The last spring vacation I can recall having was in the seventh grade. My body had become used to waking up at 6 am and that was the latest I could sleep, I rode my bike every morning at 8:30 am. I would sneak to the hidden location at a lake with my friends, so we could use the rope swing before the older kids arrived. If they were in a bad mood, they kicked us out. When only the daredevils went to the terrifying rope swing 60 feet off the ground one morning, I felt as though I needed to prove something to the older kids; so, I climbed past the warning sign to the highest point of the tree. I swung and showed everyone that I was a power to be reckoned with without any doubt. After that, COVID happened, and we haven’t had a regular spring or summer vacation in three years, until now…

The COVID-19 pandemic impacted people worldwide, not just physically but also psychologically. For the first two years, kids were essentially prevented from doing anything because the government closed off all the activities that families typically engaged in. Don’t get me wrong, last year was much less restricted than previous years, but masks were still required in many places. If you didn’t have the vaccinations, things stayed the same as they had been the previous two years. 

2020

¨Just 2 weeks off guys…¨

Every school in the country closed just before spring break began due to the coronavirus. Every child was extraordinarily happy and, as the ‘two weeks’ ended the lockdown was extended until “further notice.” But when spring break arrived, everything was still shut down. Even though that was terrible, we still biked and splashed in the lake. But by the time we all recognized how serious it was becoming, it was already too late. I despised it because my mother is a nurse, and once she was assigned to the COVID floor, I was terrified for her as well as for me because I had to stay in isolation and was unable to visit my friends. 

2021

¨Hopefully this year is better.¨ 

We all believed that this year would be better than the one we just had. But that didn’t happen; instead, things actually grew worse. We still didn’t have a physical classroom; instead, we attended online, and we had little interaction with people besides those who resided in our homes. Due to the fact that my mother works as a nurse, I was still required to remain in isolation, but at this point, my mental health began to deteriorate. It was difficult to not have a spring break where you could visit the ocean or go on holiday.

2022

¨Is it getting better?¨

2022 looked hopeful when we returned to school while still wearing masks, but as spring break drew nearer, the limitations began to loosen. As a result, people were able to travel and have fun in locations that had been off-limits for the previous two years. When my mother eventually announced that we would be taking a holiday, all of my worries and pessimistic thoughts seemed to vanish. And while it may seem foolish to attribute this to a holiday, it was also the sense that things might finally return to normal and begin to be enjoyable.

2023

¨Finally!¨

Since there were no masks this year and school is finally acceptable, it has been the greatest year of my time in high school. I am sure that many other students can agree. The ability to hang with a large friend group without having to social distance made this year better. Spring break is in 4 days, as well as my upcoming vacation. Nobody discusses how difficult it is to spend three years apart from your friends. We are making the most of our time together now that we can spend it together!