Wake up, get on Zoom, repeat.
Illustration by Nicholas Konrad
This post is part of The Learning Network’s weekly Current Events Conversation feature, in which we publish a selection of notable student comments on our daily writing prompts.
How would you describe pandemic life … in just six words?
Inspired by “The Pandemic in Six-Word Memoirs,” an Opinion piece by Larry Smith, the creator of Six-Word Memoirs, we challenged students to capture their experiences over the last 19 months in their own six-word stories.
We asked them: What comes to mind when you think about the last year, or even the 19 months since quarantines first began? What small details of your life seem especially interesting, poignant, funny or relatable?
Teenagers rose to the occasion with pandemic memoirs that brought humor, introspection and deep feeling to this moment. While short, these miniature stories convey much bigger ideas about online school, being trapped inside, missing friends, the political landscape, the “longest two weeks ever,” personal growth and hope.
Thank you to all those who participated in this exercise this week, including teenagers from Layton, Utah; Riverside University High School in Milwaukee; and Pittsburgh.
Please note: Student comments have been lightly edited for length and clarity.
_________
“Congratulations on graduating!” *closes Chromebook*
— Jack, Hoggard High School
Dusty backpacks, my life on pause.
— Charlotte, J.R. Masterman
I love sleeping. Not this much!
— Reece, Hoggard High School
Don’t cough. It scares people now.
— Vay, Utah
Day 582 of two-week masking.
— Will, Illinois
Glazed donuts, glazed eyes, glazed life.
— Cassidy, Hoggard High School
Google search: How to survive apocalypse?
— La, NUAMES High School
Day three: I need more shows.
— Terrell, J.R. Masterman
Sounds fun, but what about Covid?
— Alexandra, J.R. Masterman
Sleep and procrastination: my closest friends.
— Nicole, Cary High School
Technology. An escape, but not education.
— Gwyneth, Kempner High School
Eyes open, but never really awake.
— Kara, J.R. Masterman
Close with family, far from friends.
— Shalom, Houston
48th time I’ve seen this video.
— Jonathan, J.R. Masterman
every day is the same day
— Hsamu, Milwaukee, Wis.
Wake up, get on Zoom, repeat.
— Jack, GB
Together now, but still all alone.
— Sophie, Union High School
netflix, missing assignments, doordash, sleep deprived
— Joah, Glenbrook North
Productiveness overcomes bad feelings and thoughts.
— Manar, Kempner High School
Sleeping, eating, strolling. Nothing to do.
— Jasmine, Riverside University High School
Trapped inside, empty streets, empty me.
— Klajdi, J.R. Masterman
Tired of being in my room.
— Valeria, New Mexico
TikTok, YouTube, Netflix; mind goes numb.
— Maya, NUAMES High School
I’m six feet away from normal.
— Abbey, J.R. Masterman
Learned how to smile without smiling.
— Gabriel, Northbrook
Watching history being made; it’s bad.
— Payton, Illinois
Political polarity, ravaging ‘rona, deliberate deceit
— Caden, Utah
“In this together,” says comfortable billionaire.
— Mya, NUAMES High School
Covid danger zones: parks and schools.
— Chris, Hoggard High School
Spent 10 minutes picking out mask.
— Lillian, Hoggard High School
Birthday ruined, schedule ruined, trust ruined.
— Garrison, J.R. Masterman
“Covid is a hoax,” they said.
— Jackson, Layton, Utah
a long, harsh, challenging, roller coaster
— Hyan, Atrisco Heritage Academy High School
if we could flick a wand
— Zebo, J.R. Masterman
Quit old habits, to heal inward.
— Da’Jah, City High Charter School
I caught Covid; I’m better now.
— Micaela, J.R. Masterman
Clenched jaws underneath disposable masks.
— Pragati, Farmington High School
Offline, online, offline … Present? Not really.
— Celia, Cary High School
Lacking sleep, lacking emotion, lacking connection.
— Lorenzo, TNCS, Richmond, Va.
Trapped in my head, no escape.
— Claire, J.R. Masterman
Lonely, but content; I grew tremendously.
— Haven, Kempner High School
everyday is yesterday, my new life
— Christoper, J.R. Masterman
Empty town, empty wallet, empty mind.
— Ed, Mass.
My home soon became a chrysalis.
— Sofia, California
Physical seclusion resulted in lonesome ideation.
— Darlene, Kempner High School
Fail my classes. Eat Doritos. Repeat.
— Dylan, Hoggard High School
A different person emerged from quarantine.
— Tracy, Kempner High School
Lost my mask, need another one.
— Jonah, J.R. Masterman
Friends? No, just games and screens.
— Michael, City High, Pittsburgh
The vaccine works, please get it.
— Eoin, J.R. Masterman
Depressed. Stressed. What is coming next?!
— Taisen, Pittsburgh
I need to see the world.
— Vrishab, J.R. Masterman
Time for reflection, time to question.
— Gabrielle, Connecticut
Loneliness, anxiety, fear. Oh look, hope.
— Audrey, Miami Country Day School
Learn more about Current Events Conversation here and find all of our posts in this column.
"six" - Google News
October 29, 2021 at 01:44AM
https://ift.tt/3CrfgNx
Students Describe Their Pandemic Experience in Six-Word Memoirs - The New York Times
"six" - Google News
https://ift.tt/3dcBbL9
https://ift.tt/2Wis8la
No comments:
Post a Comment