Plenty of change for DHS students because of COVID-19

The Panther’s Tale newspaper staff interviewed DHS students about how their life has changed with COVID-19.

“It’s canceled our One Acts and it postponed the banquet, but we still make every effort to stay connected with each other. We made our own zoom room to talk and interact with each other and we have several group chats as well. We’re all bummed that school’s closed but we’re making it work.”

— Junior Alivia Bolain

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“I feel overwhelmed by the thought that everything that was planned in the final quarter (like prom and graduation) is just down the drain for not just me but my peers as well. Adjusting to a new way of life is hard and overall is just confusing”

— Senior Alex Le

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“I was worried about cheer tryouts and when I would see friends again. I wondered how everything would work and if the year would be shortened or something. Tryouts are happening now virtually and everyone has a fair chance of making it.”

— Junior Abbey Simonsen

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“I’m disappointed in missing this track season because I was really looking forward to it and I’m going to miss some of my friends and teachers that I probably won’t talk to.”

— Sophomore Christian Crawford

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“I was on my zoom meeting for theater tech and at the end, all of the more involved type drama kids stayed on so we could talk. And it’s so obvious everyone in drama club misses each other a ton and the idea that we can’t be near each other sucks. Because if we did get together, no one would be able to follow the whole six feet social distance thing and everyone is upset. Even Skip (teacher Richard Shultz) is really missing all of us and wanting to get together as soon as all of this is over.”

— Junior Sierra Morgan

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“I had no worries. I just think corona is dumb.”

— Junior Jordan Parker

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“I have missed my friends and family the most because of the coronavirus since my parents have put us in quarantine. I can’t see my friends or family for weeks.

— Sophomore Bridget McAdam

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“Many different things have been canceled or postponed because of the virus. My sophomore softball season was completely canceled, clubs I’m a member of aren’t meeting anymore. The ACT that I was scheduled to take has been pushed until a later date. And hanging out with my friends has completely stopped, which is probably the hardest part about this whole thing. I have mixed emotions. Part of me knows that this is all for the safety of everyone and hopefully in a few months, everything will go back to normal. The other part of me is upset because people, myself included at one point, wouldn’t stay inside because they didn’t think it would affect them.”

— Sophomore Morgan Haupt

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“School kind 0f kept me in check about waking up in the morning every day, but now that school’s out, I’ve just been sleeping a lot more in the morning.”

— Junior Joshua Dester

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“I am upset school is canceled, but I’d much rather be safe and continue my schooling from home than risking it just to see my friends and go to school. I think it sucks that we were just starting blocking and getting our lines memorized (in drama). Plus, the juniors had just gotten started planning the banquet. I’m just thankful the only thing that was canceled was One Acts. I’d cry if an actual show had been canceled.”

Sophomore Annelise Thompson

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“Since we’re not going to school anymore, we don’t get the same interaction like we did in the regular school year. I’d see them almost every day, and now it’s either text or nothing.”

— Sophomore Landon Stark

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“My birthday is coming up this month, and I wanted to plan something with my friends so we could hang out. Since we all have to stay home, I’ll probably just have to get into a video call with them which isn’t the same…. There was still nine weeks of school left but now it doesn’t really feel that way. One of the good things about school is sometimes you make a connection with someone outside the group of people you know. Since we’re only doing online school now, that’s not really possible anymore. It’s pretty sad how many people aren’t taking it seriously and leaving their houses. I don’t want the quarantine to last any longer than it has to, so it’s frustrating that people just don’t listen.”

— Freshman Esteban Macias

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“I have missed my friends, my dance competitions, and being able to see some of my family because of the coronavirus outbreak.”

— Sophomore Jenna Gallegos

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“Drama club. One Acts were canceled, so I won’t get to participate in them anymore. I feel quite sad about it and it’s so disappointing because all of the usual pre-show rituals and traditions will be canceled, and that’s my favorite part. The virus has taken a lot (out) of the experience of this year. As a freshman, I won’t get to observe any of the traditions our school has at the end of the year. I’m upset that I don’t get to go to school and see all of my friends and teachers anymore. (It’s) challenging, but I think Zoom is a very useful tool and I’m glad we can use it.”

— Freshman Alexis Mullen 

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“The virus has affected my last solo and ensemble, my last concert ever. I can’t say goodbye to my band family, my last prom, senior celebration. Even though the virus has affected these events, I’m thankful I get to spend time with my family. I never got to spend much time with my family because of work, school, etc. But now I have lots of time to spend with my family. Yes it sucks to have these events canceled, but we have to look at the positives.”

— Senior Addison O’Beirne