by Mariam El-Behiry
The chatter started at high schools in early March: everyone was talking about a virus.
The first case of coronavirus was soon confirmed in Ottawa. Yet no one was prepared for Friday, March 13.
Students were told to empty their lockers. The final bell rang, and the students headed to their buses, backpacks heavy, and minds brimming.
They have not yet returned.
Not long ago, Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School was a bustling school with students flooding the halls and grabbing a bite to eat with friends in nearby hangout spots.
However, following the indefinite closures of all Ontario schools and the stay-at-home order, the streets of Ottawa are sombre and ghostly. While students are self-quarantining, challenges are arising as they try to maintain their independence, find positivity, and attempt to preserve the normalcy and familiarity of their former routines.
No matter the level of study, all students are affected by this abrupt change of scenery, finding themselves bored, anxious, and devoid of social pleasures.
Senior high school students have had their year cut short by the COVID-19 chaos and have had to deal with the disappointment of events such as the prom and the graduation ceremony possibly getting cancelled.
Today, teachers and students are entering the world of digital education and trying to cope with the uncertainty surrounding our return to normal life.
It was only right to ask students to react to having to adjust to a sudden and unfamiliar routine: what challenges they are faced with, dealing with the uncertainty of it all, and what is keeping them positive and allowing them to maintain their peace.
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Sahan Malwatta, a senior, has, like many of his peers, been dealing with certain anxieties but is overall dealing calmly and optimistically with the situation.
“I have a personal connection because my dad is an executive chef and he was temporarily laid off from work, so I can tell that he has been stressed out because he had mortgages and taxes to pay.
“He had to apply for the EI from the government which provides money but that is not even enough so it is stressful for the whole family.”
“I love music and I’ve been playing instrumental music since grade 7 and it’s a big part of my life so I’ve been practicing a lot. I’ve also been trying to work out more and go for walks and runs.
“I do martial arts and since I have no form of exercise I have turned to other alternatives.”
Mashkura Tabssum Tathoye, a junior, has taken up cooking and learning about the stock market to pass the time, and is enjoying time bonding with family.
“Our teachers and principals don’t have answers, which can feel frustrating, but we have to understand that they are doing the best for us. It’s difficult but we are trying to cope.”
When asked about her transition to e-learning, she said that, although she prefers in-class learning and is finding it hard to adjust with her STEM courses, she is making the best of the situation.
“I’m just grateful that me and my family are safe. It could have been much worse and I am readjusting more and more every day.”
Marissa Khan, another senior, is making time to stay connected to her faith and is enjoying making her way through her to-read list.
“All I do [normally] is read textbooks for school or novels for English class because I have to.
“All this free time has really given me a chance to read fiction for fun and read religious books about Allah and his messenger.
“This is something that is so important to me, yet I never allowed myself to get the chance to put time aside and do research because of my coursework.
“However, I am making it my mission to learn and better myself mentally and physically.”
On the change of her life as she knows it, she is nervous but is treating this experience as a learning curve.
“It is really easy to lose hope and feel lost during these hard times when no one has solutions for you, not even the people you rely on every day.
“Physically, I am healthy and safe at home which is a luxury during these times.
“There are so many things we take for granted and the minute these things go away, we feel like it’s the end of the world.
“It is important to recognize that this is a sign to change our habits and be more aware of what we are given in this life.”
Miriam El-Behiry is an Ottawa high school student and a regular BUZZ contributor.