Written by Thais Diaz
On your way to school, you see the sun begin to rise and hear the birds chirp, knowing that when you get there, you’ll be seeing your friends in a few moments; well, in 2020, that’s not the case. Instead, going to school is as simple as just rolling out of bed and turning on your computer, and only getting to see your friends in tiny little boxes on your screen.
While a few MAST@FIU students have returned to campus, most of them have decided to stay in the comforts of their own home. Yet, how have these changes of events affected mental health?
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the number of mental health challenges has increased due to the emotional fallout that many people have experienced. Whether it be anxiety, depression, or stress, these are prevalent issues that high school students have faced before, after, and during the pandemic; this can be due to several reasons but, at MAST@FIU, it seems to be because there’s no more social interaction. On one end, the freshmen class has struggled to meet their peers and fully integrate into high school life.
Jonathan Konig said, “as a freshman, choosing not to go to school physically has made it much more difficult to make friends.” When it comes to human interaction, many benefits include belonging and security, so it’s understandable that without it, Koning says it “has negatively impacted his emotional and mental health.”
On the other end, seniors consider their last year in high school to be one of their most important. Senior Brunella Fernandez said, “I feel sad because the school doesn’t feel the same, and it’s supposed to be our fun year.”
Even though school can bring about stress and anxiety, it still provides students with things that can aid their mental health. The pandemic isn’t over, which means students must continue with their virtual hugs and long for the day they can finally have a physical hug.
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