Unlocking Adolescence

Unlocking Adolescence: The Impact of Pausing Opportunities for ‘World Class’ Experience and Travel.

Tilly Risby

It’s easy to be categorised as ‘World Class’ inside the four walls of a classroom. At school, students have the support of teachers, there are rules in place to ensure respect is given and responsibility is taken, and daily routines which encourage punctuality and organisation. However, I believe that the true meaning of ‘world class’ is to be able to exercise these morals, beliefs and qualities in the outside world.

The national lockdown was initiated on 23rd March 2020 following school closure on the 20th of that month. For students and staff across the UK, this was a sudden and abrupt ending to what was meant to be another term and a half of learning. Many were excited by the prospect of a few weeks off, however, others found themselves suddenly faced with the disappointment of the cancellation of school events such as the prom, leavers’ day and results day. Year 11 and 13 were robbed of the renowned and promised summer of their lives, and instead were left worrying about what would happen with exams and how this would affect their future. After 5+ years of hard work, preparing for exams that never came, the vast majority of these students were left disheartened, without a sense of purpose and feeling alone.

The chaos that the virus caused, left students with a lack of stability, routine and consistency which provided some with a new and exciting challenge, whilst others experienced increased anxiety levels. A study conducted by the University of Sheffield, showed that during the Coronavirus lockdown in April, the proportion of people reporting clinically significant depression and anxiety problems reached 52%, three times more than the pre Covid-19 average of 17%. Many are left wondering whether the impact of the global pandemic will be long lasting on society. Trends of Agoraphobia have been recognised amongst those who have experienced the pandemic, with many fearing confined spaces and large crowds. These fears and anxieties have led to extreme isolation for people of all ages, not just students, and have prevented them from properly living their lives.

Following the trauma that the virus has caused, I include myself when I conjecture that some will struggle with coming into close proximity with strangers, out of fear of catching any form of virus. Viral transmission is now something that we are all so conscious of, and many will continue to live in this heightened consciousness, following the lifting of restrictions; we can speculate how people will continue to act, living in a habit of taking measures to avoid as many opportunities for transmission as possible. In order to overcome this, society as a whole will have to readapt to the prospects of ‘normal life’. Courage and discipline: ‘world class’ qualities, becoming more prominent amongst all of society, will help everyone to grow and move forward from the hardship of the last year.

Furthermore, it has not just been internal school life that has been affected. The initial strict restrictions of the quarantine, prevented anyone from meeting with someone who was outside of their bubble and the closure of many countries' borders has meant that very few citizens have been able to travel abroad or even across the country. This, coupled with the adoption of virtual learning, has meant that young people have not been able to experience face-to-face social interaction outside of their family for the majority of the year, and have not been able to escape their academic lives through a proper break.

Travel is a learning experience no school can replicate. It encourages immersion into other cultures and lifestyles and is often described as an important journey of self discovery. As well as this, visiting other countries reinforces characteristics and skills such as communication, confidence and creativity, all of which are ‘world class’ traits. This is such an important experience that so many young people are unfortunately missing out on. Our generation has been faced with a global pandemic after spending the majority of our lives in education. Where older generations have already had the opportunity to travel, go to concerts, and spend weekends away with friends, the young people of today have had these experiences put on hold.

On the day I sit writing this, it has been 366 days since the Prime Minister announced our lives would be put on hold. It has been 366 days since we pressed pause. However, instead of focusing on the negative impacts the global pandemic has inflicted on so many, the new skills we have learnt can be used to our advantage. If anything, I believe that Coronavirus should encourage young people to prioritise what makes them happy. Appreciate the little things, like going on walks, texting your nan or watching the sun set. Start to live in the moment. As good as planning ahead can be, take into account that anything can happen and more often than not, life is out of our control.

Our generation has proven its resilience and bounced back, overcoming adversity. With this resilience, versatility and malleability, we can unlock our potential. These chameleon-like qualities will enable us to thrive in such an unpredictable world. Be proud of what you have achieved and how far you have already come.

Take charge and press play today.