2020 was supposed to be the year of music festivals and self-discovery, not raided supermarkets and surgical masks. 

Many people believed that this new decade was a chance to start over. But, the year had barely begun when talk of a deadly virus filled the halls of the school. Now, due to this virus, the school was forced to turn to online learning. 

Though many celebrated at first, it became clear pretty quickly that staying at home all day was not what the teenage population had imagined. However, below are some things you can cross off of your “to-do” list while on self-quarantine. These are all the things teenagers never had time for, but COVID-19 has made possible. 

At the top of the list, is taking time for yourself. During the hustle and bustle of a typical high school life, there is not much time for anything other than the usual ritual of “eat, sleep, schoolwork, repeat”. For many students today, a GPA is seen as more important than taking decent care of yourself. But due to the new conditions of learning, making more time for yourself may not be such a bad idea. In fact, it may be easier to get behind now more than ever.

“We have a lot more time to take a moment and ask ‘what do we really need?’” freshman Kacie Koprowski said. “Compared to the constant avoidance or dedication to school work.”
Second on the list, is cleaning up your spaces. This is another area teenagers lack in during school. Often, clothes and books and random things are strewn about in a rush, and it takes nothing short of a miracle to be cleaned up again. Now that school has turned online, this is a perfect chance to work on organization. 

“I swept my floor then dusted my dresser, washed my sheets and comforter, put them back on my bed, fluffed my pillows, washed my pillow cases and replaced those,” freshman Katerina Wuchnik said. “…Then we wiped everything down with Clorox wipes and turned on the fan to dry everything.” 

Next, is starting a new hobby. Students often tend to lean towards certain interests. But due to busy schedules, many don’t have a chance to engage in activities they enjoy or find interesting. 

“I want to get more involved in the little things that I enjoy,” Koprowski said. “I want to take more time into playing ukulele or piano, and start drawing for fun.” 

Fourth on the list is catching up, or catching up on, homework. School tends to pile up rather quickly. Some students may find themselves in a pit of late assignments, and they do not know where to begin. However, since the school has closed, and online classes have begun, there is a bit more freedom with our school work. Right now is the perfect time to get caught up and start the fourth nine weeks off on the right foot. 

“I’m planning on doing my dance project and working out,” Wuchnick said. 

And for the fifth and final subject on the list, catch up on sleep. Many high school students are running on iced coffee and sleep deprivation. But, one good thing about online classes is that you can create your own hours and catch some extra sleep. Though some may stay up late on video games, others may tuck in early to catch up on some much needed z’s. 

“I’m planning on becoming a professional napper,” Wuchnick said. 

But Wuchnick is definitely not alone. 

At the end of the day, it really doesn’t matter what is on a to-do list. So long as people remember to focus on themselves and what they need more often. Remember, it isn’t bad to focus on what you need over a grade.