The world’s shared isolation during COVID-19 lockdowns gave us the opportunity to self-reflect, grow, and become accustomed to our presence without the company of others. Both united and secluded by quarantine, some found solace in their own thoughts, while others struggled in being lonesome. Nearly two years out from the start of quarantine, it’s safe to say that the isolation of the pandemic is all but over. Although COVID precaution has largely become an afterthought, the journey back to our pre-pandemic routines has been a rocky one, and the lessons learned and struggles gained from the COVID-19 pandemic have not been forgotten. 

In an article written by Ben Casselman and Ella Koeze of The New York Times, graphs and statistics indicated that people between the ages of 15-24 years experienced far more time using technology and less time outside or exercising in late 2021 than they did in 2019. Similarly, in a study published this past April, researchers for the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found a strong link between increased screen time and depression. 

Looking across America, The New York Times reported that more than 50 percent of American adults experienced symptoms of depression after being infected with coronavirus. Additionally, one’s risk of developing a major depressive disorder is greatly increased after being infected by the virus. Knvul Sheikh of The New York Times stated, “Compared with those who managed to avoid infection (but also dealt with the difficult impacts of living through a pandemic), people who got sick with COVID-19 seem to be much more vulnerable to a variety of mental health problems.” Scientists, however, still aren’t entirely sure why this is. 

The impacts of the post-COVID-blues have been experienced and noticed by the students of Maggie Walker. Gray Pershing (‘23) noted a decrease in student effort and ethics post-COVID, stating, “I feel like everyone's motivation for school has definitely diminished, and I feel like people’s motivation to do work honorably has also decreased. In turn, that makes people’s mental health worse because they don’t feel good about the work they’re doing or the honor of being a Maggie Walker student.”

The awkwardness of returning back to in-person school is something that has not been overlooked when it comes to student mental health, either. Pershing explains, “While I was in hybrid school, I still felt very isolated because nobody was really talking to each other. There was a lot of social awkwardness going on. You still felt like you were in your own social bubble. Even with people around you it was isolating.”

Students have also noted their struggles that they experienced during quarantine and are still reeling from today. Jalaiya Moore (‘24) described her own struggles, stating, “I feel like, before quarantine, I was more of a social person. But since we were home all the time, we had more time to sit with our thoughts. That's when I developed depression—and then, when I went to [Maggie Walker], I feel like it was even harder to catch up because I come from a smaller school. I feel like during quarantine I was battling if I was good enough.” Moore also explains how she’s still trying to recover from past quarantine habits as well. She explains, “I feel like I turned to food a lot and gained a lot of weight during quarantine because I felt like nobody was going to see me and I was home all the time. It’s a habit I’m still trying to break.”

Pershing, however, notes that while they struggled more during the pandemic, there was a silver lining in that they had to finally address these growing issues. They stated, “I feel like in the long run, COVID probably was good for my mental health because it made it so bad that I had to confront it. I couldn’t keep pushing it off. However, I do still see its effects on people’s mental health today in school.”

While COVID both negatively impacted their lives then and now, both Pershing and Moore still feel that post-COVID, they have a more positive outlook on life. To quote Pershing, “I think COVID made my outlook a lot more positive because I feel more grateful for what I have. I feel grateful because I can see all my friends now, stuff is back to normal, and I’m not huddled up in my room doing sophomore year homework.”