Anxiety and depression

Both sophomore Skylar Cahoone and her mother have relatively fragile immune systems. Out of an abundance of caution, Cahoone and her siblings decided to do school entirely virtual this year. However, Cahoone’s entire family still caught COVID-19 in 2020, which gave her immunocompromised mom permanent lung damage.

Cahoone said this has increased her anxiety and fear for her family’s health.

“It was really concerning because we didn’t know how it was going to affect her,” Cahoone said.

Because of the anxiety that students like Cahoone have from the fear of catching COVID and depression that others may face due to isolation, Schwolert said they may not be able to think as clearly.

“I think your brains are just constantly dealing with adjustment and change and the uncertainty of everything, the unknown, feelings of isolation,” Schwolert said. “And that affects your ability to focus and cognitively function like you normally would.”

While students were excited to return to school, many were worried about potentially being exposed to and spreading the virus, including freshman Patton Morgan.

“After being away from society for so long and just in my home, coming back was kind of scary because I didn’t know what to expect,” Morgan said. “Especially going into high school for the first time.”