The official newspaper of West Windsor-Plainsboro High School North
Eventually, I found a solution to this nagging problem: movies. Throughout my childhood, watching movies was one of my favorite pastimes. Whether it be at the movie theater, at my house, or outside, I could always depend on movies to transport me to a different world.
Before the pandemic, getting everyone in my family into one room was nearly impossible. My mom and dad on calls, my sister attending class, and my brother in the basement on his PlayStation meant I rarely had time to see them before dinner. But when we were hit with our first lockdown last year, I found myself spending the most time with my family than I ever had before.
out on engaging in typical activities for kids- like playing soccer with the other kids in the neighborhood, or watching Curious George on the PBS channel.
When the pandemic hit, there was an eerie silence that fell over the Carter household. Sports paused, meetings were cancelled, and we bunkered down for a long (admittedly much longer than anticipated) break from normal life.
In many ways, the quarantine kept our family apart. We could no longer go out to eat together, watch movies together, or even just stop by each other’s houses for a quick hello (and Challah delivery). However, in one key way, the quarantine brought our family closer too: Zoom calls.
There are some days in my life that I’ll never forget. March 13, 2020, was one of those days. After getting off the bus for what turned out to be the last time in over a year, I took a walk around my neighborhood and parts of town that I suspected would close down in the coming days.
When I received an email from my dance teacher a month later saying she would be resuming classes on Zoom, I felt defeated. Not even a global pandemic could keep me away from dance.
Maybe it was the fear that one of them could be the next victim of coronavirus or just the newfound appreciation for the relationships we as a society often take for granted. Nonetheless, it was simply a wake-up call for many, a reminder to check in with those we care about.
I have never been especially devoted towards religion. However, even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit New Jersey and the rest of the United States, the one time of year I had always looked forward to was Ramadan.
It’s common to feel alone when you are in a sea of people. This school year, even with all the struggles and losses that students have faced, there is one thing I will surely miss from this unfortunate time; the friends that I’ve made.
There are some things that I know about mental health: that everyone has it, that everyone needs to take care of it, that sometimes taking care of it involves reaching out to others who can support and guide you through difficult times. And yet by trying to understand the voices in my head, I have inadvertently embarked on a journey filled with learning experiences.
At 1:45 AM on April 14th I was sitting in the back of a van, smushed against the overflowing suitcases that had, miraculously, been able to fit in. The night was quiet, the hum of crickets still audible even over the roar of the engine. Not a single other car was in sight as we drove to the airport, where we would then board our flight back to the U.S.
In difficult times, many people turn to religion as a source of comfort. But what happens when that community is forced to disband, even just physically? The novel coronavirus epidemic has caused many churches, temples, synagogues, and other buildings of worship to shut their physical doors. But that doesn’t mean that they aren’t still worshipping.
When the real world closed its doors on me, the music world embraced me with open arms.
Kabir Bharatiya Staff Writer It is incredible how, almost a year ago, I was just another 8th grade student at Community Middle School, getting off the school bus on what felt like an ordinary chilly March day. Little did I know that would be the last day on the bus for me for a long time. What started as a short, two-week quarantine has turned into several long months of staying at home with our families. Being stuck inside was gut wrenching for me. Before quarantine, playing sports like football and basketball with my friends was an everyday occurrence. With spring right around the corner and the weather getting warmer, quarantine started at the perfect time to be outside. Staying […]
In an effort to pinpoint where this feeling of demotivation stems from, we talked to North students about the impact learning in a virtual environment has had on them.
