The last generation who said they came of age during a pandemic lived a century ago. The events that started a few months ago will resonate with today’s teens for a generation to come.

Students have been learning a lot during this dark time and adjusting to the best of their capabilities. Students like Donna Nguyen, senior, have taken a lot away from this pandemic.   

“I realized how little time I could possibly spend with my classmates if we were to possibly go back to school, [after the quarantine was extended]. I felt so empty thinking about how I would not have enough time to appreciate all of the wonderful people that I have met in high school who have made me smile and laugh,” Nguyen said. “All I could think about was the fact that we may not have any more time to smile together before we all graduate and go off to college which really broke my heart.”

Such heavy emotions have taught Nguyen a lot about the importance of not taking certain experiences for granted, she said.  

“Something that I learned about this experience was the true value that time holds. I often think to myself, ‘Dang, I would genuinely pay $5 to see one of my friends laugh and smile right in front of me in the MRC if I could,’” Nguyen said. “I took all of the smiles and laughter for granted when we were in school, and it is a bit sad that it took me quarantine to realize how valuable time really is. From now on I think that I will work on appreciating life for all the little moments that make it worth living.”

Other students could not wrap their head around the idea of missing out on their last part of their school year, according to Hayley Burk, junior. 

“To me it’s kind of crazy to think about everything that’s going on. If you would have asked me if I thought I wouldn’t get to finish my junior year a couple of months ago, I would have thought you were insane,” Burk said. “It’s hard to have everything canceled but I just try to live day by day.” 

Despite the complicated times, Burk says she is looking at the positives the pandemic will bring for the future. 

“I think a positive outcome of this situation is when we’re all out of this mess we’ll be much more social with each other and not so much into our phones,” Burk said. “I think teens learned to slow down and relax. I know a lot of my friends and I are always on the go with sports, clubs, and academics so this situation taught us to just relax and not always be so pressured by stress.”

With the pandemic, so much is changing, including the way people carry out their day to day routines, Burk said. 

“Our daily lives have changed so dramatically and we’re living through a worldwide pandemic,” Burk said. “It’s crazy to think that one day kids might be learning about this time in history books.”