Follow the guidelines

SELFISH ACTIONS RUIN COMMUNITY EFFORTS AS THE SUN SHINES through my window and I scroll through my social media feed, post after post shows groups of smiling Though social distancing guidelines allow for nonessential excursions, students should remind themselves that just because they can engage in in-person activities parents kept me home, it still hurts that I and many others who limited our excursions are forced to stay at home longer due to the irresponsibility of other teens — the teens gathered at a beach or having a pic- with others often does same people we are nic. Perfectly normal during the peak of summer — until I remember that we are in not mean that they should; those who do I was disappointed to trying to protect from catching the virus. the midst of a pandemic. Even as health officials are strongly advising everyone to stay home, especially not need to go outside should be staying at home as much as possee that many students ... missed the note that It is understandable that self-quarantining is difficult at in initial virus hotspots such as Santa Clara County, many teens both at Palo Alto High School and across the country have refused sible to reduce community transmission. While watching going to the beach ... does not count as an times — remaining in one place for months on end with only a digto follow social distancing guidelines. Though a large majority of people are the compilation of seniors’ summer vacaessential trip. ital connection to the outside world is both taking precautions by limiting contact with tion clips during the mentally and physicalothers, these efforts ultimately become fu- first week of school at the Paly Welcome, I ly draining. tile as long as there remain individuals who was disappointed to see that many students Many students were cautious about act irresponsibly. I knew seemed to have missed the note that putting themselves and others at increased

According to the Santa Clara Coun- going to the beach in large groups does not risk for COVID-19 exposure towards the ty Public Health Department, there have count as an essential trip. beginning of the summer, but with no end been nearly 22,000 cases and over 340 In contrast, I can count on one hand to the pandemic in sight, it has been diffi coronavirus deaths in the county — which the number of times I have gone outside cult to keep up hope for recovery and fight amounts to a death rate of roughly 1.5%. over the summer — twice for dentist ap- the unceasing feeling of fatigue. pointments, once to pick up text- Unfortunately, the virus is just as deadbooks and once more to get a shirt ly as it was six months ago, especially with on Senior Swag Day. the upcoming Halloween season that has Even then, Senior Swag Day traditionally been a time for large gatherings brought together hordes of students and parties. Now, it is more important than who took their masks off to take pic- ever to remind ourselves that community tures with one another, failing to do wellbeing takes precedence over our convethe bare minimum requested by Paly nience and temporary fun. administrators to keep people safe. Because the coronavirus has an overI spent the first 102 days of quar- all death rate of 1.5% and even lower for antine without leaving the house younger people, it may seem logical to think at all, eating cake alone on my that we won’t catch the virus or easily surbirthday in the middle of July vive even if we do. However, we must stop and waving to friends through reducing people to numbers and begin to a window as they dropped off empathize by thinking about the fact that cards and gifts. The first time our friends, family or at-risk relatives could I stepped out for a walk, I be part of that 1.5%. had almost forgotten the Disregarding the safety and health of feeling of wind blowing others who remain at home detracts from on my face and hearing our efforts to get back to school and reguleaves crunch as I stepped lar life as fast as possible, and only prolongs over them. online school. Though in retro- Follow the guidelines, please, so that spect I am grateful my our efforts don’t go to waste. v