According to the American Journal of Managed Care, when COVID-19 first hit the States back in January 2020, nobody realized the severity of what it was going to become. Many were still working, and students were thrilled that there would be at least a week off school. Things quickly escalated, and a pandemic was declared in March 2020, according to Avera.

Everyone was swiftly forced into lockdown, and rules and restrictions were strictly enforced: no touching your face, only going outside for exercise and permitted work, wearing a mask, and social distance.

Everyone was forced to adapt.

Seniors who graduated in 2020 did not get an official senior year. All school events were canceled, and nobody could go outside and see other people.

As a result, many students lost contact with friends.

“I was in 8th grade when my school trip to Europe got canceled,” Kaylee Matsuda (9) said. “I was obviously disappointed and upset, but it was normal to think that way because cases were very high there.”

Since then, progress has been made to defeat the virus and allow people to have more of a semi-normal life. Students are now half online and half in person and can see teachers and friends during the weeks.

In the 4th quarter of the 2020-2021 academic year, high school over for seniors, and everyone is looking forward to summer.

Everyone is hoping they will get to hang out with friends without being bombarded with rules and restrictions.

“I am excited for this year’s summer,” Jessie Taketa (12) said. “I get to travel to Las Vegas with my softball club team and spend time with them before I move to California for college.”

That’s why this summer is more of interest because the 2020 summer was spent in quarantine. Students had nothing to look forward to because of the growing concern of the virus and everything suddenly shutting down. Though students finally have a summer to look forward to, a vast majority of students are still unsure what to do this summer.

“Right now, I’m worried if I fail, I’m going to have to take summer school,” Zachary Choi (9) said. “Besides that, I have no plans for summer.”