From our August Issue
During these difficult times, it is important to stay safe above everything else. However, staying safe does not mean losing the chance to make the most out of the school year. There are many ways to stay productive throughout the new school year without putting ourselves and others at risk.
As human beings, our social lives are a crucial part of our mental health. One way to stay social during this socially distanced school year is by staying in contact with friends and establishing new relationships with other people. It is especially important to reach out to new individuals and form connections that might just make an impact on our futures.
“When we’re unproductive there are many things that can happen. We can have negative thoughts, we can experience some feelings of sadness, we can experience anxiety, we can become sensitive. Being unproductive physically can also affect you,” said psychologist Dr. Madeline Hernandez.
“You can start feeling unworthy because to feel worthy we need to feel like we’re doing something that matters. It can cause depression. It can sometimes lead to isolation,” she continued.
Just because quarantine is in effect does not mean students can’t become involved in afterschool activities. To be involved in clubs, everyone must make sure to follow up on the latest news and download all the apps needed to communicate with other club members and participate in club activities. Some of the most common apps used for those purposes are Edmodo, Remind, and Zoom.
“As I will not be able to attend the next school year it might get very hard for my club. We are a social activities club and we surround ourselves by performing and such. Therefore this year is going to be very difficult on both my team of officers, but also our members,” said Angely Peña, president of Miami Lakes Educational Center’s Music Club.
“We don’t know what is going to happen and we don’t know if we will ever get to meet up together and play music, but I hope to still have meetings over zoom with my members and remind them that the music club is still there for them. We were going to be changing leaders this year and it was something I looked forward to, but all we can do is move forward past this time of uncertainty and keep our heads up.” Peña continued.
Community service hours are a big concern for a lot of students, especially now due to the extenuating circumstances the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has put everyone in. This is also another activity students can take up if their usual after school clubs no longer take up their schedule.
Students can take some time to research what places they can provide services for virtually. Some examples might be tutoring, volunteering for a local organization such as The American Red Cross, or starting a personal community project with friends. .
Another way for students to make the most out of distance learning, is by using their time wisely. Now that they have more time, they could use it to study and even look into further opportunities that may aid their college applications.
There are many ways to make the most out of the school year. From maintaining a social life to working towards a better future ,there are several ways to stay productive. Nothing is impossible, even if the circumstances make it seem like it is.
