All of our lives changed when the pandemic started, we all got cautious, kept 6 feet distance from each other and stayed home all day. It was a huge adjustment for everyone but what about now that it’s nearing an end how are we going to adjust back to what our lives were before? For some people the return to our lives after the pandemic is anything but positive. 

    The social distancing that was required may have influenced the social anxieties in a lot of people returning to work or school. The end of the pandemic sparks anxiety in different forms for those people especially if they’ve been prone to anxiety, like worrying about financial situations because maybe they were laid off due to Covid or are struggling with income. Or the students who got comfortable with being able to attend math class from their bed a few minutes after waking up if they wanted, or being able to pass the class without ever turning on your camera or microphone,the return to school after getting used to that wasn’t easy for everyone. For a long time all the activities coming back were considered dangerous because of the risks, so it’s understandable people are nervous. We have trained ourselves to follow the rules of the pandemic and for those people the adjustment period will take time. 

    “ One of the hardest parts was breaking the routine Covid learning had me on.”  Sophomore Alex Contreras. Routine can mean a few different things when it came to the things we did while the pandemic was at its peaks, like never leaving the house without a mask, washing our hands before and after leaving the house, not having a job because of Covid, teaching your class virtually, learning virtually and the overall worrying that came from living during a pandemic. “The pandemic caused disruptions in daily life and social isolation for children, which can be associated with anxiety and depression and can have implications for mental health later in life.”- KFF. Students in all grades are continually developing and when put under the mass amounts of stress that Covid-19 came with, developing healthy physically and mentally is a struggle. “ My mental health and well-being got so bad I didn’t want to come back at first.”  Sophomore Abby Joy. 

   For a lot of students the excitement of returning to school after the long months of isolation outweighed the anxiety and worries. So for those kids who feared returning and having to socialize and be in rooms filled with people it’s hard to relate to the majority who counted down the days to tell they were in a real classroom again. While not much can be done to ease what those students are facing as they return to school there is few things to consider, like give yourself breaks and understand you’re not alone, share your concerns with a school counselor or teacher, make small meet able goals to keep you encouraged, remember to not give up because the worst is over.  “If anyone has proven their resilience, it’s been these students all across the world this year.” – USA today.  The adjustment period will be long and difficult for some but staying resilient and consistent is the best thing for those students struggling. We can transfer knowledge from our time living through the pandemic to now as we return to the reality that is school and work.