When news of the pandemic first broke out, I, like many other students, had no idea of the scale of the problem or how it would affect my daily life. At first, the idea of school closures and transitioning to remote learning seemed exciting. The prospect of no more early morning alarms, no more rushing to make the bus, and no more endless hours spent in the classroom was enticing. However, as the reality of remote learning set in, I realized that the situation was far from ideal. While remote learning allowed me to continue my education, it was clear that the quality of education was different from in-person learning. As a high school student during the initial stages of the pandemic, I had to adjust to remote learning, social distancing, and other restrictions to mitigate the spread of the virus.

The COVID-19 pandemic is one of the Global events that has had a profound impact on people’s lives worldwide. As the days and weeks progressed, it became clear that the pandemic would have a significant impact on my education, social life, and overall well-being. As a high school student, socializing and building relationships with friends is an essential part of life. Prior to the pandemic, I had experienced periods of anxiety and depression, but they were typically manageable and didn’t disrupt my daily life too much. However, as the pandemic wore on and the world became more and more chaotic, my mental health began to spiral out of control. The pandemic made it almost impossible to socialize in person. With social distancing measures in place, I was unable to attend school events, hang out with friends, or even celebrate milestones like birthdays and graduations. Social media and online communication tools helped to some extent, but they were no substitute for face-to-face interaction. The constant news updates on the pandemic, coupled with the fear and uncertainty that come with it, took a toll on my mental health. The pandemic forced me to adapt to a new normal, which was stressful and overwhelming. The anxiety of contracting the virus or having a loved one get sick became a constant source of worry.

Before the pandemic, hanging out with friends was an essential part of my life. Whether it was going to the movies, attending sporting events, I always looked forward to spending time with my friends. However, as the pandemic started to take hold, it became clear that these types of social gatherings were no longer possible. At first, I tried to stay connected with my friends through social media and video chats. While this helped to some extent, it wasn’t the same as being able to spend time together in person. As the weeks turned into months, I began to feel more and more isolated, the feeling of loneliness started creeping in. I struggled to stay focused during virtual classes and found myself constantly distracted by social media and other online distractions. The lack of interaction with teachers and classmates made learning less engaging and less effective. I also found it difficult to stay motivated and focused while learning from home, with the many distractions that come with being in a non-school environment. As a result, my grades began to slip, which only added to my stress and anxiety. Eating junk food became my way of coping in the online class because many hours of my day was spent in front of a laptop. My mental health began to suffer. I started missing being able to talk to my friends face to face and do the things we enjoyed together.

Before lockdown, I was an active student who enjoyed participating in sports and going to the gym. However, once school closed and social distancing measures were put in place, I found it challenging to maintain my regular exercise routine. I was forced to spend more time at home, which meant more time sitting in front of my computer for virtual classes and less time being physically active. At first, I did not think much about the weight gain. I assumed that it was a temporary issue that I could easily fix once things returned to normal. However, as the pandemic continued, my weight continued to climb. This noticeable weight gain started having subsequent effects on my mental health, I began to notice changes in my body and mental state. Physically, I became more self-conscious about my appearance. I was no longer comfortable wearing my favorite clothes or participating in activities I once enjoyed. Mentally, I began to feel increasingly anxious and depressed. I struggled with feelings of isolation and loneliness, which were only compounded by the extra weight I was carrying, I felt like I was trapped in a cycle of negativity. Between virtual learning, social isolation, and the constant uncertainty about the future, it became a been a tumultuous time for me and people around me, my mental health began to spiral out of control.

As the lockdown continued, my mental health struggles became more pronounced. I found myself feeling unmotivated and disconnected from the world around me. I would spend hours scrolling through social media, comparing myself to others and feeling like I was not measuring up. I struggled to find meaning and purpose in my daily life. The lack of social interaction during lockdown also had a significant impact on my mental health. I found myself missing the daily interactions with my friends and teachers, and I struggled to find ways to connect with others in a meaningful way. The sense of isolation and loneliness was overwhelming, and it made my mental health struggles even more challenging to overcome. My mental health continued to deteriorate. Getting out of bed became a struggle, and the simplest tasks – like brushing my teeth or taking a shower – felt insurmountable. I lacked motivation or energy, and I often felt like I was just going through the motions of life. I knew I needed help, but getting access to mental health care was difficult. Many therapists were booked up for months in advance, and those who were available often had long waiting lists. I felt like I was on my own, the pandemic has exacerbated my pre-existing mental health issues and now triggered new mental health struggles.

Furthermore, the uncertainty and unpredictability of the pandemic and the constant news updates, changes in government regulations. This uncertainty caused students like me to feel like they are in a constant state of fight or flight, which can lead to anxiety, exhaustion, and burnout. I started appreciating the structure of in-person classes for how it kept me focused, motivated, and engaged because with virtual learning, there is often a lack of structure and accountability.

Despite the growing awareness and understanding of mental health issues, there is still a great deal of stigma surrounding mental health, which can make it difficult for students like me to talk about their struggles or seek help. But I knew that I needed to take action to improve my mental health. Prioritizing self-care was my first step, this meant focusing on activities that brought me joy and a sense of purpose. Exercising at home and eating balanced diet also helped me manage my weight gain and improve my physical health. After few weeks I started going for daily walks and runs, which not only helped me stay physically healthy but gave me a sense of purpose and accomplishment. I also started practicing mindfulness and meditation, which helped me stay grounded and present in the moment. In addition, I found support from my friends and family, who were always there to listen when I needed to vent or talk through my feelings. I also started writing in a journal, which helped me process my emotions and make sense of what was going on inside my head. I also later sook professional help from a therapist, who helped me work through my feelings of anxiety and depression. Despite all of these challenges, I did eventually find ways to cope with my mental health issues. Looking back on the past year, I realize that the pandemic was a difficult and trying time for everyone. But for me, it was also an opportunity to confront my mental health issues head-on and learn to cope with them in a healthy way. While I still have ups and downs, I feel like I am better equipped to handle the challenges that come my way, and I am grateful for the lessons I have learned along the way. The COVID-19 pandemic has been a challenging time for high school students all over the world. For me, it was particularly difficult as it brought to the surface mental health issues, I had been struggling with for some time. Even though social distancing measures were in place, I occasionally reached out to close friends and family via phone or video chat. I also joined online support groups where I could connect with others who were going through similar struggles.