Seniors battle through last year as COVID-19 becomes their true 'new normal'

by MaKenzie Hilling, Student Life editor

The following story was written by a student on the staff of The Jaguar Times as part of Hilliard Bradley High School’s Journalism Production course.

Hilliard Bradley seniors have had a tough road to follow as COVID-19 has taken part of their junior year and what seems to be like their entire senior year. Many students have had to battle mental health issues within their quarantine and this new hybrid schedule. Being their last year in high school, these students are struggling to find a routine when they’re constantly thrown into a different schedule. 2021 graduates have and will continue to fight through their last school year during this international pandemic.

Mental health awareness is on the rise during these past couple years, schools and students

Malachi Haynes (12, middle) and other band members take a moment to reflect on the year during a band practice with COVID restrictions. Photo by Malachi Haynes.

are realizing how important it is to stay mentally healthy. Having to stay inside without much social interaction, this quarantine has impacted countless students' mental health. After being asked if quarantine affected his mental health, Malachi Haynes (12) says, “Absolutely, I would say that it has had good and bad benefits.” Malachi elaborates, expressing one of the bad impacts is “[feeling] very unproductive and in turn makes me feel like I’m not doing enough,” this school year being half online creates a sense of inconsistency. A lot of kids have expressed that they don’t feel like work is actually due on their off days, it feels almost optional. However, Malachi continues and gives a benefit to his mental health during these times. He says, “on the flip side [of COVID] I think I have gained the ability to know I can make it through it since we have since last school year.”

As Malachi displayed how COVID has taken a toll, both positive and negative, another perspective was given by Gwyn Burr (12). She says that corona hasn’t affected her, “school was a little stressful but it’s not too bad.” Although many students have been able to make this transition seamlessly, a lot of them have struggled with maintaining good mental health.

Gwyn Burr (12, middle) cheering to just parents in the stands for Bradley football. Photo by Gwyn Burr.

Seniors, especially spring sport seniors, have the fear of a second season being taken away from them. Gwyn Burr, a fall sport athlete, describes cheer as “[not] as fun without the student section there.” She hasn’t been able to get hyped about games without people to cheer to. Malachi Haynes, a band member, talks about how marching band is different this year. He says, “I had to adjust to COVID [and] making it not a time commitment.” He expresses how band used to take up a lot of his time, but with COVID restrictions that has changed majorly. Malachi also commented that he is, “trying to just take it as much as I can with what we have and it honestly isn't a bad thing to have band less it just makes me appreciate my years before.” Bradley students agree that their sports seasons haven’t been the same with COVID involved. Although we don’t know how COVID will develop, many spring athletes are scared they won’t have another season to end their senior year.

Many seniors agree that they don’t get a normal senior year. They’re heartbroken and upset at how unfair it is they have to miss their entire year while the class of 2020 only missed a portion. Students say that it isn’t fair that the 2020 class got such special treatment. They think the school district assumes the seniors are used to a year like this. Mr. Nees, a Physics teacher at Bradley, agrees saying, “I know that last year it was a pretty big deal about how the seniors were missing so much but I feel like this year’s seniors are missing out on a lot more things.” Knowing the fact that the seniors' last year in high school isn’t even an actual year, many have struggled to accept it.

The 2021 graduating seniors have had to grind through a lot of stuff during 2020. A national pandemic, quarantine, and the possible loss of their entire senior year. This has been hard on these students mentally and emotionally, and they’re trying their best to continue school as normal. Although this isn’t what they expected, it’s a great story to tell their kids.