Letter 1

Covid has changed many things in my life. Initially, I thought that not being around my friends constantly and not leaving my house was a terrible thing. I found myself depressed because there was a worldwide pandemic going on around me, and I could barely process my feelings that I was left alone to deal with. But then things got better.

The biggest thing that helped me get out of my depressed state was a routine. Every day I made myself get out of my bed and do something. It didn’t matter if it was making myself breakfast or taking my dog out on a walk, I just made myself do something. It helped even more when I got to return to a more steady virtual school, but I know that was not the case for everyone.

Covid has taken a lot from society. We have completely changed the way that we live so that people can stay safe. At the beginning, mental health was a subject that was focused on. But now that we’ve passed the one year mark, society thinks everyone should just be over the pandemic. Yes, we need normalcy again, and I agree that eventually society has to return to where it came from. But during another transition in our lives we can’t expect everything to go back to normal in such a short period of time.

Overall, Covid has taken a toll on society’s physical and mental health. Just like we have been trying to protect our physical health, we need to continue to do the same with our mental health. We’re living through hard times right now, and even when we think we’re not doing a good job, we are. Sometimes we just need to be reminded how strong we have been getting through such a difficult situation. There’s always room to improve, but there’s also room to take a break and remember what we’ve pushed through. And as a majority I think we’re all doing a great job getting through this pandemic.

Alyce Myers

Senior, Danville High School

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Letter 2

When I think about this past year with the pandemic,  I would say it has been a massive blur. I saw a really good quote on Twitter not too long ago. It said something like, “If you had to barely change your lifestyle during the pandemic, it’s a good way to realize just how alone you are.” When I saw this, I completely agreed. I did not have to adjust and change much during the pandemic. It was kind of a shock to me, but I realized how much I am fine with being alone. It was a weird reality check.  I have no clue how the pandemic will affect my future, but I can say it gave me the weirdest school year I have ever had or seen. School was online for so long that it became almost normal. Even now in school, we have to be socially distanced from our classmates, so we can’t really group up with our friends. Whatever the long-term impact,  I can say that the pandemic has made my senior year very memorable, and I won’t forget it.

Micheal A. Blake

Senior, Danville High School

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Letter 3

Covid hasn’t been great to anyone. Some people seem to think that they’re the only ones struggling because of it, but the fact is that everyone is. People have lost their jobs and homes as a result of businesses closing, and on a smaller scale, others have become disconnected from friends and family.

The last time I saw my closest friends was in March 2020, when we  went to Louisville for a birthday. I’ve always had a hard time opening up to people and feeling comfortable, but during that trip I felt okay. Then, a few weeks later, school closed. The country went into lockdown, and I haven’t spent real time with those friends  since.

My grandparents, who are in their seventies, never left the house. We used to visit them all the time since they live nearby, but because of COVID, we stopped. There were no more large family gatherings like we used to have, and it hurt my grandmother especially.

Of course, in the way of COVID tragedies, my story is pretty mild. There are people who have lost friends, family members, and lovers to the pandemic. I think coming out of it, it’s important to remember this: everyone is having a hard time. That doesn’t diminish your own struggles, but in a time like this, a bit of empathy is a breath of fresh air.

Amelia Cloud

Senior, Danville High School