes on APEX, and guess what, that is a stress for students too. Most students say that they feel like they are just sitting around reading articles, then doing quizzes. APEX is definitely not as good as being in class. There is not personality of our teachers or the interaction between students or teachers. Looking at a screen all day does not help anyone’s eyesight either.
Most students I speak to really do not like APEX. They think it is just like a treadmill, where they do the same thing everyday. It is tiring and stressful. Sources say that they would much rather go to school and have a teacher teach them rather than doing all the work at home in front of a screen. Getting through the work and mastering things can be a relief to the stress of not working in class with friends and teachers.
There really is not anything we can do at the moment, so just stay strong, keep working, stay in contact with friends and family, take a break once and while, and reach out for some help if you need it. We are all in this together, and together we will all get through this.
