Quaran-teen Stories: Part 1
These last few months have brought about a lot of changes. The story of quarantine has been viewed from many different perspectives. It’s been told from the point of view of parents, patients, healthcare workers, the elderly and politicians. Well, I’m here to give you a new perspective: the teen perspective.
My next few blog posts will showcase how the lives of teenagers have changed due to COVID-19. This week, I interviewed my good friend Hannah A. about how quarantine has affected her life.
Q: Where do you go to school, and what was your daily life like before COVID-19?
A: I’m homeschooled, and just finished my junior year of high school. So before COVID-19, I did all my schoolwork at home. Twice a week a friend would come over, and my mom taught our math class together. Also, two days per week my grandma taught me English. And my brother and I both did Bible class with our grandma weekly, too. I also took dance at a studio here in town.
Q: And did a lot of that change after COVID-19?
A: Well, my school life didn’t change much, other than the fact that our friend wouldn’t come over to do math anymore, and we used Zoom instead. But we also had to go virtual for dance lessons and church services, which was a big change.
Q: What has been the toughest thing about quarantine for you? Have there been any good things that came out of all this?
A: The hardest parts have been not being able to see my friends and meet up for coffee with them, and not being able to go to church in person.
But there have been some good things too. Since we’re using Zoom for church youth group, I’ve been able to connect more with my friends and get to know people I didn’t know as well. Another good thing is that my family has taken a lot of walks, which has helped me emotionally and physically. Finally, I’ve enjoyed just getting to hang out more with my family and watch TV shows together, especially murder mysteries!
Q: What do you feel is important for people to keep in mind during this time?
A: People should know that even through all this chaos and uncertainty, God and Jesus love them and Jesus died for them. He rose again so we could live in heaven with Him someday, and that He is making all things work together for our good and His glory!
In conclusion, I admire the fact that Hannah shares a message of hope with others, even during tough times. That’s one of the things that makes her a great friend!