By: Hanna Nyman It is no secret that teenagers everywhere loathe this quarantine. After all, how can you force a teenager to stay home and not go see their friends? It just won’t work out well. For most teens, friends are what keep them sane and happy, so when you ask them to isolate, it equals bad news. Junior,, Brinlee Haynes, is no stranger to the effects of the quarantine. When interviewed, Haynes stated a very important piece of information. Her parents are health care workers. This has had a drastic effect on her. She stated that “Not socializing with people in person has made [her] anxiety worse and since [her] parents are health care workers, [she’s] left alone almost every day.” Loneliness can have a very prevalent impact on someone's mental state. Especially when it's forced isolation, like the quarantine. Yes, we may have other forms of communication, but “even though we stay in contact over text, it just isn’t the same” Haynes stated. Even though Haynes and her friends are staying in contact over text and Snapchat, she wishes she could just go and hang out with them, as not being able to see them has had a significant toll on her mental health. Haynes, as most teenagers do, has a job at a local fast food restaurant. As we all know, they didn’t shut down during quarantine so Haynes was still able to leave to go to her workplace. When asked if her mental health has affected her ability to do her job and schoolwork, she replied, “Yes. I haven’t felt like myself in a long time and there are days when it is difficult to get out of bed. I'm just so emotionally and physically drained because of everything that is happening.” Most teenagers can probably relate to Haynes in this way and have made similar comments about the quarantine.Even though this quarantine has been tough on Haynes, she has been giving it her all to make sure things get done to the best of her abilities. This quarantine hasn’t been easy on anybody, but we can use it as a time of growth and look forward to a time when we can socialize more normally. Editor’s Note: May is “Mental Health Month.” If you feel you need resources regarding mental health, you can find them at mentalhealth.gov or rtor.org. Below are also resources regarding suicide prevention.
Suicide Prevention Resources: -SafeUT app -National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-8255, Available 24/7 -Crisis Text Line: Text TALK to 741-741 to text with a trained crisis counselor from the Crisis Text Line for free, Available 24/7
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By: Nikayla Williams With everything going on, let's be honest, who isn't slowly going a little crazy? Online school is not the easiest, or the most fun thing to be doing, but it's what has to be done in the for the time being to keep everyone safe. After talking to a couple of our BRHS students, it became even more clear that very few like online school. A student from each grade level was interviewed to give some insight as to how students feel about online school.
Sophomore, Kinley Richards is not a fan of online schooling at all. She says, “It's hard wanting to do school in the morning, especially if it's your decision to open your computer or not.” Staying caught up and trying to get all the work done, Richards said that her hardest class right now is dance: “It is hard staying motivated to get up and learn a dance.” Even though she doesn’t feel motivated all the time, she still makes the time to get up and learn the dance. Richards is going strong and is pushing through to get what she needs done. Kaitlyn Carter, a junior, thought online school would be worse than it is, but still admitted, “It is hard for me to sit down and email my teachers without me feeling like I’m bombarding them.” For Kaitlyn, her hardest class is chemistry: “I didn't know what I was doing in school and I don't know what I'm doing now.” Carter is fighting her way through online schooling and is trying her best to get through chemistry. And lastly, senior, Dustie Warr. As a senior, Warr is looking at the situation a little differently than the other two students interviewed. Warr only has one class this trimester, so for her it is easy and fast. She said, “I love that there are videos explaining mostly everything...I love not having to wake up early.” Though this may be hard and not what we want to be doing, remember you're not doing it alone. Summer is getting closer, so keep up the great work for a few weeks and continue being great. By: Kambree Adams Are you a pessimist or an optimist? When asked this question, senior Britton Larsen answered optimist. With everything going on with Covid-19 it gets too easy to slip into the “poor me” attitude. It’s not a secret that everybody lost something they were looking forward to, but why the pessimistic attitudes people? I can’t be the only one that will lose it if I see one more poor me post on social media! However, take a second and look at what’s going on all over the world. Sure there’s a lot of sad stuff, but there’s lots of good stuff too. Below are five different examples of ways the pandemic is bringing out the best in people. 1. Ironically, the pandemic that has pulled people away from each other is the thing that is uniting the world in a way that has never happened before. Through all kinds of social media platforms people are staying connected. Thousands of young people across the United States are sending letters and uplifting messages to nursing homes. Not to mention the meme culture that has come about because of Covid. We are seeing people from all kinds of backgrounds unite because of a common struggle. This is history in the making! 2. Some of the biggest companies in the world are doing all they can to provide relief. In the number one spot is Walmart, who has donated more than 25 million dollars to organizations on the front lines of this pandemic. But they didn’t stop there. Recently, they opened an online donation program called “Fight Hunger. Spark Change (FHSC).” This program has assisted in providing more than 1 billion meals across the United States. 3. Big shots in the movie and entertainment industries are also assisting in any way they can. To boost morale while every family in America is stuck at home, Disney+ and other programs are making streaming movies easier than ever! An at home theater is easier and safer. Not to mention popular TV shows like The Good Doctor, Grey’s Anatomy, Station 19, and many others have been donating their medical supplies to hospitals and relief centers all over the US. 4. If that isn’t enough, animal shelters all over are reporting a boost in pet adoptions! With so many people home, they can finally take proper care of a pet. It just gives me the fuzzies to think about. 5. Finally, the impact is being felt by everyone on the planet. We can relate to people we’ve never related to before. The quarantine call is not a punishment and we need to take it seriously! As Larsen said, “Everybody just stay home. Please, I want a summer” and I think we can all agree with that! Like Larsen, influencers all over the world are taking to social media with “please to stay home” and “spread positivity.” For millions of teens all over the world, this was a curve ball no one was expecting and it’s affecting everyone. Perspective is everything and if you choose to see the good, you will see the good. If you choose to see the bad, you’ll see the bad. It’s that simple. You’d be amazed what a change in attitude will do to your happiness. Stay home, stay safe! |
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March 2023
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