letter from the staff

Logging On

The stress of a virtual world has been exacerbated by the pandemic, and it’s easy to feel alone.

As we spend our days stuck in a constant cycle of screen after screen, it is easy to feel disconnected from reality. We wake up for school, only to log on and view our teachers and classmates from behind the screen — the option of turning off our cameras and mentally logging off is always present. When the school day ends, our computer screens are replaced by our phones where we absorb algorithms that present images of perfection — influencers advertising workouts with edited photos, celebrities shilling diet supplements, companies advertising body types like they’re trends we can change in and out of when the world tells us to.

Scrolling for hours through social media, we see people’s best moments; the ones they are proud to share. Through pictures, we end up criticizing our own bodies, achievements and lives when they don’t line up with the tiny glimpses of others that we see on our end. We see certain physical features being praised by followers and more likes, often dragging us into a state of constant comparison where our unique and equally beautiful features feel ugly and being healthy does not feel like enough. However, these glimpses into a person’s life do not encompass their moments of imperfection, sadness, frustration and confusion, which are left to be experienced in solitude.

The pandemic has increased the time we spend with ourselves, leading many to focus on self-improvement through hobbies or new habits. This summer brought a wave of workout and health videos to the forefront of social media, with promises of “quarantine glow ups.” While for some, these videos became motivating daily routines, for others, the broken promises advertised were discouraging. We all adapt differently to situations thrown at us, and in these confusing times, it is important to be kind — both to others and to ourselves. It is okay to not have completely transformed over the course of the pandemic. It’s okay to feel apathy, to be unmotivated. It’s okay to struggle — because almost everyone is. In this climate of turmoil and unease, it’s okay to be just barely getting by. You don’t need to use every waking moment in the journey of self-improvement, or productivity.

Our school environment imposes the same workload, expects the same results despite the overbearing, tiring presence of the pandemic, despite the isolation and fear and anxiety many students are feeling. Without breaks between classes to meet with friends, or North Time to receive help and socialize, the days often blend and online classes can become monotonous. Therefore, it is important to set aside a few minutes each day to get away from the screen and focus on an activity that brings happiness and excitement. It is difficult to feel hope when we are unaware of the destination, but we are all on the ride together, and as a community it is important to unite through the challenges.

Now, more than ever, it is important to reach out to friends and family. It is important to communicate to others what they mean to us and to reach out when we feel tired or unmotivated. Even if we don’t always recognize it, we are surrounded by people that care about us. In the span of our lives, through daily interactions, each of us has made an impact on countless individuals — friends, family members, teachers and even strangers. As we carry on through this year, we should understand that past our differences, we are human beings. We have to respect ourselves and respect others, allowing for mistakes and forgiving them. With so much out of our control, this is a time to focus on ourselves and our actions. Although we may be separated for the time being, we are not alone. Behind the screen is an individual that is powerful, loved, cared for and appreciated.

- The North Star Staff