By Katelyn Lam, Staff Writer
After almost a year of staying at home and social distancing, the weight of the pandemic has dampened student social life. Finding ways to communicate and socialize with others is greatly aided by the internet, but is still much harder than simply going to school and seeing your friends or going to other activities. It’s consistently difficult to find a place to talk with others while still physically distancing, but many have been working to find new ways to connect with others and adapt with the new environment.
With the stress of online school on top of the restrictions due to the pandemic, it has become increasingly harder to form any real personal connections, and is especially difficult for those who relied on school activities to make new friends. If you feel uncomfortable reaching out to someone directly, clubs are a great way to explore new interests and meet new people with the same passions or hobbies as you. There are plenty of clubs to choose from, such as chess club, the Environment Action Team (EAT) club, photography club, and more. A complete list of all 2020-2021 Mills clubs can be found on the school’s website and in a previous Thunderbolt article.
It may seem uncomfortable at first, but everyone is learning how to navigate through socializing online at the same time. Leadership and the Mills counseling center have made a peer support group called Breaking the Ice that is dedicated to helping with the feelings of isolation students may have, and serves as a casual conversation with a group of people, helping students feel more connected. Student organizations like the Mental Health Advancement Initiative (MHAI) focus on the wellbeing of students and help them learn more about psychology from professionals. As an advisory committee that focuses on mental health and social activism, they also spend time fostering positive connections between members.
Striking up a conversation with the people you see often is a good way to talk with people face to face, whether that be in-person or virtually. If you happen to be put in breakout rooms during a Zoom class, it’s a perfect time to talk with someone and get to know them, especially if you both have not talked before. It may be awkward at first, but once acquainted, it’s not that different from meeting someone new in-person. A short conversation with someone at a store that you frequently visit or the person that delivers your mail is always refreshing to have, as many of us have become accustomed to socializing with faces over a screen. A light “Hello” and “How are you?” can brighten up someone’s day, and even your own.
For many, it’s nerve wracking to go outside with the pandemic, so Zoom calls or Facetime are a great way to communicate while still social distancing. Video games are something almost anyone can use to connect with others. There are plenty of games that allow you to interact with new people, even if only for that one round or game. Genshin Impact is a good example of a game you could play with others. You can join other peoples worlds and although no one may be talking, it’s still nice to play with a real person. Games like Among Us have plenty of players online and it requires communication to play. With its open lobbies, you don’t need to have friends to play with; you can just join any random room and play with someone new.
Talking through Zoom may still be awkward for some people. For those who want real human interaction without a screen in the middle, especially for those who find talking through zoom to be awkward, it is possible to meet up with your friends in person too. As long as all COVID-19 guidelines and protocols are followed, you can do outdoor activities with a small group of friends while staying safe. It is necessary to check with others first before meeting up, as people may have different views on what may be considered safe under their personal circumstances. Outdoor picnics, socially distanced walks, biking, and drive-in movie theatres are just a few in-person activities you can safely do with your friends.
Being connected during quarantine is a struggle for all high school students, and although everything is online now, it doesn’t mean you’re alone. Don’t be afraid to reach out to teachers, friends, or family when you feel isolated during this time. People have found many different ways to stay connected to people and with the internet it can be only a couple of clicks away.
