COVID-19. A mere four months ago, those eight characters possessed no meaning. Today, the same eight characters hold enough power to provoke a wave of hopelessness, a surge of anger, and a frenzy of grief. The unprecedented times of the pandemic have disrupted economies, hampered educational instruction, and elicited emotional instability. And the worst part is, we received no warning of the rapidly-escalating crisis that has forever changed our lives. Now we are all left scrambling for answers. But where can we find them?

Students across the Commonwealth of Kentucky were asked to share how COVID-19 has impacted their lives. The dramatic turn of events prompted by the pandemic has turned every aspect of life upside down. The daily routines students used to find comfort in have turned into a “new normal” of social distancing, remote learning, and emptied itineraries. Mental stability is wavering, education is becoming de-prioritized, and relationships are being tested. But nonetheless, the pandemic has planted the seeds for an optimistic outlook toward the future that will continue long after the virus has dwindled.

“A Never-Ending Game of Whack-a-mole”

The irony of the pandemic is that it is the “first” of its kind for our generation, but has caused the premature arrival of many “lasts.” Seniors were ready to savor their last few months of high school, enjoying sporting events, graduation, and most of all quality time with friends before parting ways for college. One senior from Jefferson County said, “I’m missing my last chance to say goodbye to some of my best friends and the happiest memories before I leave for college.”

Among students, disappointment was a common response. Students said they dedicated all their time and effort preparing to win state sports championships, applying to summer internships, and planning memorable social gatherings. But as one student from Warren County said, “That got stripped from us faster than we could have ever imagined.” The ease with which something hard-earned was taken away so quickly has left students with a loss of motivation for activities they once used to work hard at. One student said, “If everything can disappear just like that, then what’s the point of even trying anymore?” This loss of motivation has sent many students in a downward spiral with no idea of how to come back up.

“If everything can disappear just like that, then what’s the point of even trying anymore?”

It’s not just empty agendas that are causing stress. Students are also worried about the health of their older relatives whom they aren’t able to visit due to social distancing, the disappearance of their parent’s paychecks, and most of all, the uncertainty of the future. One student from Laurel County is worried about the health of her grandmother. She said, “She is elderly and lives in Jefferson county, the epicenter of Kentucky’s COVID-19 cases. I fear for her life every day.” Forms of stress have arisen from all walks of life and students are unsure of how to handle them all. Juggling the various emerging stresses has been compared to a never-ending game of whack-a-mole: as soon as you conquer one stressful situation, another one ensues.

For instance, the transition to non-traditional learning days for K-12 students and online learning for college and university students. K-12 students were left stunned when school was suddenly called off for four weeks, and university students were startled when told they had only a few days to evacuate from their dorms. Many students said they were left with only vague instructions of how classroom instruction would continue. This sudden turn of events has exacerbated the inequities of our educational system. Students do not have access to the same resources they had in the classroom, and schools are having a hard time providing an equitable curriculum to fit every student’s circumstances. Many students are worried about their access to a reliable internet connection, the increased difficulty of requesting help from teachers, and the lack of a suitable working environment. One student from Nelson County recalled, “There is nowhere in my house I can work. My siblings are running around screaming, and there is no private space I’m able to call mine. I often find myself trying to do my schoolwork in the back of my small closet because that is the only space I’m left unbothered.” Students feel as though they have been left to fend for themselves.

“There is nowhere in my house I can work. My siblings are running around screaming, and there is no private space I’m able to call mine.”

In tandem with the increase in stress, there has also been a decline in the mental health of students. The pandemic has taken its toll on their emotions. Students find themselves in an ongoing battle between being pulled into the darkness of the pandemic and seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. They feel as if one moment they are on top of the world and are looking toward the future with a pair of hopeful eyes. The next moment they feel that all their frustrations have built up, and they have lost all motivation to accomplish anything. They are left feeling as though the weight of the world has just landed on their shoulders and there will never be an end to this unfortunate situation. A student said, “It’s been harder to get motivated to complete even simple tasks because there’s just so much time.” Productivity is being hindered as inconsistent schedules filled with large time gaps are promoting procrastination. Students say the only thing motivating them to complete their work is the thought of the day their lives will once again be normal. But as the pandemic persists, students are becoming frightened they will never be able to experience life as it once was.

Missing Friends, Cancelled Tests

Not only is the pandemic affecting individuals, it is also affecting social networks. Students are desperate for human interaction, but social distancing has forced them to stay away from their closest family and friends. Students are devastated their face-to-face interactions have been replaced by disconnected Facetime calls. One student from Scott County said, “No amount of Facetimes or Zoom calls are capable of replacing the intimacy of a face-to-face conversation.” The lack of social connectivity has left many students feeling alone in this battle. A student from Warren county said, “Spending a lot of time by yourself can be pretty scary sometimes.” This has left students wondering how they can decrease social distance while maintaining physical distance.

The suspension of face-to-face interactions has also prompted the cancellation of national standardized testing. Students’ most pressing concerns regarding their education are the changes to the ACT, SAT, and AP Tests. Students, especially juniors in high school, are depending on these scores to obtain scholarships and acceptances to colleges and universities. A student from Campbell County said, “I have been preparing every day for the ACT for months, and now my test has been cancelled on four separate occasions. I’ll never have a chance to demonstrate my timeless hours of hard work.” The College Board and ACT Inc. have responded to the pandemic with postponements of testing dates and altered testing formats, but even these are not putting students at ease.

“I’ll never have a chance to demonstrate my timeless hours of hard work.”

These implications on national testing have brought a powerful campaign to the forefront of the educational system. The #TestOptionalNOW movement is gaining momentum as students and organizations are demanding that colleges go test-optional for the 2020–2021 admissions cycle. The campaign has been around for some time now, but the inequities magnified by the pandemic have brought this issue to the frontlines. As students’ responsibilities and circumstances have changed, the metrics used in evaluation must also change to accommodate these inequalities.

Light Amid the Darkness

The hardships caused by the pandemic are indisputable, but each student’s interview ended with a positive spin on the current situation. Emptied schedules have been filled with increased time spent with family members and the revival of forgotten hobbies. A student from Rowan County said, “For the first time, we are going to cook an Easter dinner at my house this year.” Students are finding meaningful ways to spend their new free time.

Some students said they have even experienced positive effects on their relationships with others. While social distancing has left some students feeling isolated, others are feeling more connected to their social networks. One student from Franklin County said, “Before the pandemic, all my Snapchats were meaningless selfies, but recently I’ve been having meaningful conversations on social media… with people I never would have been able to cross paths with before.” Students are reaching out to neighbors, old friends, and relatives they never had time to connect with before the pandemic.

The sense of community in many cities all around Kentucky has been heightened due to the pandemic. Local businesses, organizations, and citizens are coming together to create an environment which puts the needs of others first. The selfless nature of many citizens is being showcased through time volunteered to help medical workers, encouraging affirmations hung on posters around town, and emotional support offered to those most vulnerable. Though physical interaction has decreased, some say they have never felt so close to their communities.

Students are not letting social distance dictate their circumstances. They are trying to make the best of their situation by coming up with creative solutions to counteract the age of social distancing. One student recalls the surprise “party” her friends threw for her recent birthday. “We weren’t able to celebrate traditionally, but all my friends organized a parade of cars decorated in balloons and streamers to drive by my house to wish me a happy birthday.” Unprecedented times have forced students to become flexible, and they are rising to the challenge.

Students say they have also had time to reflect on themselves during this period. The old ways of life that have been transformed into new normals will forever have an impact on students even when the pandemic is long over. Current circumstances have caused many students to see how absent they were in their daily lives before the pandemic. One said, “I never enjoyed the little things in life. I was always in a rush and never paid much attention to how my actions affect others.” Students say they now see the world in a new light, and after the pandemic dies down, they will slow down and enjoy everything the world has to offer. Days at school, time with friends, and trips to the mall will possess a new meaning. Never again will the little things like these be taken for granted.

COVID-19 has caused the story of our lives to be rewritten. Whether this new story has a happily ever after or a sorrowful conclusion, we can all agree we have been left with a new appreciation of the meaning of life.

Gloria Huang is a junior at the Gatton Academy.

The opinions expressed on the Forum represent the individual students to whom they are attributed. They do not reflect the official position or opinion of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence or the Student Voice Team. Read about our policies.

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