Cooper Lewis ‘26, Copy Editor
March 13, 2020 is a date many students remember as one that will always stick out in the back of their minds. This date marked the last normal school day for the next year and a half. Just a mere day earlier, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a global pandemic and the world was changed forever. Suddenly, employers asked employees to work from home, the streets were empty, big cities were barren wastelands, toilet paper was in low supply, students went to school remotely, and we all learned how to utilize Zoom and Google Meet.
Businesses closed their doors for good, millions lost their lives and their jobs, and everyday lives were changed, all due to the coronavirus taking the world by storm. Students had their lives interrupted by it. Some missed their graduation, some missed their high school days that are meant to be filled with fun and learning and making memories with friends, some missed the chaotic years of middle school, and some never even learned how to open their own locker.
It has been five years since families were stuck at home and students were forced to learn online. Looking back all this time later, how do students feel about the struggles that COVID-19 has brought upon them? How do they remember the pandemic? Do they have any fond memories or do they wish to forget those years all together?
Senior Brady Little, who was a seventh grader in 2020, remembers the day his teacher told him they would be receiving an extended spring break. He said, “I remember being told we got a four week spring break and I was very excited about that.” Looking back, he says he would not have attended the Zoom meetings, as they rarely learned anything over them.
Junior Max Bardoni was in sixth grade when COVID-19 hit. The hardest part was adjustment, he said. “Having a brand new schedule where I had to rotate each hour was a little overwhelming, but I got used to it quickly.” Despite the hardships, however, he remembers various good memories from that time too. He added, “My best memories are from the new people that I met that year, as a lot of them have gone on to be some of my best friends. I have really fond memories of being at home after COVID hit, because I’d never done any kind of digital school before. Getting to work at my own pace and relaxing in my own spaces helped me a lot with focusing on my work.”
Most freshmen this year, who were in fourth grade at the time of COVID-19, surprisingly, find it difficult to remember that very strange school year. Freshman Lloyd Bray said, “Most of what I remember was having to do virtual school, which wasn’t bad because I could eat while in class.” Looking back, he said, he learned to be patient and try new things, but at the same time he wishes he had paid more attention.
March 13, 2020 marked the start of an incredibly long period for students and staff. It created memories, some good, some bad. Whilst many students agree they would like to forget COVID-19 ever happened and move on, some are glad it happened when it did. Some agree it helped them to grow as a person, and it shaped them into who they are today. Despite many not ever wanting to experience something like that again, they would not change it, as the pandemic, like many things that happen in life, was a time of personal growth.
Lyon Life 