Finding the Good

4/2/2020

The world today has been full of uncertainties and our lives have drastically changed. One day we wake up like any other day, go see our friends at school and the next we are practicing social distancing for our safety, and the safety of those around us. The quarantine is especially difficult for our generation, we are at the age of branching out from the home to find our path in life. It can be difficult to watch and wait. It is scary to turn on the news and watch as Covid-19 progresses with no clear end in sight, the media is filled with bad news. Seeing our families concerned, and worrying about the health of friends and loved ones that can not be with us at this time is all unsettling. However, I have tried even though it is very difficult sometimes to find the positive in this situation. Because of the quarantine and social distancing, I have been able to reconnect with my family again. Sitting down at the table and eating homecooked dinner. lunches used to be a rarity because of my mother’s and I’s busy lifestyle. Now it has become a time we both savor. I have also had time to get into some of my old hobbies again; working with clay and playing guitar. I have also learned that life is a precious gift and to never take a single second of time spent with friends or family for granted. My questions for you are. How have you been coping with our current situation that is affecting our entire world? What are some positive attributes that have come from this circumstance? What has all of this taught you in general and about yourself?

36 Comments

Faith

4/2/2020 05:06:17 pm

This quarantine has taught me many things and also brought me to many other conclusions in my life. We are all planning to branch out soon and go our own ways and this is one of the things I think about often. Recently, two of my close friends reached out to me asking if I would be interested in being their roomate when I move to Boise in August. This helped relieve some of my pressing stress to find a place to live once I moved to Boise.
Some things that I have been doing while in quarantine is painting. I've always thought painting was a fun thing to do but I didn't have the time or resources to sit down and paint something. Before the quarantine, I bought paint and some canvases and ever since then I have been painting. It is something I genuinely love to do and see as a way to distract myself from the world outside and something I can do with my family.
Overall, this quarantine has a lot of upsides to it. I have gotten closer to my family and I have more time to spend with them. I have connected with old friends that have moved or just ones that I haven't talked to in awile. I think this will bring everyone closer together and make us more thankful for the things we once did every day.

Kately M Cockrell

4/2/2020 11:10:11 pm

I agree, I’ve become closer to my family through these events, I‘ve been using this time as a period of reflection and processing.

Erykah

4/5/2020 01:54:06 am

Art is a good way to forget the world for a while. I have started writing songs to pass the time and relieve some stress. I also have had more time to catch up with a very close friend of mine who lives across the country.

Ezra

4/5/2020 01:28:10 pm

I have also been painting, and I have been getting better but I still have a lot to improve on.

Alyssa Farnworth

4/5/2020 03:20:28 pm

I have seen your talent with the camera so it’s exiting that you are trying something like painting which is just as artistic. You talked about roommates in Boise has the pandemic made you more or less anxious about your future?

Kately M. Cockrell

4/2/2020 11:07:13 pm

The time away from school was savory at first, but the solitary nature of quarantine is a bit maddening. It’s nice that we have the freedom to go outside and walk around, and to analyze our surroundings, but I find myself missing the structure that was offered in public school. I have spent the time cleaning and enjoying my time alone, even if I miss my small group of friends. I’ve learned that I work best in a comfortable environment without distractions, but that I also enjoy working with my peers. It’s times like this that I am glad I am more on the introverted side. People who are more extroverted may be finding the social distancing difficult. Unless I am wrong; if you identify as an extrovert, how has the quarantine effected you?

Erykah

4/5/2020 01:59:14 am

I'm an ambivert, so a part of me misses my friends, and the other part likes how it is easier to find quiet places to work. Though, I wish the weather would get a little warmer so I can work outside.

Tori Weir

4/5/2020 03:10:25 pm

I also miss the structure of school and being able to learn in schools instead of online. I knew that I was an introvert and I found it interesting to see my sister struggle with the social distancing since she is an extrovert.

Erykah Foss

4/5/2020 01:49:31 am

At first, I enjoyed waking up late and not doing much schoolwork. After a few days, I realized that I absolutely hated having no structure to my days. I have a difficult time self-motivating myself to accomplish a task that is not music-related, so I was basically a YouTube-and-Netflix-watching potato for a bit. I finally became more motivated and have been doing more homework, but it is still odd not seeing my friends ever. To prevent stir craziness, my sister and I have gone on walks and bike rides, which has helped me cope with this situation.

Now, more than ever, I feel thankful that I have access to technology, especially now that we rely on it for our education. I’m not a huge fan of online learning, though I have taken IDLA classes since middle schooll. I learn better in a classroom setting with a real teacher, but online education is better than no education. It is crazy that we are living through what I presume will be a major historical event. I hope that the COVID-19 pandemic will dissipate soon so that we can come back to normality because I miss school, my teachers, and my friends.

Aiden

4/5/2020 09:19:46 am

The loss of structure to my days has also got me lacking much motivation to do what I need to. Maybe school isn’t as bad as we thought.

Paige

4/5/2020 12:25:49 pm

I also miss school and find it hard to have motivation at times. Are you grateful for the times you get to spend with your sister?

Andy Gebhardt

4/5/2020 04:25:23 pm

I agree about the technology piece. I was considering it the other day when my family was talking about how much online class we have to have now. If you think back twenty years or even ten, I am not sure how possible online school would have been for most areas in the U.S. how do you think this pandemic would have looked?

Madicyn

4/5/2020 05:28:43 pm

It's crazy how much a routine seems essential after this situation. I am usually a very busy person between school, work, friends, and family.I was very seldom home for longer than a few hours before bed. Now that I can no longer have three out of four of them, my life is so weird, and I'm personally ready to get away from my family.

Paige Hilton

4/5/2020 08:49:24 am

When I first heard of the Coronavirus I thought it would stay in China and would never directly affect me. When the first case came in Idaho and then we were given a home order by Governor Little I began to worry. At first, I was upset about how this was impacting my life and my senior year. Now I am grateful for the time that I have to be with my family and grow closer to them.
Being able to witness the toll this is taking on the world and how people are responding is devastating but can be highly rewarding. I love seeing the bonds people are forming with each other and the acts of kindness committed every day. I realize that the effects of COVID-19 are overwhelming and traumatic, however, I find the good in spending time with my family and helping those in need to the best of my abilities. I cannot wait for the time when this pandemic is over, but for now I'm glad I have the time to form long-lasting relationships with my siblings.

Aiden

4/5/2020 09:23:46 am

The spread of the virus was kind of troubling how fast it happened. I was also upset that my senior year was being essentially ruined. I came to terms with it and now I don’t worry too much about the specifics and I just trust that it’ll all be alright.

Sabrina

4/5/2020 11:08:49 am

I am also upset about my senior year. I wonder how long this will go on for. People think it will last months. This will probably affect our first year of college too. What will we do then?

Faith

4/5/2020 12:42:36 pm

I also am starting to see the positive effects that this terrible event is bringing our world.

Aiden

4/5/2020 09:18:21 am

It’s funny. When I read my old post about the severity of the corona virus I’m amazed to see how much it changed. The cases worldwide are now over a million. It’s a time that my parents and grandparents have told me they have not experienced in their lifetimes. Through this quarantine I’ve been able to spend time with my siblings and parents that I had previously not been doing as much as I should’ve. I’ve also been eating nonstop and being bored out of my mind. In this time of turmoil and panic I found comfort that I have the most important things to me in my life right now. I’m not a scientist but I believe that the world will get on top of this pandemic and the economy and our lives will return to normal soon.

Sabrina

4/5/2020 11:09:42 am

The fact that is has grown so much so fast makes me wonder where we’ll be in a month. Can we successfully curve this by staying quarantined? When we lift the quarantine, will everyone be affected?

Ezra

4/5/2020 01:25:07 pm

With you talking about the economy It made me think about gas prices and how they are so low right now. I wonder how mush lower they are going to get.

Brax Kauffman

4/5/2020 07:12:50 pm

I am happy to hear that you are being optimistic about this and it’s good to have that mindset. It helps others think it’s going to be okay.

Sabrina

4/5/2020 11:06:16 am

A couple weeks ago I was convinced that the corona virus wasn’t a big deal and the work was stupid for overreacting and shutting everything down. I now understand the severity. The order given by the governor recently showed how important quarantining is. It is now illegal to hold gatherings of multiple people, exercise within 6 feet of other people, travel outside of your city, or any other nonessential activities. This has made me feel trapped and bored. It has taken time and effort to change my mindset and find things to do outside of my phone. Earlier this week I was taking as much as three naps a day, and while that was very nice, it got old. My parents encouraged us to find hobbies or things to learn every day so that we can have some structure. I’ve also spent more time with my family. Although this gets tense sometimes, my family has grown closer through it and I’m grateful for the opportunities that I have found in the midst of all that’s going on.

Paige

4/5/2020 12:40:12 pm

I think it's crazy how indifferent we can be on a situation until it directly impacts our lives. I feel that many of us have been ignorant to the virus until it became a reality in our proximity. Do you feel that this pandemic has helped you be more appreciative of certain areas of your life and better understand the value of family?

Faith

4/5/2020 12:47:07 pm

I also found that these restrictions have brought me to a state of bordem where I do things repetitively.

Ezra

4/5/2020 01:17:30 pm

Overall my quarantine life has been the same as normal life. It really doesn't effect me that much because I live out in Northfork, and I have all my property to keep me entertained. I also have been shed hunting in the mountains, and working around the house. We also got sheep and so I have been helping take care of those too. So overall its just been family time and spring cleaning.

Tori Weir

4/5/2020 03:06:20 pm

That's good that you have your property and family to keep you entertained and busy. I know that many people are struggling with finding something fun to do.

Tori Weir

4/5/2020 03:03:15 pm

When I first heard about how everyone was supposed to go into quarantine and started closing colleges and schools down I knew that the COVID-19 is a major problem. When I look at the news it disheartens me and I feel bad for the people who are affected directly with this problem.
Although, it did bring home my sister and it is nice spending time with her. Being home honestly made no difference in how I get homework done and what I do. The reason why it has been an easy transition is that I am more of an introvert and I am perfectly fine being alone with my family. Being quarantine also made me start reading again since I have more time and I started to do calligraphy which also helps pass the time. What helped me the most to stay sane is having my sister with me and knowing that I am not the only one who is facing this problem alone. I also spent a lot of time with my family which I should do more often.

Alyssa Farnworth

4/5/2020 03:17:06 pm

We used to talk in school about how much we both missed getting to read as much as we did when we are younger, so I am grateful we have both had the opportunity to do so. It makes me happy to see everyone has been enjoying their siblings so much.

Alyssa Farnworth

4/5/2020 03:14:25 pm

To cope with this whole situation I have been trying to distract myself this has consisted of going on drives, walks, and reading. In the first days of quarantine I was super motivated I read four books and was making my time productive. I then had a phase of doing nothing and sleeping a lot. I’m now getting back to the motivation. I’m pretty sad at how this has affected our senior year as I would not consider myself to be super social but I love being around everyone and having the structure that school provides.
I have learned to appreciate my family more than I did before because we have been entertaining ourselves together. This situation has created some moments with my family that will not be forgotten. I have also done some more photography which I was really practicing a few years back. While I am saddened by everything going on right now I am grateful for my family.

Andy Gebhardt

4/5/2020 05:15:23 pm

The structure school has is nice especially because you know how and when to get your work done. I miss that too because I am not always the most motivated if there I something I do not want to do. How long do you think life is going to be changed by this virus?

Madicyn

4/5/2020 05:23:45 pm

I'd agree with you, this is a super disheartening situation that is going on around us. It makes me nervous for the end of the year activities we've been planning all year as seniors.

Andy Gebhardt

4/5/2020 05:13:38 pm

The social distancing we are experiencing now is a shock to what most people thought the Coronavirus would bring. I was not very worried about in when it started and to be honest I am not worried about it now. However, I am being careful about seeing people because I do not want to be the one that transfers the virus to a loved one.
Some good that has come of this virus is that it has brought my family closer again and we now play games and do stuff together more. I remember when we used to be like this before all our schedules started getting crazy from being involved in stuff. Another nice thing is that I have had more time to do what I want to do. I have been able to go hiking, run more, and get some work done that I have been wanting to do for a while. I do not love the idea that we have to finish the school year online but I also feel like we can handle it. Overall, I have accepted the situation and am learning to see the good in it.

Madicyn Peterson

4/5/2020 05:21:45 pm

This quarantine has been crazy for everyone! It is something that was very sudden, and changed things for everyone. To cope with the situation we are all in right now, I have done my best to stay somewhat busy.
Some of the things I have been doing are sleeping, reading, I've colored and drawn. Some of the things I've currently been enjoying more are things like taking the dogs on a walk, going for a hike, or my favorite, going on a drive with mini-stops through out them. We have beautiful country all around us, and times like this are a good time to use it.
It's difficult to see the best in this situation in the worry of losing so much ahead, but I have came to understand many different lessons from the last few weeks.

Brax Kauffman

4/5/2020 07:14:25 pm

It’s cool that you have found so many things that can help keep you busy. I have been trying to go and do more things as well.

Brax Kauffman

4/5/2020 07:10:02 pm

This had been an extremely weird time in all of our lives. We have never had to go without seeing people whenever we want and getting to go do things together as groups. However, with everything, there can be some positive takeaways from all of this. The most important one to me is the fact that I have been able to spend more time with my family. Like many of you, it had been a while since I have had quality time with those closest to me and get to spend so many days together. That part of the quarantine has been a true benefit that I am glad to have experienced. Obviously we all want the world to go back to normal but as I have stated, there are some good things that had come out of this difficult time.

Mr. Pace

4/5/2020 09:45:49 pm

Alright, I will chime in on this one.

I miss our discussions in class, and I miss all of you students, of course. It feels incredibly odd to not have class in person, and in a way, it's akin to not being able to see my kids for several weeks. However, as many of you observed, online education is better than no education, and I choose to see it as a challenge to learn new skills and platforms for education, rather than merely a hindrance, even though it is actually much more work than teaching in the classroom.

That said, I am inspired by your ability to view the positives in the situation, especially as seniors in your final quarter of school, and I am heartened that most of you are reconnecting with your families during this time. With most of you leaving to college in the near future, what a unique opportunity you have to spend quality time with your family before you move out!

I am also relishing the extra time with my family and being a little more involved in my own children's education. We have spent more time hanging out and playing games, as well. A challenge, of course, is staying active and avoiding the temptation to overeat. But at the same time, it's an opportunity to exercise more and prepare more wholesome, homecooked meals, and thus far, I have been able to do the latter.

Ultimately, it is a powerful lesson in humility and sacrifice - the realization that there are things beyond our control and a willingness to give up our freedom for the benefit of others. We can either bury our heads in the sand and wallow in pity or learn from it and come out wiser and stronger on the other side. I am so encouraged that you all are choosing the latter path.

All the best,
Mr. Pace

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Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

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Write something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview.

Finding the Good

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