Dispatches from home: North High students reflect on life in shutdown

Sophomore Princess-Ann Nelson has been focused on painting and redecorating during the stay at home order. “This is my art wall. I have been hanging up a lot of photos and pictures and redecorating my room,” she said. Photo by Princess-Ann Nelson

Since schools closed and the governor issued a stay at home order, our North High student journalists have been reporting from their new Versions of normal. They’re spending a lot of time with Netflix and their cats. They’re staying up late and getting their distance learning assignments done. They’re finding Creative ways to stay in touch with each other. Some are essential workers. Others are coping with boredom and the stresses of being cooped up. Here are a few of their reports to North News.

Being an essential employee

I still have to go to work, so that's what I do every day. I've been in the house so much that when I'm at work at [a big box store]. I'm kind of scared. I still have to come in contact with people, but [my workplace] is trying to step up their safety for their employees. 

Literally the only time I'm bored is when I'm at work because surprisingly there are barely any customers there. I work in apparel and accessories, and to be honest, clothing isn't really important to anybody during this time, so I don't have to really do anything my whole shift. I’m just bored and a little anxious about like what I’ve seen on social media about everything. When im at work, if I just have a regular cough, like I just need to clear my throat, I have to sneak cough. If I cough out in the open, everybody just stares at me.

–  Kyla Moore

Words of wisdom

Some advice I would give to someone if we go into another quarantine, lord forbid, is: first thing I would tell you is to stay stacked with food. Another thing I would tell you is to have a girlfriend, because if you don’t you will be real lonely. My last advice to you is check the news every day.

–  RayRay Melton

Meditating for mental health & reflecting on racism against Asian people

As soon as I wake up I meditate for 10 minutes. My meditation routine is pretty simple. I meditate a different chakra every day. Chakras are basically seven points of energy on your body, each chakra is responsible for something. For example, your throat chakra is responsible for speaking your truth, or saying what you mean and meaning what you say. Every morning I analyze my chakras by keeping notes in a little notebook I have on my bed stand. It tells me which chakra I should focus on for that day's meditation. After that I go to YouTube and turn on that specific chakra’s meditation music. This quarantine has made me feel many different emotions. Not only have I been very, very bored but, there have also been little bits of relief or some relaxation to this whole school not being in session. Though this may have set many other people back it has given me time to figure out myself mental health wise, and not only that but it has also aided me in the process of getting my motivation back. 

This epidemic has also shown me how hurtful and uneducated people can be. There are videos on social media that show Asian people all over the world getting assaulted publicly, beat on, spit on, and kicked. Not only that, but our own president himself is calling COVID-19 the “Chinese virus.” I mean can we really blame citizens for going out of their way to blatantly hurt Asian people when the president himself is putting a target on the whole race’s back? Yes and no. People are responsible for their own decisions but the president doesn’t help when he makes ignorant statements like that on national television. 

–  Thidathip Crockett

A mom’s perspective

Timya Carlisle, North High sophomore: Do you think the government is doing a good job during this crisis?

Brandie Carlisle, her mom: No, I do not.

T: How are you taking all of this in?

B: It's serious, but taking it one day at a time mostly.

T: Have you taken anything for granted, that you now wish you didn’t?

B: Being outside and enjoying nature.

T: Do you think COVID-19 could go away by next school year?

B: Yes, it could go away before then.

T: What’s your take on people not taking this pandemic serious?

B: They're going to regret it or worse, wake up dead.

T: Do you think that the President is helping during this pandemic?

B: No I don’t. He knew about it in January, and he didn’t start anything till the end of February.

T: How do you feel about healthcare workers?

B: They are our biggest heroes and supporters.

T: How do you feel about being in quarantine?

B: I hate it. There is nothing to do with a lot of spare time.

Social distancing isn’t so bad

Here’s my very and needy persistent cat who bring me joy daily. In this photo she was looking onto the outdoor porch wanting out of my arms.

Social distancing has never been a problem of mine. I’ve always been one to stay to myself with no problem. I don’t mind the lockdown, but my daily routine has changed quite a bit. I’m usually awakened by my very needy and persistent cat, Nalla. In the morning before I even get a chance to brush my teeth, I tend to her. After her, I of course brush my teeth and wash my face. Something I hope everyone will do. The rest of my day just sort of happens. There’s no telling what could go on. For the most part I’ve been finding Netflix series to binge watch, but it gets boring sometimes. My family has been very helpful during this time. We’ve stuck together through worse, so this is easy. Although taking a risk we when needed go out together as one. I’ve learned during this time that the people in the world are very ignorant. There have been people saying that COVID-19 is man made by the government. Sometimes people’s conspiracies get the best of them.

–  Maliah Burns