Orcas teens reveal they are discovering some bright spots, personal growth during pandemic

||| BY GRAY GAILEY |||

Author: Gray Gailey

Prior to quarantine, if you had told any of us teens that we would be confined to our houses for over a year, we probably wouldn’t have believed you. It would have sounded more like the plot of a science fiction movie, not what would soon become our reality.

Quarantine has been a difficult—and often boring—time for many, and certainly unlike anything we’ve experienced before. For me, despite the terrible circumstances that led to it, quarantine itself had a few silver linings. After a few months at home, many people, including myself, began to view quarantine as an opportunity for self-improvement and made mid-year resolutions. The solitary space gave me and many of my peers time to grow and learn about ourselves, and for that I am grateful.

That being said, after experiencing strictly remote learning for eleven months at our public schools, the self-isolation did lead to some loneliness, especially for us only children, and human interaction with someone other than my parents felt like a rare luxury. Luckily, in the late winter of 2021, Orcas Island Schools introduced the hybrid schedule. For those community members that may not be aware, all elementary through high school students have successfully returned part-time to in-person instruction. For high schoolers, seniors and juniors are in-person on Mondays and Tuesdays, and sophomores and freshmen are in-person Thursdays and Fridays. For many students this was a relief.

The atmosphere at school is a refreshing change from online classes in one’s bedroom. It has been wonderful to see my teachers, friends, and peers, especially those I haven’t spoken to in nearly a year. It did, however, take a while to adjust and return to my pre-Covid work ethic. With in-person learning, I noticed an improvement in my grades and stress levels. I always say everything happens for a reason, and while I truly wish that no lives had been lost to this pandemic, I am grateful that quarantine led to a deeper appreciation of the people around me, personal growth, and a major shift in society’s consciousness, in terms of politics, race, and other important issues.

I interviewed students from each grade at Orcas Island High School to see what their experiences were and how they compared to mine and others. Interviewees requested to remain anonymous so that they could be as frank as possible. Subjects include all genders and multiple ethnicities.

Question: Would you say, overall, quarantine has been a negative or positive experience for you personally? How so?

Freshman: I’ve honestly had mixed emotions throughout quarantine. I did have some trouble not being able to see my friends at first; I realized just how much they impact my life. I went through a tough time, accepting how different life will be. I did lose some friends, but it honestly was for the better. I found myself, discovered some new activities, started to put myself out there, and began to grow into the person I want to be.

Sophomore: I would have to say that overall, it has been a fairly good experience. I haven’t lost anyone close to me, which I’m extremely grateful for. Even though there are many downsides of quarantine, I’ve learned a lot that will help me grow as a person. I’m also grateful that I was able to continue playing sports during quarantine, which allowed me to get outside of my house and hang out with my friends.

Junior: I would say that, overall, [quarantine] has been a positive experience because it has taught me to not take things for granted and has also given me more time to be with my family.

Senior: I think it was positive in the sense that it allowed me to have time to reflect and make better choices for myself. But of course, like everyone, I would rather that it never happened because the circumstances in the world that made us quarantine were— and still are—really horrible and frightening, and being isolated brought up a lot of feelings of
sadness and hopelessness within me.

Question: What has been your biggest takeaway from quarantine?

Freshman: Realizing how many people really aren’t your friend… you realize that most were just school friends. Also, how no one truly asks how you’re doing after everything.
People are just different when you don’t see them for awhile, if that makes any sense.

Junior: My biggest takeaway would be to not take things for granted and to be grateful for all the things that you have.

Senior: That it is more important to spend your time doing the things that make you happy than worrying about the things that don’t.

Question: Have you noticed any major changes in yourself or your peers since the hybrid schedule was implemented?

Freshman: I personally don’t think there have been major changes, however, I have become more mature. I have noticed some changes in my peers—both good and bad—but I also don’t talk to many of them. I sort of stay in my little circle now.

Sophomore: Since the hybrid schedule was implemented, I’ve noticed that we are all still quite close, due to social media and our ability to talk to each other through the phone, which helped us to stay in contact even from home.

Junior: I have noticed that a lot of people are having more trouble than before in terms of keeping up with school during the online and hybrid learning.

Senior: I have noticed people are more interested in talking and spending time with those around them. I also think people are less stressed and are generally just happier to be back at school.

Question: What music, tv, or other forms of entertainment helped you get through quarantine?

Freshman: Walks. My sister and I would go on walks every day, to help us get some air. They were so therapeutic. We would walk together and talk about serious stuff… just let out what’s going on in our lives and how it was before quarantine happened. That got me through quarantine, and helped me be less bored.

Sophomore: Sports are probably what helped me get through quarantine the most, since they got me out of my house and kept me physically active.

Junior: During quarantine I have really enjoyed rewatching my favorite shows and going on lots of walks with my dog.

Senior: Way too many tv shows and other forms of entertainment to even list.

Gray Gailey is a sophomore at Orcas Island High School and has lived on Orcas Island for four years now. She is the co-founder of Racial Equity and teen blog, www.girlfolk.com, as well as a member of Key Club, Next Generation, Island Reproductive Health Initiative, and The Viking Voice, her school’s newspaper.