LIFE

It's been almost two years since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone has been forced to make sacrifices, but high schoolers are one of the groups most impacted. From masks to virtual learning to canceled events, today's high schoolers have been forced to give up a lot. GL talked to real girls about how the pandemic has affected their high school experiences.

School today looks a lot different than before 

One of the biggest adjustments that came along with the pandemic? All the necessary precautions put in place. High school looks a lot different today due to health and safety protocols. GL high schoolers explained some of the measures their schools have to keep everyone safe—and what they think their schools could improve on. 

Katie S., 15, attends a private school. Students and faculty must wear a mask at all times when indoors. Due to the Omicron variant, everyone is tested weekly. Katie believes her school is doing a good job of keeping everyone safe, but "it's just a matter of people following them." 

Emily F., 17, is a senior in high school. Some of the precautions at her school include mask mandates, plexiglass dividers in the cafeteria and COVID-19 testing if you are showing symptoms or in close contact with someone if you are not vaccinated. Emily thinks her school is doing a great job at keeping everyone safe: They even hold vaccine clinics in the school library. However, she wishes they would be a little stricter on enforcing mask-wearing. as "Some of my teachers let it slide more than others," she states.

Quality of education is suffering

Many high schoolers have noticed a shift in the quality of education. Virtual classes made it difficult for many students to learn, and even with many schools back in person, the process just isn't the same.

When virtual learning came along, Katie found that she wasn't retaining as much information over Zoom than she was when she went to class in person. "Zoom fatigue and being on your phone during class is something I feel like we've all dealt with, and that definitely resulted in me not remembering a single concept from geometry," shares Katie.

Emily has also noticed in a decline in her education due to the pandemic. Even with in-person classes, she says it's "super hard to hear, learn and get to know people from behind a mask." 

The "high school experience" is not the same 

Everyone has their own definition of what makes the "high school experience." Whatever your definition, we can all agree that the high school experience looks a lot different today. Many students find themselves missing out on pivotal high school activities and social events.

Clubs and after-school activities are a huge part of school, but Emily's extracurriculars are now virtual. "It's simply not the same," she says.

Another huge part of going to school is socialization. When learning is virtual, it's nearly impossible to socialize with peers (and, tbh, it's something that is arguably just as important as getting a quality education). Emily believes she's missing out of the small aspects of attending school in person: "I feel like those random convos with friends on the way to class or lunch are what make school so special, and virtual learning takes all of that out of the equation."

Katie explains that it's hard to look forward to big events when they could be taken away at any moment. "You want to be able to look forward to those big, end-of-year traditions or post-graduation vacations, but part of you has to be aware that these things could get canceled."

The transition to adult life is harder 

High school is often seen as a time to adjust from childhood to adulthood. This transition is difficult for anyone—but it's even harder for high schoolers going through it during a global pandemic. 

Katie says it best: "You're no longer just floating through school, but you're expected to make some pretty big decisions about your future. When you throw a pandemic into the mix, it can be even more daunting to try and make these types of decisions—because things are in such an uncertain state."

If you are having a tough time in school right now, know that you are not alone. Talk to your friends, family or a trusted counselor—and don't be afraid to ask for help if you need it. You've got this.

Are you in high school? Let us know how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected your high school experience by tagging us on Twitter @girlslifemag!

For more information on COVID-19, check out these posts:

✨8 must know COVID-19 resources for teens
✨How the COVID-19 pandemic has affected teen girls: a year in review 
✨What it's like getting the COVID-19 vaccine when you're 16

All GIFs via Giphy

by Paige Mountain | 2/4/2022